The Complete Works: Ranking All 374 Rolling Stones Songs

An honest look at the world’s greatest rock-and-roll band.

By David Marchese


http://www.vulture.com/2017/05/whats-the-best-rolling-stones-song-of-all-time.html

The He Man Emotional Rescue Lovers Appreciation Society is torn.


34. “Emotional Rescue,” Emotional Rescue
Another Stones disco effort, and an excellent one. The band weaves at least four different melodic hooks through the burbling bass and drums. And the spoken-word section where a zonked-sounding Mick talks about being a knight in shining armor “riding across the desert on a fine Arab charger” is just loopy enough to be charming.

Some Guy wrote on May 9^th, 2017 at 3:27pm:

The He Man Emotional Rescue Lovers Appreciation Society is torn. 34. “Emotional Rescue,” Emotional Rescue Another Stones disco effort, and an excellent one. The band weaves at least four different melodic hooks through the burbling bass and drums. And the spoken-word section where a zonked-sounding Mick talks about being a knight in shining armor “riding across the desert on a fine Arab charger” is just loopy enough to be charming.

34?????? ::) Are you fucking serious?

Can't agree with that list. What's new?
Gimme Shelter should always be number one. Here's why.
The opening notes creep up on you like a bad trip.
The hairs on the back of your neck start to rise.
BOOM! The Beatles have just been put to bed mate, This Is Let It Bleed!
And bleed you (my little darlings), shall. The swinging sixties my arse!
Hippies are dead! If they listened, if they got their deluded heads out of their Sgt.  (bloody) Pepper's dream for just the intro to Let It Bleed; they would be turning over their bells, beads and bollocks, for a few PROPER STONES LPs.
Shelter was the clincher for me. It literally, rocked me out of a semi-comatose nine months. It woke me up good! And that...was 1977 plebs.
Sex Pistols, Clash, Damned, Jam; loved it all! But it was just a momentary nihilistic illusion.
Oh! I'll buy this! Holds up cover.
Bizzare man! Cakes and bike tyres? Gets record home, I'm 17, BANG!
I become a Stoner proper. SHELTER, did me proper. It still has that affect on me today, 'The one remains; many come and pass....'
Gimme Shelter isn't just the greatest Stones song, it's the greatest, scariest muther fucker of a song ever put to vinyl, CD, whatever.

gypsymofo60 wrote on May 9^th, 2017 at 4:56pm:

Can't agree with that list. What's new? Gimme Shelter should always be number one. Here's why. The opening notes creep up on you like a bad trip. The hairs on the back of your neck start to rise. BOOM! The Beatles have just been put to bed mate, This Is Let It Bleed! And bleed you (my little darlings), shall. The swinging sixties my arse! Hippies are dead! If they listened, if they got their deluded heads out of their Sgt.  (bloody) Pepper's dream for just the intro to Let It Bleed; they would be turning over their bells, beads and bollocks, for a few PROPER STONES LPs. Shelter was the clincher for me. It literally, rocked me out of a semi-comatose nine months. It woke me up good! And that...was 1977 plebs. Sex Pistols, Clash, Damned, Jam; loved it all! But it was just a momentary nihilistic illusion. Oh! I'll buy this! Holds up cover. Bizzare man! Cakes and bike tyres? Gets record home, I'm 17, BANG! I become a Stoner proper. SHELTER, did me proper. It still has that affect on me today, 'The one remains; many come and pass....' Gimme Shelter isn't just the greatest Stones song, it's the greatest, scariest muther fucker of a song ever put to vinyl, CD, whatever.

Post of the year, and we're not even half-way through May.

