There is probably no other album in the Rolling Stones’ storied catalog with as much of a story behind it as their classic (and arguably best) 1972 album Exile On Main Street.
In 1971 the band, owing considerable back taxes in their native England, headed to Nellcote in the south of France to a house Keith Richards had rented to begin work on their next album. It was a ragtag session to say the least. With Richards deep in the throes of a steady heroin addiction, constant attention from the French police and a rotating cast of players that included Bill Plummer, Bobby Keys, Mick Taylor, Charlie Watts, Jimmy Miller and Mick Jagger who made intermediate appearances, the freewheeling sessions resulted in a mix of different musicians on each track and variety of styles over the course of the eventual double album.
The basic tracks were taken to Los Angeles where more songs and overdubs were recorded, and where Jagger took a more authoritative role over the sessions. They were also joined by more collaborators including Billy Preston and Dr. John. When the album was finally released, boasting now iconic album cover art by photographer Robert Frank (who also directed the controversial Stones’ doc “Cocksucker Blues”) it was initially panned but is now regarded as a touchstone rock ‘n roll classic.
Director Stephen Kijack (“Scott Walker: 30 Century Man”) has documented the making of the album for his latest documentary “Stones In Exile.” The trailer for the film, which is set to unveil at a special screening during the Director’s Fortnight at Cannes, hints at a rollicking account of the events surrounding the album that is due to be re-released not so coincidentally next week. But if you can’t make it to the Croisette, no worries, because the wait to see this one will be short. It will hit DVD June 14th internationally and June 22nd in the U.S.