When I bought my first CD player (that’s what we used before ipods, kids), I had to also make the decision on which CD I would buy first. I was in my teen years and was a pretty big music fan at the time (still am for that matter). Had millions of cassette tapes (which you kids may know came before CD’s) and numerous copies of Rolling Stone magazines. I researched what was considered some of the greatest albums of all time (we can still say albums, can’t we?). After much research I settled on The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band. Considered by many to be one of their finest. This started a long love affair with the Beatles. I slowly became what most consider a “Beatles Person” (it should be noted that over the years, I found my favorite Beatles album to be their transitional album, Revolver, but you probably don’t really care).
If you know me at all, you may know I like to play games and start stupid conversation about trivial things. God only knows why, but it happens (often). Along these lines, I’ve been known to ask people if they are a “Stones Person” or a “Beatles Person”. Music freaks will understand that you are either one or the other. In the movie Pulp Fiction they talk about being either a Beatles Person or an Elvis Person, but I think that’s just silly (though a great movie, and I think that scene may have been cut from the final movie, but who knows). It should also be noted that to be either person you don’t necessarily have to believe one is BETTER than the other. It’s just which speaks to you.
So, as mentioned, I’ve been a Beatles Person for most of my life (starting in the early 80’s). I go through periods where that’s all I listen to (especially around the Holidays). But, recently things have changed. I find myself listening to an awful lot of The Rolling Stones. I should mention that just because I’ve been a Beatles Person, it’s not that I don’t listen to the Stones. I listen to them quite often actually. Probably have been a fan of the Rolling Stones longer than I’ve been a fan of Beatles, but something happened when I listened to that first Beatles album (well, not their first, my first, but maybe you got that).
It all started a few weeks back with the re-mastered, re-released, re-done, Stones album, Exile on Main Street. Not usually a fan of re-issued stuff, but every once in a while I’ll make that plunge. I listened to the re-issue and enjoyed it quite a bit. There’s some new life brought into it due to the clarity and the ‘new’ songs are quite good (I say new because they are new to all of us, but were written the same time as the originals). The album also made me listen to numerous talks on NPR about the remastering and stories of the legendary recording sessions in France. It was like meeting someone you knew in high school, always liked them, but suddenly you realized they spoke your language (which is a strange parallel to how I am now with my current ‘weird’ girlfriend). So, since the re-issue of Exile, I started listening to a lot of the other classics, Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Beggars Banquet! These albums speak to me. Loudly!
What am I trying to say? Am I becoming a Stones Person? CAN you change from a Beatles Person to a Stones Person? I guess I’m just asking the question more than supplying an answer. Maybe for now I’m going through that transitional stage, which seems unsettling, but I’m also finding some comfort in it. Maybe I’m also coming to grips with not categorizing myself into either? Which I’m ok with. I’m in a gray area, kinda like when you are falling asleep and you are neither sleeping or awake – I just hope that someday I don’t suddenly question if I am an Elvis Person (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
Great piece B,
I appreciate your openmindedness to the subject and enjoyed your perspective. What I always found is that the Beatles got better with time and the Stones (like Elvis) just the opposite. Just one Wonk’s opinion.
I can’t wait to hear the newly released Exile songs.
Thanks for the post, Wonk. Funny thing is that I sent this to a friend (dave), who sent it to his guitar teacher. This was his comments (which I also enjoyed reading):
“the Stones always spoke more directly and seemed “more American” because of the blues connection, as well as their appreciation and knowledge of American country music and folk. But the blues is the answer, I believe, because it speaks so universally about life that everyone can relate to. Then again, it might be that outsider status they have always cultivated (or followed them) that is so appealing as we get older (and they keep “rolling,” as it were). And those four albums – “Beggars Banquet,” “Let It Bleed,” “Sticky Fingers” and “Exile…” are just magnificent and do not age (that timeless blues thing, again), something that cannot really be said for much of the Beatles output, even at their best.”