The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St. (33 1/3) [Paperback]

Bill Janovitz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 19, 2005 | Series: 33 1/3 (Book 18)

Thirty-Three and a Third is a series of short books about critically acclaimed<br/>and much-loved albums of the past 40 years. Over 50,000 copies have been sold!<br/>"Passionate, obsessive, and smart." —Nylon<br/>"...an inspired new series of short books about beloved works of vinyl." —Details<br/><br/><br/>Description<br/>Tracing the creation of Exile on Main St. from the original songwriting done while touring America through the final editing in Los Angeles, Bill Janovitz explains how an album recorded by a British band in a villa on the French Riviera is pure American rock & roll. Looking at each song individually, Janovitz unveils the innovative recording techniques, personal struggles, and rock & roll mythmaking that culminated in this pivotal album.<br/><br/>Excerpt<br/>Exile is exactly what rock & roll should sound like: a bunch of musicians playing a bunch of great songs in a room together, playing off of each other, musical communion, sounds bleeding into each other, snare drum rattling away even while not being hit, amps humming, bottles falling, feet shuffling, ghostly voices mumbling on and off-mike, whoops of excitement, shouts of encouragement, performances without a net, masks off, urgency. It is the kind of record that goes beyond the songs themselves to create a monolithic sense of atmosphere. It conveys a sense of time and place and spirit, yet it is timeless. Its influence is still heard today. Keith Richards has said, tongue in cheek, the record "was the first grunge record.">

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Bill Janovitz's riveting look at Exile on Main Street is a must-read, not just for diehard Stones fans, but for anyone in interested in rock 'n roll, American roots music, the Sixties, and pop culture in the broadest sense. Janovitz combines the perspectives of historian, memoirist, critic, and fan in a concise appreciation of this monumental record; you'll never think about the Rolling Stones in quite the same way again after reading it." -Tom Perrota

“Janovitz, by widening and narrowing his lens at will much as the Stones themselves did with the music that inspired them, ultimately delivers a uniquely free-wheeling text that offers readers the equivalent of a fresh set of ears.” –Harp Magazine

-Mention. UglyThings/ Issue 25

About the Author

Bill Janovitz is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter in the band Buffalo Tom. He has also released three solo albums. He has written extensively for the All Music Guide online site, www.allmusic.com. He lives in Massachusetts.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 174 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic; 1 edition (February 19, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082641673X
• ISBN-13: 978-0826416735
• Product Dimensions: 4.8 x 0.4 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #191,553 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bill Janovitz was born in New York in 1966 and has been located in the Boston area since 1982. Bill is a founding member of the band Buffalo Tom, who formed at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1986 and have released eight albums, plus various compilations and singles. He started writing about music for allmusic.com and his first book was called Exile on Main St., about the Rolling Stones album of the same name, published by Continuum Books/Bloomsbury in 2005. In July 2013, St, Martin's Press will release Rocks Off: 50 Tracks That Tell the Story of the Rolling Stones, just in time for the band's 50th anniversary tour. Bill continues to record new music and perform live. He often writes new posts at his blog, PartTimeManOfRock.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on Exile yet January 20, 2007

By Kenneth Cheek

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Just finished Janovitz's Exile book and I was really impressed with his style. He provides a detailed account of the characters, setting and circumstances surrounding the recording of "Exile on Main Street". I collect books on the Stones and this easily goes into my top three due to the details of why Exile was such a breakthrough for the Stones as artists. I loved the fact that Janovitz breaks down the tracking on Exile song by song. He provides a lot of insight of the sounds and meanings behind every song. I know this record by heart but he knocked it out of the park pointing out things I hadn't considered before such as the importance of Jimmy Miller's percussion influence or Nicky Hopkin's contribution vs. Ian Stewart's on Exile.

