Maybe you can blame it on me being really young when I first got it, (like 12-14 yrs old), but THEIR SATANIC MAJESTIES' REQUEST is probably my favorite of all the early Rolling Stones albums! While we all know that this album is the one labeled as "The album where the Stones tried to do Sgt Peppers", being a HUGE Beatles fan, rather than a deterrent, this labeling made me want to hear it even MORE! Growing up, I was DYING to get my hands on this album, the Colorful Psychedelic flicker-card cover ALONE made me want it bad! When I eventually saved up enough money to get it, I dove in head first and immersed myself in it, and I was NOT disappointed! The Stones' one and only "psychedelic phase" was as high as the moon and as trippy as a dream, I must have played that thing over and over again for weeks, getting into the music and staring at the strange, spacey artwork on the covers, gatefold and inside sleeves!
While not your usual Stones fare, I love all of these songs, from the well-known classics like "She's a Rainbow" and "2000 Light Years From Home"...
...the artsy minstrel sounding songs like "Lantern" and "Citadel", (How can these songs sound so folksy with those tasty Richards licks gracing them? Too awesome!)
...the super catchy and funky "Gomper", the Beatlesy rip-off "Why Don't We Sing This Song Together" and "On With the Show" (complete with Jagger trying to do his nasally Paul McCartney voice), and even the zany Bill Wyman tune "In Another Land"...gosh, even just typing these titles is taking me back to my teenage years locked in my room and spacing out listening to this album!
Don’t get me wrong, I love ALL the Stones albums from the first Introduction LP to the intense 70’s albums like Exile On Main Street, down through Emotional Resuce, Dirty Work and later ones like Steel Wheels, etc, but there is really something special I hold in my heart for this one particular album!
My all-time favorite performance of Baba O'Riley", from the legendary "Kids Are Alright" Movie. Insanely powerful John Entwistle bass riff introduction, then when Pete jumps in blasting those incredible Townshend power chords on, the whole stage electrifies! Everyone's so into this performance and I love how Moonie always mugs when he knows the camera is on him!
