Recorded at Olympic Studios, London, England.

The Stones forsook psychedelic experimentation to return to their blues roots on this celebrated album, which was immediately acclaimed as one of their landmark achievements. A strong acoustic Delta blues flavor colors much of the material, particularly "Salt of the Earth" and "No Expectations," which features some beautiful slide guitar work. Basic rock & roll was not forgotten, however: "Street Fighting Man," a reflection of the political turbulence of 1968, was one of their most innovative singles, and "Sympathy for the Devil," with its fire-dancing guitar licks, leering Jagger vocals, African rhythms, and explicitly satanic lyrics, was an image-defining epic. On "Stray Cat Blues," Jagger and crew began to explore the kind of decadent sexual sleaze that they would take to the point of self-parody by the mid-'70s. At the time, though, the approach was still fresh, and the lyrical bite of most of the material ensured Beggars Banquet's place as one of the top blues-based rock records of all time. ~ Richie Unterberger

Retreating from the psychedelia of THEIR SATANIC MAJESTIES REQUEST, the Stones released the roots-rock single "Jumpin' Jack Flash," and then the album BEGGAR'S BANQUET. It was hailed as a rock masterpiece, and remains the favorite of many Stones fans.

BEGGAR'S BANQUET played to the Stones' strengths. The ironic lead-off ("Sympathy For The Devil") led many rock-baiters to conclude that singer Mick Jagger actually was the devil, or at least a satanic follower. Many of the other tracks, particularly the hit "Street Fighting Man," highlighted the solid rhythm section interplay of Wyman and Watts, while Jones contributed a typically down-home slide guitar part to "No Expectations," and the writing team of Richards and Jagger summoned up images of their deep blues roots.