boombox-generation
Probably one of their best, but age has not been kind to the Stones or this album. Sympathy would be a stellar opener for any album, and Jigsaw and Parachute are great to end side 1, but Stray Cat Blues kind of sums up the toxic blokeishness (ahem) at the heart of Their Satanic Majesties. And what can you say about Factory Girl & Salt of the Earth? Perhaps the title is more apt than it initially seems.
2
jason-cobb
Beggars would work far better without the distraction of Sympathy. Sure, it anchors the whole album. But after opening with what is undoubtably a monument, there's nowhere else to go. But without the Sympathy, then Beggars is a really interesting, ragged, almost kooky collection of songs. It captures the comedown of '68. Street Fighting Man should be the lead track. It shows that The Stones were once a very dangerous band.
4