Exile on Main St. [Super Deluxe Edition] [CD+DVD, Original recording remastered]

The Rolling Stones | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 18, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 1972
• Number of Discs: 5
• Format: CD+DVD, Original recording remastered
• Label: Hip-O Records
• ASIN: B0039ZF89G
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,267 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Stones in Exile

2. Cocksucker Blues

3. Ladies and Gentlemen... The Rolling Stones

4. I Just Want To See His Face

5. Let It Loose

6. All Down The Line

7. Stop Breaking Down

8. Shine A Light

9. Soul Survivor Disc: 5

10. Title 5Disc: 3

11. Turd On The Run

12. Ventilator Blues

13. I Just Want To See His Face

14. Let It Loose

15. All Down The Line

16. Stop Breaking Down

17. Shine A Light

18. Soul Survivor Disc: 2

Editorial Reviews

Upon its release more than three decades ago, Exile on Main Street innovatively wove varying musical genres, instruments and even artists into a compelling rhythmic masterpiece. This new compilation features 10 tracks originally recorded during the Exile era and only recently discovered while working on the reissue project. The unearthed tracks which include such titles as "Plundered My Soul," "Dancing in the Light," "Following the River" and "Pass The Wine" have undergone a unique evolution, while staying true to the essence of the 1972 album. Alternate versions of "Soul Survivor" and "Loving Cup" also are a part of the Exile bonus materials.

As a complement to the release of Exile on Main Street, a documentary, "Stones in Exile," has just been completed for fans to view on US Network television and through BBC Worldwide internationally. The documentary features rare, never-before-seen archival film, photos and interviews as well as new conversations with the band and the artists they influence. Produced by Oscar -winning filmmaker John Battsek and directed by Stephen Kijak, who is known for award-winning work on Cinemania, and Scott Walker: 30 Century Man, "Stones in Exile" offers an uncommon glimpse into the lives of the band as they created one of the greatest albums of all time.

The original 18-track double-album was recorded in various stages at multiple locations, including Olympic Studios in London, Keith Richard's mansion Nellcote in France, and in Los Angeles where the literal "Main Street" influenced the album title. These atypical circumstances surrounding the recording process greatly affected the album's outcome which was highly reflective and influenced by the sociopolitical turbulence that marked the late `60s and early `70s. The Stones nixed the influences of a flower-child era and directed their creative process with the edgier, excessive, "more is more" approach of the `70s. Exile reveals a sprawling mix of genres with undertones of blues, country, R&B and gospel mixed with lyrics that fervently demand for release and liberation.

The album pulled together an electric array of talent including Dr. John, the late Billy Preston and pianist Nicky Hopkins. Guitarist Mick Taylor, who replaced Brian Jones in the band shortly before Jones died in 1969, is a magnificent blues player who brought an intensity and elegance to these epic tracks. At times, these musicians and others lived on the recording studio premises with the band creating an extremely open and creative collaboration for the album.

"The album's riveting portrait of artists pushed - by the times, by themselves - to the very limits of their creativity has provided inspiration to every musical generation that has come along since Exile was released in 1972," said author Anthony DeCurtis. "Every song on Exile on Main Street is elevated by its relationship to the music that comes before and after it. The album's irresistible power is unlikely to diminish any time soon."

Exile on Main Street will be available in two CD formats: the original 18 track release; a deluxe CD edition with the 10 special bonus tracks; and a super deluxe package that also includes vinyl, a 30-minute documentary DVD with footage from Cocksucker Blues, Ladies and Gentlemen... the Rolling Stones and Stones in Exile, and a 50-page collector's book with photos from the Exile era. The 10 unreleased tracks were produced by Jimmy Miller, The Glimmer Twins and Don Was.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

233 of 241 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Classic Album in an Overpriced Package, May 18, 2010

By 

5:15 AM - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Exile on Main St. [Super Deluxe Edition] (Audio CD)

Let me start by saying this is one of the greatest rock albums in history and quite possibly my favorite by a phenomenal rock and roll band at the peak of their powers. So now that you're asking yourself why I gave this package only three stars allow me to explain. The point is simple-it's too much money and all of the individual components of this set are available separately with what amounts to less money than the whole enchilada.

In this set you get the remastered original album on disc one. As with all of the 2009 Stones remasters, this version is somewhat clearer but louder and compressed. I do not feel the minimal increase in clarity is worth suffering through the loss of dynamic range. In addition, the first thing I noticed was that certain instruments and Jagger's voice appear to be a little too high-ended in parts. The vocals are more upfront than before and, in effect, brings a different sound to the entire mix that makes the entire recording seem out of place from what I am used to. The 1994 Virgin remaster is a much better product so I do not feel the CD upgrade is necessary. In fact, upon listening, the '94 Virgin sounds much closer to the vinyl version enclosed in this package.

