Mount Rushmore: Songs of the Rolling Stones

[cartman]

Been going through my songs, and have been jammin' out to the Stones this morning. Then I saw the news link that they are going to do a 50th anniversary world stadium tour, and then hang it up.

So, in the tradition of Mount Rushmores, here is where you pick the 4 (and only 4) songs to be enshrined. To kick things off, here are my choices:

Gimme Shelter
This song would probably also make my all-time classic rock Mount Rushmore. Simply brilliant start to finish. The distinctive guitar, the wailing lyrics, and everything else in the song just fits together perfectly.

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Sympathy for the Devil
Another song that is complex, with many different layers both musically and lyrically, and the Stones pull it off. Helped to cement their bad boy image.

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Paint it Black
After The Beatles introduced the sitar to rock, the Stones used one in an entirely different way in this classic. Might also be considered the first "emo" song. :)

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Under My Thumb
This might be the only big rock song that features a marimba. Also infamous as the the song the Stones were playing at Altamont when the fatal Hell's Angels fight broke out.

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[rowech]

Totally agree with your first three...#4, I'm going with Satisfaction though.

[GrantDawg]

They have been around for 100 years, and I can't think of 4 songs of theirs I like. (Not really. The first three you posted are alright. Other than that, though, never got the hype).

[Anthony]

Totally agree with your first three...#4, I'm going with Satisfaction though.

Satisfaction needs to be in any definitive four listing of RS songs. it doesn't necessarily need to be one of their top 4 best songs, Rushmores are reserved for iconic things. Satisfaction is an iconic RS song (although not one of my personal faves).

[BYU 14]

Wow, you need a whole mountain range for them, but if I had to pick.

Wild Horses
Satisfaction
Brown Sugar
Gimme Shelter

[rowech]

Satisfaction needs to be in any definitive four listing of RS songs. it doesn't necessarily need to be one of their top 4 best songs, Rushmores are reserved for iconic things. Satisfaction is an iconic RS song (although not one of my personal faves).

Exactly why I chose it. It's not my favorite at all but the vast majority of people will think of that song first. Not their favorite but first.

[DanGarion]

Honestly, this is going to be extremely hard to do. I've been going through songs so far (about 1/2 way done) and I already have a list of 15. I've listened to hours and hours of Rolling Stones, my dad is a huge fan, so they are one of the bands I was brought up on.

[DanGarion]

Since I have to pick only 4 this is it.

Ruby Tuesday
Jumping Jack Flash
(I Can't Get Not) Satisfaction
Street Fighting Man

But just going through their discography there are so many good songs, this list doesn't even include great covers they did on their early albums...
Under My Thumb
I Am Waiting
Paint It Black
Sympathy For The Devil
Street Fighting Man
Jumping Jack Flash
Let's Spend The Night Together
Ruby Tuesday
Brown Sugar
Tumbling Dice
Angie
It's Only Rock'n Roll
Gimme Shelter
Let It Bleed
You Can't Always Get What You Want
Honky Tonk Woman
Heart of Stone
As Tears Go By
Miss You
Wild Horses
Bitch
(I Can't Get Not) Satisfaction
Start Me Up
I Just Want To Make Love To You
Little By Little
I Want To Be Loved
Not Fade Away
Time Is On My Side
It's All Over Now
Little Red Rooster
If You Need Me

[DanGarion]

Wow, you need a whole mountain range for them, but if I had to pick.

Wild Horses
Satisfaction
Brown Sugar
Gimme Shelter

Wild Horses nearly made my list, but then I remembered how much it really reminds me of Angie, which again nearly made my list.

[thesloppy]

I have a 12" extended mix of 'Miss You' that is 9 minutes long, with extended "Puerto Rican girls just dying to meet you" bit. Best song ever.

....and here it is:

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[Matthean]

My one knock against Wild Horses is that I like the cover version The Sundays did of it so much better.

[Sweed]

Love the Stones and not an easy list to make.

Paint it Black is non-negotiable to me.

Gun to my head, these are the other three I would select...
Satisfaction
Gimme Shelter
Brown Sugar

[cuervo72]

If I were to go with *my* Rushmore for them I'd go:

Brown Sugar
Bitch
Sympathy for the Devil
Jumping Jack Flash

Satisfaction and Paint It Black would have to bump two of those for any general list though. Probably Ruby Tuesday too.

[Lathum]

Not a big Stones fan but Wild Horses is one of my all time favorite songs.

[Anthony]

i'm not a big fan of RS, but my two favorite songs from them are Miss You (my favorite RS song) and Gimme Shelter.

[Bad-example]

Brown Sugar
Gimme Shelter
Mother's Little Helper
Sympathy for the Devil

[JAG]

Not a big Stones fan, but I'll go with:

Gimme Shelter (more for the woman singing than the Stones though)
Tumblin Dice
Paint it Black
The Last Time

[Anthony]

i think by looking at everyone's submission and personal faves - Gimme Shelter is probably the hands down lock for "best Stones song ever".

[Kevin]

Ruby Tuesday
Paint it Black
Sympathy for the Devil
Satisfaction

Not a Mount Rushmore, but a personal favourite - Far Away Eyes

[thesloppy]

i think by looking at everyone's submission and personal faves - Gimme Shelter is probably the hands down lock for "best Stones song ever".

Just as an aside, I had probably been listening to Gimme Shelter for over 20 years, before I realized that the chorus was "Rape" and "Murder".

[King of New York]

- Gimme Shelter
- Sister Morphine
- Street Fighting Man
- Loving Cup

Honorable Mention:
- Anything from "Exile on Main Street" (or really anything released between 1968 and 1972)
- Angie

[JimboJ]

Geez its tough enough to do with Stones albums, let along songs. But I think you first have to narrow it down to the 4 greatest albums, and then pick the best song from each album

Exile on Main Street - Tumblin Dice
Let it Bleed - Gimme Shelter
Sticky Fingers - Brown Sugar
Beggars Banquet - Sympathy for the Devil