100 Greatest Albums of All Time

58. Beggars Banquet, The Rolling Stones ABKCO, 1968

“When we had been in the States between 1964 and ’66, I had gathered together this enormous collection of records, but I never had any time to listen to them,” Keith Richards recalled. “In late 1966 and ’67, I unwrapped them and actually played them.” After the wayward psychedelia of 1967’s Their Satanic Majesties Request, and with guitarist Brian Jones largely AWOL, Richards’ record collection led the Rolling Stones back to their version of America: country music on “Dear Doctor,” the blues on “Prodigal Son” and urban riots on “Street Fighting Man.” And “Sympathy for the Devil” is an anthem for the darkness in every human heart ”“ in other words, just one more example of the Stones getting back to basics.