Edith Grove wrote on May 9^th, 2017 at 4:59pm:

gypsymofo60 wrote on May 9th, 2017 at 4:56pm: Can't agree with that list. What's new? Gimme Shelter should always be number one. Here's why. The opening notes creep up on you like a bad trip. The hairs on the back of your neck start to rise. BOOM! The Beatles have just been put to bed mate, This Is Let It Bleed! And bleed you (my little darlings), shall. The swinging sixties my arse! Hippies are dead! If they listened, if they got their deluded heads out of their Sgt.  (bloody) Pepper's dream for just the intro to Let It Bleed; they would be turning over their bells, beads and bollocks, for a few PROPER STONES LPs. Shelter was the clincher for me. It literally, rocked me out of a semi-comatose nine months. It woke me up good! And that...was 1977 plebs. Sex Pistols, Clash, Damned, Jam; loved it all! But it was just a momentary nihilistic illusion. Oh! I'll buy this! Holds up cover. Bizzare man! Cakes and bike tyres? Gets record home, I'm 17, BANG! I become a Stoner proper. SHELTER, did me proper. It still has that affect on me today, 'The one remains; many come and pass....' Gimme Shelter isn't just the greatest Stones song, it's the greatest, scariest muther fucker of a song ever put to vinyl, CD, whatever. Post of the year, and we're not even half-way through May.

Are u taking the gypsy's Edith?
But honestly, it's true. That list was a cool read up until the top 20, then bluuurr :-/ You Can't Always Get What You Want maybe a great song but, it ain't SHELTER!

I'll be on this like a fly on shit for days.
Hey Negrita at 359????? ::)
No fucking imagination mate!
Black And Blue is one of the best Rolling Stones albums ever.
And I mean it man! >:(
B&B is so underrated it's not true.
Meanwhile..........Back to the list.
Who is this Dickjammer  anyway?

gypsymofo60 wrote on May 10^th, 2017 at 2:01am:

Who is this Dickjammer anyway?

http://nymag.com/author/David%20Marchese/

Not sure how you can split hairs like this...lists are always a laff and like assholes everyone's got one. Beast of Burden much too high for me and Satisfaction at #8? Indian Girl?..nailed it!

gimmekeef wrote on May 10^th, 2017 at 9:16am:

Beast of Burden much too high for me and Satisfaction at #8? Indian Girl?..nailed it!

http://a.fod4.com/misc/Rabbit%20Slam%20Dunk.gif

Edith; Your rabbit fucker...should get himself a errmmm chick, NO? ;D

Bitch at 131 >:( Get outta here.
And where the fucking hell is Street Fighting Man? >:(
Holy Jesus, Joseph,and Mary!
Bitch is a FOR FUCKING SURE top ten.
Gimme Shelter
Street Fighting Man
Bitch
Jumping Jack Flash
Sympathy For The Devil
Can't You Hear Me Knocking
Midnight Rambler
Moonlight Mile
Memory Motel
Hey Fucking Negrita just to irritate the fucker.

gypsymofo60 wrote on May 10^th, 2017 at 5:13pm:

And where the fucking hell is Street Fighting Man? >:(

13. “Street Fighting Man,” Beggars Banquet
Jagger’s line, “What can a poor boy do / except play in a rock ‘n’ roll band?” sums up so much of the promise and ultimately futile political power of rock music. And if that doesn’t do it for you, Keith’s rocking acoustic guitar and Charlie’s off-the-beat drum accents surely will.

Edith Grove wrote on May 10^th, 2017 at 8:21pm:

gypsymofo60 wrote on May 10th, 2017 at 5:13pm: And where the fucking hell is Street Fighting Man? >:( 13. “Street Fighting Man,” Beggars Banquet Jagger’s line, “What can a poor boy do / except play in a rock ‘n’ roll band?” sums up so much of the promise and ultimately futile political power of rock music. And if that doesn’t do it for you, Keith’s rocking acoustic guitar and Charlie’s off-the-beat drum accents surely will.

13??? How low can you go Joe?
Street Fighting Man is the 2nd greatest Stones song ever. All lyrics are ultimately futile in the end anyway. That's always been the appeal right?
Son House
Charlie Patton
Robert Johnson, futility of seeking freedom, redemption, etc right?
The beauty of Futility, of expressing a futile desire.

