The Rolling Stones-Beggars Banquet  

The Rolling Stone- Beggars Banquet  Decca (UK), London Records (US)Release Date: December 6, 1968 (UK), January 1969 (US)Beggars Banquet marked a decisive turning point for The Rolling Stones, signaling a return to the blues, country, and folk influences that first defined the band after the psychedelic detour of Their Satanic Majesties Request. Released in 1968, the album combines raw musicianship with more mature songwriting, as Mick Jagger and Keith Richards explored themes of politics, morality, and social unrest during one of the most turbulent years of the twentieth century. Songs such as "Sympathy for the Devil," "Street Fighting Man," and "Salt of the Earth" remain among the band's most enduring works, while Brian Jones added distinctive touches on slide guitar, harmonica, sitar, and percussion despite his declining role in the group. Producer Jimmy Miller and pianist Nicky Hopkins helped shape the album's earthy, organic sound. Beggars Banquet launched the Stones' greatest creative period, paving the way for Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile on Main St., four albums that cemented their place among rock's greatest bands. (S5 -EP28)