My Greatest 100 (or so) Albums...

Rolling Stones, Exile on Main Street, 1972. This is just an amazing disc. Here the Stones reclaim their bluesy roots, and loudly affirm their power and complexity. I think, by now, a lot of people have primarily experienced the Stones through hits collections like Hot Rocks, etc, but this is really the Stones at their greatest, and the smaller songs like Torn and Frayed, Sweet Virginia and All Down the Line are every bit as resonant as Rocks Off, Tumblin Dice and Happy (Keith's greatest hit!). The Stones have now been around a very long time and if anyone ever forgets how great they really are, I hope they get to spend some time with this record. They'll get it then.