OK! Good review of Undercover for once. Usually slagged off as barrel of shite. Makes a nice change to see it not so much up the charts luv but, nicely reviewed. And, a nod to the Cheeky Mix. Bare me arse? I don't fucking fink so! :o

Right! A 2012 Paste Magazine article / list has Moonlight Mile at 13.
I love this! Written off as a paean to drug culture at the time, maybe now it is being a little more valued, rated quite on dickjammer's list too 8-)

Al you need to do is look how dirty work ranks within this list to know it's BS:

(Even as a ranking on it's own it makes little sense)

61. “One Hit (to the Body),” Dirty Work
83. “Back to Zero,” Dirty Work
117. “Dirty Work,” Dirty Work
137. “Fight,” Dirty Work
174. “Winning Ugly,” Dirty Work
167. “Had It With You,” Dirty Work
199. “Too Rude,” Dirty Work
227. “Hold Back,” Dirty Work
342. “Sleep Tonight,” Dirty Work
368. “Key to the Highway,” Dirty Work
370. “Harlem Shuffle,” Dirty Work


And WTF? : 195. “Sweethearts Together,” Voodoo Lounge

Some Guy wrote on May 9^th, 2017 at 3:27pm:

The He Man Emotional Rescue Lovers Appreciation Society is torn. 34. “Emotional Rescue,” Emotional Rescue Another Stones disco effort, and an excellent one. The band weaves at least four different melodic hooks through the burbling bass and drums. And the spoken-word section where a zonked-sounding Mick talks about being a knight in shining armor “riding across the desert on a fine Arab charger” is just loopy enough to be charming.

I take it like a class ranking...Glad it was in top 10%
I refuse to look at the list...I hate lists...love you comments...all of them...what song was DEAD LAST? Where were Indian Girl , Down In The Hole...and Flip The Switch?

Paranoid Android wrote on May 11^th, 2017 at 2:19pm:

...what song was DEAD LAST?

374. “Sing This All Together (See What Happens),” Their Satanic Majesties Request
The gaudy album from which this song comes isn’t nearly as much of a post–Sgt. Pepper’s trend-chasing psychedelic disaster as is commonly believed. Except, that is, for this song, a full eight-and-a-half-minute musical blart.

Where The Boys Go at #205

This list sucks. :will-ya

Keep all your comments coming!!!

That list of blasphemy.
No Spare Parts is abysmal.

Midnight Rambler is in my top ten. Maybe it's my #1.

Just scanned over the List !
WOWZA - Ya know ya love the Music when one is familiar with most All of the songs!
Totally fascinating- N Awe :-?

Start Me Up at #18 ?
Should trade places with Where The Boys Go at #205.

I'm beginning to think Marchese ranked these from an all-time playlist and just added his commentary when he had time.

This list has significant value, and is worth booksmacking.  The author is able to locate the majority of songs in the appropriate quintile, exhibiting a knowledge of the breadth and quality (declining) of Stones music.  And his commentary shows that, like many of us, the author sees his Stones as a historical and intellectual pursuit, as well  enjoyable.  Making each and every song on the list electronically selectable with a computer by means of a "URL" is a great touch as well.  I somehow didn't know they covered Marley/Tosh's Get Up, Stand Up, and now I've heard it, as well as a number of B-sides in the lower puff ranks that I didn't know existed or had forgotten about in a drug haze.

Unfortunately, he also goes with the now fashionable bashing of Indian Girl, which led to the biggest factual error on the list.  It's an in-crowd thing around here to bash IGgie (ER), all skeechie/sheckie.  Indian Girl is a quality country song, and we're lucky for it.  "Lesson number one . . . that you learn while you're young . . ." has all the aspects we love in Stones country.  This trend is like in the 70s when it was fashionable to bash Italians trying to stuff socks into Jordache jeans.  Look at where that led, now we have to account for those people as strict-scrutiny minorities with all their Chef Boyardee baked defamation suits and stuff.  Indian Girl bashing at 373 and the relative ranking of Dirty Work (album) as a whole are the only huge biffs that I can see on this comprehensive list of Rolling Stones songs.  This is an admirable achievement by this guy, and it looks like a ton of work went into this annotated list.  This guy/author is applaudable.

BILL PERKS wrote on May 11^th, 2017 at 6:57pm:

That list of blasphemy. No Spare Parts is abysmal.

