Beggars Banquet
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- For the record label, see Beggars Banquet Records.
| Beggars Banquet | ||
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| Studio album by The Rolling Stones | ||
| Released | 6 December 1968 | |
| Recorded | 17 March - 25 July 1968 | |
| Genre | Rock, Blues | |
| Length | 39:47 | |
| Label | Decca/ABKCO (UK) ABKCO (US) |
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| Producer(s) | Jimmy Miller | |
| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| The Rolling Stones chronology | ||
| Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967) |
Beggars Banquet (1968) |
Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2) (1969) |
| Alternate cover | ||
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| Initially rejected cover of Beggars Banquet | ||
Beggars Banquet is an LP released in 1968 by The Rolling Stones. It marked a return to the band's R&B roots, generally viewed as simpler and more primal than the conspicuous psychedelics of Their Satanic Majesties Request.
Contents |
[edit] History
Following the long sessions for the previous album in 1967, Mick Jagger decided that the band needed more direction in the studio and in early 1968 hired Jimmy Miller, who had produced the Spencer Davis Group and Traffic. The partnership would prove to be a success and Miller would work with the band until 1973.
In March, the band began recording their new album, aiming for a July release. One of the first tracks cut, "Jumpin' Jack Flash", was released as a single that May, becoming a major hit.
Beggars Banquet was Brian Jones' last substantial effort with The Rolling Stones. In addition to his slide work on "No Expectations," he played harmonica on "Parachute Woman", "Dear Doctor" and "Prodigal Son." He also played sitar and tambura on "Street Fighting Man" and mellotron using the same brass sound he selected for "We Love You" on "Stray Cat Blues".
By June, the sessions were nearly completed in England, with some final overdubbing and mixing to be done in Los Angeles during July. However, both Decca Records in England and London Records rejected the planned cover design - a graffiti-covered lavatory, and the band held back the album. By November, however, The rolling Stones gave in, allowing the album to be released in December with a simple imitation invitation card cover. The idea for a plain album cover was also implemented by the Beatles for the White Album, which was released one month prior to Beggars Banquet. This similarity, coupled with Beggars Banquet's later release, garnered the Rolling Stones accusations of imitating the Beatles. In 1984, the original cover art was released with the initial CD remastering of Beggars Banquet.
Critics considered the LP as a return to form.[1] It was also a clear commercial success, reaching #3 in the UK and #5 in the US (on the way to eventual platinum status).
The original LP pressing did not credit Rev. Wilkins as the writer of 'Prodigal Son'.
On 10 and 11 December, the band aimed to promote Beggars Banquet by recording a television extravaganza entitled The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus featuring John Lennon, Eric Clapton, The Who and Jethro Tull among the musical guests. However, the project did not air and would not receive an official release until 1996.
Jean-Luc Godard filmed some of the recording sessions showing the band recording Sympathy for the Devil, the lead off track for the album. The film is widely available on DVD.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 57 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In 2003 the TV network VH1 named Beggars Banquet the 67th greatest album of all time.
In August 2002 Beggars Banquet was reissued in a new remastered CD, LP and SACD digipak by ABKCO Records.
In 2005, The Yuppie Pricks parodied the album's title and cover with their album Brokers Banquet.
[edit] Track listing
All songs by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, except where noted.
[edit] LP release
- "Sympathy for the Devil" – 6:18
- Keith Richards on bass, Bill Wyman and Brian Jones played additional percusssion
- "No Expectations" – 3:56
- Nicky Hopkins on piano
- "Dear Doctor" – 3:21
- "Parachute Woman" – 2:20
- "Jig-Saw Puzzle" – 6:05
- Nicky Hopkins on piano
- "Street Fighting Man" – 3:15
- "Prodigal Son" (Rev. Robert Wilkins) – 2:51
- "Stray Cat Blues" – 4:37
- "Factory Girl" – 2:08
- "Salt of the Earth" – 4:47
- First verse sung by Keith Richards
[edit] Cassette release
Some cassette versions of the album used the following track listing, which made the each side of the cassette of roughly equal length:
[edit] Side A (19:58)
- "Street Fighting Man" - 3:15
- "Prodigal Son" – 2:51
- "Stray Cat Blues" – 4:37
- "Factory Girl" – 2:08
- "Salt of the Earth" – 4:47
- "Parachute Woman" – 2:20
[edit] Side B (19:40)
- "Sympathy for the Devil" – 6:18
- "No Expectations" – 3:56
- "Dear Doctor" – 3:21
- "Jig-Saw Puzzle" – 6:05
[edit] Charts
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1968
1969 |
UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart |
3
3 |
| 1968
1969 1980 |
Billboard Pop Albums
Billboard Pop Albums Billboard Pop Albums |
27
5 169 |
Single
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | "Jumpin' Jack Flash" | UK Top 50 Singles | 1 |
| 1968 | "Jumpin' Jack Flash" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 3 |
| 1968 | "Street Fighting Man" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 48 |
| 1971 | "Street Fighting Man" | UK Top 50 Singles | 21 |
[edit] External Links
| The Rolling Stones |
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| Mick Jagger • Keith Richards • Charlie Watts • Ron Wood
Brian Jones • Bill Wyman • Mick Taylor • Ian Stewart See also
Chuck Leavell • Darryl Jones • Andrew Loog Oldham • Allen Klein • Nicky Hopkins • Bobby Keys • Jimmy Miller • Jim Price • Billy Preston Related articles
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