Album Essentials: The Rolling Stones - "Some Girls"
By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor
The year was 1978, in many ways a golden year in a golden decade for rock and roll. Popular music was all over the map, caught in an identity crisis of sorts. Disco was huge business and radio dominating. Mega-albums were soup de jour, with everyone from Fleetwood Mac and Eagles, to newer acts like Foreigner and the Cars, having their day in the sun. Meanwhile, the real heart of the punk/new wave explosion was failing to connect with Middle America who, for some unfathomable reason, were enchanted with the likes of Kansas and Styx as opposed to Ramones and the Clash. Into the midst of this melting pot, enter the Rolling Stones. Did they jump or were they pushed?
The Stones, Jagger in particular, was always keeping one eye on the current trends in music so as to not have he and band get left behind. A fine notion, but by 1978, the Rolling Stones had more than proved themselves and had no need to worry about trend watching. All they needed to do in that year was deliver a good Rolling Stones album. Mission accomplished with the release of the much loved ‘Some Girls,’ released that summer.
The Rolling Stones were smart enough to merge the sounds and styles from the outside world, heat to boil, let simmer then serve as only the Stones could. Cries of ‘Disco Sellout!’ initially greeted the single ‘Miss You,’ but once the groove set in, fans realized it was simply a really good song you could, if so desired, dance to. Plus, in that late 70s Disco onslaught, no one was safe from the effect. Rod Stewart and Kiss would also have their four on the floor hits but the Stones made it sound more organic. It proved to be one of the band’s biggest hits, topping the US charts that summer.
The ‘punk’ influence could be found on tracks like ‘Respectable,’ ‘Lies,’ ‘When The Whip Comes Down’ and, especially, ‘Shattered,’ all of which quickly became FM radio staples. The title track delivered a slow, sleazy blues ride laced with funk and lyrics which would have today’s PC crew looking for a safe space, in other words, pure Rolling Stones. ‘Before They Make Me Run’ was a fine Keith spotlight while ‘Far Away Eyes’ bordered on countrified parody. Again though, it was just part of an all-inclusive take on the sounds which did abound in that glorious year. ‘Beast Of Burden’ was sweet soul goodness that hit the Top 10 and remains a radio staple.
The album was a huge hit for the band, hitting the top of the Billboard charts in America and Top 10 pretty much everywhere around the world. To this day, it remains one of many a Stones’ fan’s favorite LP. It was the right album at the right time for these guys and while they had done much better before, an argument could be made for this being the last truly great Rolling Stones album, where everything just clicked. OK, settle down all you ‘Tattoo You’ fans, just be glad we’re on the planet the same time as the Rolling Stones!