I reckon this guy's a Steely Dan fanatic who got the Stones list by mistake. A 6 week run thru the catalogue, a pint with  a Stones convention, and Bob's your Aunt.
Who'd even bother with Sing This All Together, at all?

gypsymofo60 wrote:

Gimme Shelter should always be number one. Here's why.
The opening notes creep up on you like a bad trip.
The hairs on the back of your neck start to rise.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

me, tauk, say:Beautifully put, gypsymofo60. I love your description of your reactions to GS..I feel the same way.

I agree "Gimme Shelter" is the #1 for me. However, also, really, the 2nd one listed in that vulture.com list YCAGWYW" is almost TIED for #1 for me. 

As far as YCAGWYW goes--I'm far from a musician-so I can't really talk in specific musicology terms...but starting with those first notes from the solo horn---so sad it is beautiful-.....comparable in poignancy only to the solo horn of the USA's military "Taps."

Hmm, funny, it only just now occurs to me that both songs, GS & "Taps", have a military connection (assuming GS refers to Vietnam War).

To continue my last post re. YCAGWYU:

Interesting info is written on the video screen for "TAPS":
https://youtu.be/nQ7Nz81TgGQ

Of course y'all know this but just thought I'd post specific horn opening which follows the choir's opening verse for YCAGWYW-

HORN starts at .54 for 22 haunting seconds.

https://youtu.be/j7leQB_Oe_k

Ooops, above post proves my rookie status here--my first post on rocksoff.org. Am trying to learn how to post a YT video.

YCAGWYW HORN starts at .54 for 22 haunting seconds:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7leQB_Oe_k

"Taps"--24 notes I believe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfe4TxvUOiw

I need Help. Sorry. I'll click on "Alert Moderator" button on last unsuccessful post.
https://youtu.be/zay7xGo4PYQ

It's easy, just copy and paste the URL (link) of the video, the best way is to copy the short link that appears when you ckick "share"

Then paste the link

Then mark the whole link, from the http to the last carácter

Then click the "YouTube" button  http://rocksoff.org/aamessageboard/Templates/Forum/default/media.gif

ALso the instructions are on each button, just right click on them

Voodoo Chile in Wonderland wrote on May 16^th, 2017 at 8:36pm:

It's easy, just copy and paste the URL (link) of the video, the best way is to copy the short link that appears when you ckick "share" Then paste the link Then mark the whole link, from the http to the last carácter Then click the "YouTube" button  http://rocksoff.org/aamessageboard/Templates/Forum/default/media.gif ALso the instructions are on each button, just right click on them

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I'm so sorry I still can't get it to work. I post videos all the time on eoms, probably close to maybe 500 videos by now. Once in a great while I'll run into a YT that will only post as a link but usually I can get it to work as a fully posted video. I tried 2 different Taps videos & also the Stones GS video. I've tried every possible code.
I'm making sure the YT media brackets are positioned exactly right. Sorry to take up your time, thanks for trying to help.

O.K. So I can at least post the videos as a link. I've tried these 2 Links- they both DO WORK Yay! (I just omit clicking on the YT icon in order to at least get the Links to work right).

This is the US Military Taps, with some interesting info re. the history of "Taps."

https://youtu.be/zay7xGo4PYQ

This is the Stones'YCAGWYW After the opening choir verse STARTING AT .55 seconds are the haunting,mournful 22 seconds of the horn.

https://youtu.be/j7leQB_Oe_k

tauk wrote on May 16^th, 2017 at 9:15pm:

Voodoo Chile in Wonderland wrote on May 16th, 2017 at 8:36pm: It's easy, just copy and paste the URL (link) of the video, the best way is to copy the short link that appears when you ckick "share" Then paste the link Then mark the whole link, from the http to the last carácter Then click the "YouTube" button  http://rocksoff.org/aamessageboard/Templates/Forum/default/media.gif ALso the instructions are on each button, just right click on them +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I'm so sorry I still can't get it to work. I post videos all the time on eoms, probably close to maybe 500 videos by now. Once in a great while I'll run into a YT that will only post as a link but usually I can get it to work as a fully posted video. I tried 2 different Taps videos & also the Stones GS video. I've tried every possible code. I'm making sure the YT media brackets are positioned exactly right. Sorry to take up your time, thanks for trying to help. O.K. So I can at least post the videos as a link. I've tried these 2 Links- they both DO WORK Yay! (I just omit clicking on the YT icon in order to at least get the Links to work right). This is the US Military Taps, with some interesting info re. the history of "Taps." https://youtu.be/zay7xGo4PYQ This is the Stones'YCAGWYW After the opening choir verse STARTING AT .55 seconds are the haunting,mournful 22 seconds of the horn. https://youtu.be/j7leQB_Oe_k