The vinyl, if you aren't aware, is 180 gram quality virgin vinyl and it sounds stellar!! The remastering really brings a special clarity to the recording without sacrificing the dynamic range, which is my main problem with the CD.

The second disc are what most fans are interested in and after one listen I can tell you that these are worth it. Yes, there were overdubs and lyrics added to songs that previously had none and contain modern day Jagger vocals. Someone familiar enough with the sound of Exile will be able to pick out which parts were recently overdubbed and which parts are from the original Exile sessions. That may sound like a problem but it really isn't because otherwise, the songs chosen would have been mostly instrumentals if left in their unfinished state and more importantly, the songs are good. As good as these new songs are the real gems are the original alternate versions of 'Tumblin' Dice' titled 'Good Time Women', alternate 'Loving Cup' and an alternate of 'Soul Survivor' with Keith on lead vocals and different lyrics. Hearing these three songs makes you wonder why they didn't put more alternate versions on this disc as I'm sure fans like myself would love to hear them. However, we have waited this long so now I'm simply nitpicking. These new songs are very welcome and a pleasure to listen to. As of this writing I have only listened to the outtakes disc one time but 'Plundered My Soul', 'I'm Not Signifying' and 'Following the River' appear to be the standout tunes.

Another problem with this set is the DVD. It is not the complete 'Stones in Exile' DVD but a promo containing snippets of that, 'Sucker Blues' and 'Ladies and Gentlemen.' It runs for 30 minutes and the 'Stones in Exile' DVD to be released in June is 151 minutes. You do the math. Hence, this DVD will become useless in a few weeks for a diehard fan.

The four postcards are cool and the 65 page booklet is interesting with some rarely seen photographs, but not necessary, in my opinion.

The reason's I feel this set is too expensive and only gave it three stars are as follows:

If you purchase each item separately, excluding the postcards and book (which are not available separately to my knowledge) this set gets a lot cheaper.

The vinyl - $33

Remastered Deluxe set - $20

Stones in Exile DVD - $13, released in June

That is a total of $66.00 so unless you feel the book and four postcards make up for the remaining $70 of the cost, this set is not worth it as a whole. Additionally, Target is selling the outtakes disc as a separate disc for $10 as of this writing and, as previously mentioned, the DVD is not the FULL 'Stones in Exile' DVD.

I'm sure people will comment on my giving one of the greatest albums ever made only three stars when this should easily be a five star set. Based on the material here it comes close if you take each piece of it and judge it on it's own merits. As a boxset, however, you must take the entire package into account and in this instance, the whole does not equal the sum of it's parts, as sorry as I am to say that. 'Exile' is a classic and the outtakes are enough to make any Stones fan salivate and, as a fan, I love everything here. But as a consumer, it's simply too much money for what you're getting, when everything included here, minus the book and postcards, can be found cheaper than this entire set combined.

I hope I was able to save some of you some hard-earned cash because I certainly wish I knew then what I know now in regards to this set.

34 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Enough Already., May 19, 2010

By 

Exile 72 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Exile on Main St. [Super Deluxe Edition] (Audio CD)

Enough already with the remastered, repackaged, rereleases of the Stones catalog. As a collector for many years it's getting hard and maybe a little pointless to keep up with all the repackaging of the same old stuff. Sure, the bonus tracks are nice but who wants to listen to a 40 year old instrumental track with vocals from just this year? It just doesn't work on the five or so tracks given this treatment. The true almost untouched demos like Loving Cup are good, however.

More about the repackaging - as far as I know this set is available in a multitude of different packages. Deluxe, Super Deluxe, Bonus Tracks Only, Vinyl, CD with T-shirt (Target exclusive), CD with bonus interview disc (Best Buy exclusive), and the little known McDonald's release that includes a #2 value meal (with or without cheese). Enough already! I thought Decca/Europe beat this to death in the 70's and 80's - the constant repackaging of the same old music. My head is spinning just trying to keep up with all the versions of this release. Of course, as an avid collector I'll eventually buy them all. Just good marketing by the Stones camp I guess.

In fairness, this Super Deluxe edition is really nice. Everything is first class and sounds good but not better than the original 70's vinyl in my opinion.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing -- could have been a classy classic, May 27, 2010

By 

B. Lynch "the_onewhoknows" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Exile on Main St. [Super Deluxe Edition] (Audio CD)

The (vinyl) LP mix is excellent, as is the disc mastering. The CD's however, are over-compressed. While this makes them sound louder and heavier at first, it makes them tedious to listen to all the way through.

The DVD is OK, but it's not the complete film -- I'm not sure what was left out, and maybe it's not worth including, but for the price being charged here, it seems that buyers should be able to decide that -- and fast forward through what they don't like.

But what really seems to be a cheat here is that there are only 4 of the original 12 post cards ... what's the story?

Go find the old original 2-LP set with the 12 post cards, and then just get the individual components of this 2010 package when they're on sale at your favorite music vendors. It will probably cost you less, and the sum of the parts will be greater.