Customer Rating:  
Summary: Goats Head Soup-End of an Era
Comment: Well...we saw it coming! This album would probably only be in your collection because you wanted to complete your Stones collection...right?Well I'm a huge Rolling Stones fan and it's NOT in my collection,(I lost a huge amount of albums in a flood and GHS was one of them).I remember buying this album when it first came out,taking it home and putting it on the Pioneer turntable and.....disappointment.That is why I have not replaced it.To me,this album is where the Stones got off the musician train and got on the rock star train.It's not their fault I suppose.After pumping out all those fabulous albums of the late 60's,early 70's,mediocrity was bound to catch up with them and did, starting with Goats Head Soup and continuing with almost everything after.It's not suprising what with Mick and Keith feuding almost non-stop,Mick jet-setting all over the world,Keith's legal problems from drug busts starting to take their toll,as well as his addictions.It's a known fact that GHS was recorded in Jamaica because that was one of the few countries that would allow Keith in.Anyways,the album lacks the energy of it's predecessors.While "Angie" was the only top-ten hit,GHS was a #1 album overall(USA).Don't misunderstand me,by Rolling Stones standards this is a good album,just not a great one.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Bit Adrift After Exile, But Still Worthy
Comment: Keith's into H, Mick's into Bianca, the 1972-73 Stones are beginning to lose touch with the comprehensive vision that created Exile On Main Street, but Goat's Head Soup is still something any modern band would die for. "Dancing With Mr. D" is a slow,snaky sequel to "Sympathy," "A Hundred Years Ago" a rousing '70 leftover from the Marianne Faithfull days, "Coming Down Again" a lost gem of a ballad from Keith, and "Can You Hear The Music" pioneers the clavinet sound that would become so central to Queen's work throughout the decade. And don't forget "Angie."
It's only in the loudly empty "Silver Train," groovy but repetitive "Hide Your Love," Elvis Vegasy "(Doo Doo) Heartbreaker," and cheap Chuck Berry knock-off "Star Star" that the album shows a band nodding off at the wheel, but compared to Cher, the Captain Tennile and other goop of '73, they're still keeping hope alive.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Tired of eating the same old meal? Have a taste of this for something different.
Comment: It was bound to happen. It was inevitable. As it was, it was still quite jarring to the listener when "Goat's Head Soup" was released in 1973 coming off the heels of an amazing 8 year run (1965-1972) of some of the most amazing music ever put on this planet. At the time this was a major disappointment to Stones fans, however, time has been kind to this release and has softened the blow that originally (and unfairly) gave it the reputation as being a lousy record and follow up to the monumental "Exile". In many ways, it IS the disappoinment of legend because this was the first 'slip-up' of 'The Greatest rock and roll band in the world". They were human, after all and perhaps, tired. In other ways this stands as a more than competent collection of rock and roll songs played by a very competent band. After all, a Stones record with some flaws is still about as good as any other rock and roll record out there.
The album opens with a lazy vintage Keith riff intoducing "Dancing with Mr. D." As far as Stones openers go, this was not along the same lines as the previous 4 releases. The groove never really seems to catch hold and the lyrics, although not completely ridiculous are pretty darn close. The second song, "100 Years Ago" is where the album begins to take hold. Opening with an organ riff and ending with a heavily wah-wahed solo by Taylor you have a song that is great but overshadowed by other songs the Stones have done. Although not as good, it's fate has become similar to that of "Sway" from "Sticky Fingers". "Coming Down Again" is a countryish-styled ballad sung by Keith. It is one of his best performances that, if you know anything about his life during this time, is very interesting lyrically. Of course the next 2 songs represent the hits from this release, "Heartbreaker" and the heartbreaking "Angie"-two bona-fide Stones classics.
The second half kicks off with a rocking "Silver Train" and contains a stellar slide guitar workout by Taylor. However, this song seems to sum up the problem that is inherent on "Goat's Head" and that is that although the songs are very good they often sound like imitations of GREAT songs they have done in the past. In this case, this is an inferior version of "All Down the Line" from "Exile". The album continues on to "Hide Your Love", a piano driven blues song with some great lead lines played by Taylor and the beautiful ballad, "Winter" which is reminiscent of "Moonlight Mile" from "Sticky Fingers" but not nearly as transcendant (What could be?). "Can You Hear the Music" follows and is a psychedelic styled song I didn't like at first but repeated (and closer) listens have, over time, revealed it's subtle charms. The last song is the notorious "Star Star" or otherwise known as "Starf*****". Built upon a swinging Chuck Berry riff the song is all at once funny, funky, rocking, sexy and daring..everything we have always loved about the Stones.
Time has been kind to "Goat's Head Soup" and although not a classic, it is still a GREAT rock and roll album. Yes, there are some flaws but it is a competent and fairly cohesive collection of songs and the record reveals a charm all of it's own. This is not the place to start if you're a newbie but if you're already a fan, there is lots to like about this recording.
Any Stones collection must start with the following (in order of release):
Aftermath (UK version)
Beggar's Banquet
Let it Bleed
Get Yer Ya Ya's Out (live)
Sticky Fingers
Exile on Main Street
Some Girls
Tattoo You
If you own these and your Stones cravings are still not satisfied I recommend:
Their Satanic Majesties Request
Goat's Head Soup
It's Only Rock and Roll
Steel Wheels
Voodoo Lounge
A Bigger Bang
Shine a Light (live)
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Smorgasbord Which Yields One Classic
Comment: The sessions which comprised the August 1973 release commenced in 1970 and wrapped up in June 1973. The cornerstone of the 10 tracks is Angie, which is simply one of the best ballads the band ever produced in a studio.
But the servings get a bit scimpy after that, with the best of the rest being Dancing with Mr. D, an updated version of the classic, Jumpin' Jack Flash; Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) - a foray into the cries from the street - and Star Star, a ribald romp into the "ultimate" trappings of rock superstardom.
With the prodigious output which preceded this release, there was going to be a time where the band would logically take a step back. And with such personal issues as simply finding a studio to record material - Keith Richards was essentially a man without a country around this time - the smorgasbord ends up lukewarm.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Comparisons?
Comment: Why do we need to compare this album and It's Only Rock n' Roll to Exile? Both are great albums that stand on their own! Can you hear the music?
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