;DHoly shit!
What an entrance!
I am pleased you liked my pontificating old rubbish Tauk. Thankyou!

gypsymofo60 wrote:
Holy shit!
What an entrance!
I am pleased you liked my pontificating old rubbish Tauk. Thankyou!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I wasn't aware that you possess a "Pontificating Old Rubbish". Is that some type of an antique? A painting or perhaps a recycled material sculpture like a bust of an old speech-making politician? If I ever encounter it I'm sure I'd like it just fine.  :)


And re. my "entrance"-thanks for noticing my prolonged entry. But to be honest, it was so prolonged of an entrance that it was becoming embarrassing. Ya, sure, I like to make a good entrance once in a while but I don't like staring into the Great White Abyss of videos that won't post. It's such an empty feeling.  :(

You rock tauk!!

I'm in heaven. Feels so good.  8-)

tauk wrote on May 17^th, 2017 at 10:19pm:

I'm in heaven. Feels so good.  8-)

Which film was it from? Oh, I dunno; "Feeling good is all that matters!"
I liked your descriptions on pontificating old rubbish.
How come you've only posted these few times? You should definitely post more often.
Anyway, it's nice to see you post, so post away baby. ;)

I warned you all I'd be like a fly on shit forever with this list stuff. Here's a few from a dickhead in the UK in some nonsensical crap I borrowed from a library, that's the old building falling to pieces down, or up your street. The one with the creepy old vines wrapping themselves all around, where you may chance to spy some wizened old crone waffling about the degradation of the written word.

Anyway, list thingy, Number one, and I shit you not people is....BUS STOP by the Hollies? :o
Now; I have long thought The Hollies to be somewhat under-rated as far as the 60s are concerned but, Bus Stop? come on.

lavendar wrote on May 12^th, 2017 at 8:10am:

Just scanned over the List ! WOWZA - Ya know ya love the Music when one is familiar with most All of the songs! Totally fascinating- N Awe :-?

Yeah more familiar than the author of this list! ;)

My "I'm in heaven. Feels so good" comment was my way of saying thanks to Voodoo Child for saying "you rock tauk" because I find that to be just about the highest compliment anyone could ever give me. ...(which, now that I think about it, might be the ONLY thing anyone can ever think of to compliment me on)  :)  Naturalust said that "tauk you rock" to me way back like 2 1/2 years ago when I very first started posting which was on iorr. It's a good sign that I'm in the right place.

So, good going so far here....although I always go through a initial period of anxiety when starting on a new Stones forum...Everything goes at first so well that I'm always anxiously waiting for my Freshman Hazing/Initiation to come upon me with no specific forewarning-Surprise can be the best tactic of course for the Hazers. So I'll brace myself.

So I guess that tells ya a little about how my mental state functions.

I'm actually the happiest when I'm being harassed (or as Freya Gin might say, being "punished" in some way) because it's only then that I'm not anxious about when it will start.  ::)

Thanks for encouraging me to post. Y'all know how to say the right thing to actually encourage someone to continue to write posts on your forum.   

It looks like I joined here back on April 8th but I had some technical problem preventing me from logging in until just a couple days ago.

Sometimes, in the face of yet more new technicalities to constantly learn in today's world, I rebel and react by shutting down all use of technical things. But then I get real hungry when I refuse to use my microwave.

However, I'm promising myself I have to exercise more restraint and not spend EVERY waking moment addicted to this...IT FEELS LIKE I'VE BEEN ENTRAPPED IN THIS STONES OBSESSION FOR 2 1/2 years now: 1200+ posts on iorr in about 6 months before my banning in spring 2015. Now I have 1200+ on eoms plus 48 in last year or so on shidoobee.