I LOVED it. I give it 5 stars!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Read November 18, 2005

By Guy Incognito

Format:Paperback

Very detailed and well-written account of the greatest rock and roll album ever made. To be honest, I would've preferred a few hundred more pages about Exile, but Janovitz crams a lot into this little book. Worth multiple readings if you're a big fan of the album.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Stones Fans Will Love It October 6, 2005

By Danny

Format:Paperback

Bill Janovitz, frontman for Buffalo Tom and Crown Victoria, presents a well-written account of rock's greatest record. Any Clash fan who questions why "London Calling" always comes after "Exile on Main St." as the best rock record ever made will understand why after reading Janovitz's prose. The descriptions Janovitz gives of his experiences with the record are easily related to anyone who grew up in a suburban/urban area during that time-frame. I recommend the book, along with a six-pack of beer and a set of headphones.... It's just good story telling.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars the best of the 33 1/3 series November 16, 2008

By R. Dixon

Format:Paperback

This is the first of the 33 1/3 series I bought, and after reading a dozen or so, I can say it's easily the best. Most of the series focus on the music from a fairly personal point of view, and Janowitz certainly does this, but he's a knowledgeable musician and he gets what's interesting about each song. It's a very rock kind of approach to what is probably the greatest rock album.

By the way, I'm not much of a Buffalo Tom fan, so Janowitz's own status didn't influence me one way or another.

Yes, there are better books about the band, and even about the making of Exile. But this is the book you want to read while you're listening to the album. It's like having a really cool, knowledgeable rock buddy sitting with you, getting into the music and talking with you about it.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good; I only wish it were longer July 14, 2007

By Clare Quilty

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The problem with writing about "Exile" is that it's such a rich and storied period in the Stones' career that writers often down know where to start, or what tone to take once they get going.

There's more than enough music to focus on, but there's also a boatload of drug-related illicitness that could be dealt with.

Janovitz (who plays in the band Buffalo Tom and writes extensively for AMG) covers the music with a musician's expertise without getting boring, and he brings to the table the genuine enthusiasm of a Stones fan.

He writes about what the album meant to him -- and, if you're a huge fan of the record, you'll probably be able to relate to his brief tales of youth. But then he digs into the work with the enthusiasm of a musician who's breaking down songs he loves: Did Keith play electric piano on that song? Or is it Nicky Hopkins? How has the group's approach to gospel evolved in relation to earlier attempts? Who are the background vocalists on a particular song? Discuss the unusual mixing and the circumstances under which the recording was made.

Another reviewer said there's too much Janovitz here, which I don't really understand because while he has asides and a distinct, conversational voice to his writing, I think it makes this book go down a lot easier than, say, Robert Greenfield's recent hipper-than-thou present-tense misfire, "A Season in Hell with the Rolling Stones."

Plus, it's cheaper and cool and hip-pocket sized without being too small. Although I do think it may be too short.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great listeners guide to the album January 4, 2009

By whoopycat

Format:Paperback

This book functions as more of a listener's guide than a historical inside look at the sessions. While Janovitz does not unearth a ton of new information on Exile, I found his writing to be quite engaging. He points out nuances buried in this muddy recording that I had not heard before despite having listened to the album dozens of times previously. Janovitz accomplishes what any good piece of rock writing should do, and that is make you want to listen to what they are writing about.

I would contrast this book with Andy Miller's book on the Kinks' Village Green album, which is loaded with historical anecdotes and factoids, but is bit dry from a literary standpoint. I struggled to get through Miller's book, but flew through Janovitz's book.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This Beaten Streets September 21, 2005

By Jay Write

Format:Paperback

Janovitz (of the band Buffalo Tom) tells of personal accounts and uses interviews to tell of this classic rock recording. the 33 1/3 books are one of the coolest collections to come around in a long time, and any real music fan should stock up on the lot. Each books give the writer complete artistic freedom, and it truly makes for great reading. Get 'Em All! So stop playing your favorite album and just READ IT!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A 10 out of 10 April 20, 2011

By Broker

Format:Paperback

This writer drew me in and left me richer for having picked up this book. I have a renewed and expanded appreciation for Exile on Mainstreet, the Stones, and American music. This was just what I needed but I had no idea until I got into it. It's a must for anyone familiar with Exile or the Stones.