6. The Rolling Stones Frank ZappaSticky Fingers
I chose this one because of Mick Taylor; my favourite guitarist in the Stones, and the most virtuoso one they had, but he was still soulful. I am a fan of the Stones but sometimes they make it hard. I thought the Hyde Park concert – which I came across on TV – was dreadful. If your first exposure is the wrong version of the Stones then I can see how you would be dubious of them.
It was hard to pick just one Stones album, they have been the soundtrack to my life since the age of 15. I’m also partial to Between The Buttons, and Some Girls, but Sticky Fingers is hard to beat; it’s the first full album with Mick Taylor. I like this album not so much for hits like ‘Brown Sugar’ but the slower, sadder side two, with ‘I Got The Blues’, ‘Dead Flowers’ and most especially ‘Moonlight Mile’. I love Mick Taylor’s playing; he is the best guitarist they ever had in the band, not a show-off, just very pleasurable to listen to. For the same reason I love side two of Tattoo You, which comes out ten years later, but once again side two features Mick Taylor on a couple of songs (uncredited).