My point being, I'm wondering how can I possibly have anything new to say? Well, I guess I've had my ways of getting around that...at least I amuse myself if not anyone else by rarely saying anything of any real substance. (No, that's not a drug reference.)  ;D

mofo-Yes, you're right..Like we said in the 70's "If it feels good do it."  8-)

Also, "Have a nice day!" (Come to think of it I'll bet that there would be no smilies/emojis today if it weren't for that ubiquitous 70's yellow round circle with the smiling face on it that said that about have a nice day! And we didn't think that fad would last! Ha!  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :) :)  :)

O.K. I'm up for all the rankings now..."the tauk abides."

Ta Ta for now.

And in re. to "Bus Stop", you're right mofo= nice little confection but certainly not #1 on any list. That's so dumb it is actually weird-o strange that anyone would think that. If that's where that guy starts his #1 ranked song then I'd hate to be at a record listening party at his house and get treated to what he would play as his 50th greatest rock song. Can you just imagine???

Oh but I should clarify something-I have nothing against weird-o's per se...as long as they have good taste in music.

me, tauk say: "What do you mean--the bars and locks on all my windows and doors are to keep ME IN?? I always thought it KEPT OUT all those with bad musical tastes!"

me, tauk, wrote: I'm in heaven. Feels so good. 

you, mofo wrote: Which film was it from?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
me, tauk, say: mofo-I just now this minute finally figured out your play-on-words-joke. It only took me 1 1/2 days to get it. I often laugh before I understand  a joke. I know that's not always a good idea but I'm easy that way.

Dave Thompson; Krause publications 2011. No. 2 Season Of The Witch, Donovan???
Top Stones song Gimme Shelter, no. 10. Don't have the list with me at the momento but, just 1 Joy Division song????
2 by Guns n' Roses, Ya gotta see this top 1000 list, this geezer is on some fucking seruious gear. ;D

The Stones tracks, all of 'em from this wankers great ::) list.
At no. 10 Gimme Shelter
33. Yes folks that's the next one on the list; Sympathy For The Devil.
60. Midnight Rambler
74. Satisfaction
121. Mother's Little Helper
129. Wild Horses
136. Let It Bleed.
156.YCAGWYW.
322. Honky Tonk Women
332. Lady Jane
375 Jumping Jack Flash
390. Paint It , Black
398. Angie
648. Memory Motel
672. 2000 Light Years
714. Play With Fire
726. Brown Sugar
766. Ruby Tuesday
And finally; at 858. Sister Morphine. :-/

First Doors song on this list; 'Hello I Love You', no. 402. WTF? :-? I know Americans didn't really take to the Jam, but Gazza how do you feel about 'That's Entertainment at 259, and Tube Station at 483?
One Joy Division song, as I said earlier, 'Love Will tear us Apart'
at 89.
Immigrant Song at 568? >:(3 Sex Pistols songs, God Save The Queen at 116, Submission at 124, and Anarchy at 490.
Now here's a quandary, I absolutely adore 'Are Friends Electric' by The Tubeway Army, what an atmospheric diamond, no. 483? :o
No Stone Roses, She Sells Sanctuary at 777, Bittersweet Symphony at 224.
What an absolute tosser. Blind folded, I think he drew these out of a hat, and probably the next best rock song ever after Gimme Shelter, 'Welcome To The Jungle', no. 199. PATHETIC!

Some interesting additions:
502 Fox On The Run
659. The End by The Doors, surely top 20.
Deuce by Kiss, no. 720
Carry On Wayward Son, Kansas, no. 742
Whole Lotta Love  ;D 807??????
Meglomania, Sabbath, no. 989 ;D At least top 30 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Later today I intend to borrow one of those greatest album books.
I swear; if Sgt. Bleedin' Pepper is No. 1 I shall burn the fucker right there in the library.
And how come OK Computer suddenly raced up everyone's must have list? Trendsetting. Two plebs say it's the greatest lp ever made in the 90s and whoosh!