Beggars Banquet Review: The Stones' Return to Their Roots
9/10 — The Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet (1968)
Pros
- 'Sympathy for the Devil'
- Gritty, rootsy sound
- Mick Jagger's sly vocals
Cons
- Uneven second half
After the psychedelic misstep of Their Satanic Majesties Request, the Rolling Stones returned to blues and country with producer Jimmy Miller. The album’s cover was delayed over a toilet-wall design.
What works
‘Sympathy for the Devil’ is a samba-driven classic, ‘Street Fighting Man’ is fierce, and ‘Salt of the Earth’ is a stirring closer. Keith Richards’s guitar sounds sharper, and Mick Jagger’s vocals are sly.
Where it falters
The album is short on top-tier material in the second half, and a couple of songs are slight.
Verdict
A sharp, confident return to form.
