It’s hard to believe that it’s been 50 years since The Rolling Stones unleashed Their Satanic Majesties Request on the world. This was the Stones’s response to The Beatles’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band which explains the costumes on the album cover (both cover photographs were taken by Michael Cooper).
Keith Richards claims in his 2010 memoir Life that “none of us wanted to make [Satanic Majesties], but it was time for another Stones album, and Sgt. Pepper’s was coming out, so we thought basically we were doing a put-on.”
I’ve always considered Their Satanic Majesties Request a quirky album. The variety of songs and styles constantly surprise with each listening. The “hit” on this album was “She’s a Rainbow.” This CD has been totally remastered in both mono and stereo. A vinyl edition is also available. Are you a Rolling Stones fan? What did you think of Their Satanic Majesties Request when you first heard it? GRADE: B+
TRACK LIST:
1. Sing This All Together
2. Citadel
3. In Another Land
4. 2000 Man
5. Sing This All Together (See What Happens)
6. She’s A Rainbow
7. The Lantern
8. Gomper
9. 2000 Light Years From Home
10. On With The Show
This album was one of those I immediately bought – couldn’t wait for my friends and then copy it to tape …
And for a Science Fictian fan like me of course ” 2000 Light Years From Home” was the number one!
Wolf, for some reason “2000 Light Years From Home” just isn’t played much over here.
I don’t think I’ve heard it since 1972 and the only song I remember is She’s a Rainbow! But I’ve always been a Stones fan and I’m sure I’d find plenty to like on this album if I bought it, which I won’t!
Bob, this remastered CD sounds great! You would love it! Ask Santa to bring you a copy.
Of course, I’ve listened to the entire album, but the only song that grabs me is SHE’S A RAINBOW. I’m more of a LET IT BLEED/STICKY FINGERS/EXILE ON MAIN STREET kinda gal.
Deb, I’m with you on LET IT BLEED, STICKY FINGERS, and EXILE ON MAIN STREET! There’s where the Stones really hit their groove.
I really like “She’s a Rainbow,” but I’m not a big fan of the rest of the album. I like the ones Deb mentions a lot more.
Bill, THEIR SATANIC MAJESTIES REQUEST was more of a concept album (remember them?). Like you and Deb, I prefer the Stones’s later albums.
I’m a huge Stones fan. But this is not one of my favorites.
Steve, your opinion is shared with the majority of the commenters. Yet, I’m glad I bought this 50th Anniversary CD for the improved sound.
Although I have enjoyed the odd song here or there, I was never much of a Stones fan. I can’t say why though. I think it was their swaggering performances that put me off. But I am tempted to go through their songs and see if I missed a lot all of these years.
Patti, there are several GREATEST HITS compilations of The Rolling Stones music. Your local public library may own some of them.
Other than “She’s a Rainbow” it left me cold. Give me LET IT BLEED (which I still play regularly) any day.
PS – They – appropriately – used “Paint It Black” at the end of one episode of VIETNAM. I once heard a fascinating interview on my local station with Bill Wyman talking about the recording of that song, which has always been one of my favorites.
Jeff, “Paint It Black” is the perfect song for ending a VIETNAM episode! So is The Animals “We Gotta Get Outta This Place.”
The only one I’m sure I heard is rainbow. I probably should get one and give it a listen, but I won’t. I agree with Deb and most others on better albums.
Maggie, THEIR SATANIC MAJESTIES REQUEST dates from 1967. The Stones got a lot better in the next decade.
Not an album I liked, or bought. I don’t remember any of the songs other than “She’s a Rainbow” being played on radio stations. I notice that “Paint It Black” ( a favorite Stones song) isn’t on the soundtrack album, though “Gimme Shelter” is.
Other songs on that 2-CD album that I love are “What’s Going On?” by Marvin Gaye and “Get Together” by the Youngbloods.
Rick, I’m very fond of the Youngblood’s song “Quicksand.”
Rick, by coincidence I picked up the 2 CD collection of the FORREST GUMP (a movie I hate, by the way) soundtrack in the basement laundry room of our building, where someone discarded it. It was a surprisingly good collection of mostly ’60s music, including “Get Together.”
Jeff, I have a copy of that FORREST GUMP soundtrack, but I haven’t found time to listen to it. I’ll track it down and give it a listen after your positive comment!
FORREST GUMP soundtrack:
Track Listings
Disc: 1
1. Hound Dog – Elvis Presley
2. Rebel Rouser – Duane Eddy
3. (I Don’t Know Why) But I Do – Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry
4. Walk Right In – The Rooftop Singers
5. Land of 1000 Dances – Wilson Pickett
6. Blowin’ In the Wind – Joan Baez
7. Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival
8. I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) – The Four Tops
9. Respect – Aretha Franklin
10. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 – Bob Dylan
11. Sloop John B. – The Beach Boys
12. California Dreamin’ – The Mamas & The Papas
13. For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield
14. What the World Needs Now Is Love – Jackie DeShannon
15. Break On Through (To the Other Side) – The Doors
16. Mrs. Robinson – Simon & Garfunkel
Disc: 2
1. Volunteers – Jefferson Airplane
2. Let’s Get Together – The Youngbloods
3. San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers In Your Hair) – Scott McKenzie
4. Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) – The Byrds
5. Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In – The 5th Dimension
6. Everybody’s Talkin’ – Harry Nilsson
7. Joy to the World – Three Dog Night
8. Stoned Love – The Supremes
9. Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head – B.J. Thomas & Troye Davenport
10. Mr. President (Have Pity On the Working Man) – Randy Newman
11. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
12. Running On Empty – Jackson Browne
13. It Keeps You Runnin’ – The Doobie Brothers
14. I’ve Got to Use My Imagination – Gladys Knight & The Pips
15. Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
16. On the Road Again – Willie Nelson
17. Against the Wind – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
18. Forrest Gump Suite – Alan Silvestri
Jeff, very nice TRACK LIST! I’m definitely going to look for my FORREST GUMP soundtrack!
Pretty good list. Could do without the Fifth Dimension, BJ Thomas and Doobie Brothers.
Steve, I like the Motown selections on the FORREST GUMP soundtrack.
Haven’t watched the movie, but the sound track looks nice, many favourites of mine.
Totally OT:
Just read an extremely positive review of Blade Runner 2049 which should start next week – sounds fantastic!
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/sep/29/blade-runner-2049-review-ryan-gosling-harrison-ford-denis-villeneuve
george, will you see it?
Will anyone else watch and report on it here?
Wolf, I plan to see the BLADE RUNNER sequel. I’ll post a review on this blog as soon as I can.
TSMR is my favorite Stones album being their most psychedelic followed by Let It Bleed and Sticky Fingers. For some reason I am not an Exile fan
Scott, THEIR SATANIC MAJESTIES REQUEST is certainly The Rolling Stones’s most unique album!
I always thought this was by far their greatest album ever. Can’t understand why I’m always the only one thinking so. For me “She’s a Rainbow” and “2000 Light Years” are their best songs ever – together with “Paint It Black” and “Ruby Tuesday”, but since both of the latter were non-album singles, that means Their Satanic is basically 2-0 on every other Stones album. On top of that you get the incendiary rock of “Citadel” and “2000 Man” and the gorgeous psychedelic jingle-jangle of “The Gomper.” I even like the “Sing This All Together” jam which everyone seems to hate. I think it’s wonderful – all over the place in a good way and with an undercurrent of something dark and dangerous. Altogether, by far their best album. Second place goes to Between the Buttons!
kristen, you have exquisite taste in Rolling Stones music! I’m a fan of EXILE ON MAIN STREET.