Keith Richards says one Rolling Stones album is where new listeners should start but fans don’t agree

Keith Richards’ opinion on where new listeners should start with The Rolling Stones‘ discography has divided fans of the band.

While there is no shortage of choices when it comes to listening to the band’s output, Richards believes incoming listeners should start with one of the group’s heyday releases. An interview with the guitar legend saw him suggest their 1972 album release was the best place to start for non-Stones fans. He said: “I’d say Exile on Main St.[because] it’s a double album, so there’s more range on it. But it also is the pointer. It’s amazing.

“We had to fight to put that one out, but eventually, everybody got it.” But fans who only just found his comments have disagreed with the decade-old suggestion and are now sharing their own suggestions on where to start with The Rolling Stones’ discography. Those who have yet to listen to The ‘Stones’ work were told to avoid Exile on Main St. and instead head for an album which released just before it.

One user took to The Rolling Stones subreddit and wrote: “Keith Richards says Exile on Main St. is the best Stones album for people to start with. I disagree. While Exile is my favourite, I think it’s a slow burner of an album that takes a while to understand. It’s great as a collective work that has a certain vibe and atmosphere, rather than one loaded with hits, so I wouldn’t say it’s the best album for a non-Stones fan to start with.

“I got into the Stones through Beggars Banquet myself, but if I was to recommend one for people to start with, I’d say Sticky Fingers as I think it’s the most comprehensive out of the big 4. It’s a solid tracklist with a few hits too.

“What album got you into the Stones? Or what would you recommend to someone who’s starting out?” Plenty of replies to this question were found in the comments below, with many suggesting the likes of Sticky Fingers. One user wrote: “It’s easy to pick the starter albums. Sticky Fingers and Some Girls. If they don’t like those, they’ll never like The Stones.”

Another added: “I would start with Let It Bleed. It has a wide range of accessible styles, plus it opens and closes with two of the absolute best songs.” Other users are suggesting Hot Rocks, a compilation album which features work from Mick Jagger and the band from 1964 to 1971, is the right place to start.

One user wrote: “Hot Rocks was my first Stones album and great to start with. Still, I hate that The Last Time was not included. Hot Rocks covers 1964-1971 and every track is good, but I think The Last Time is better than roughly half the songs included on Hot Rocks. I like songs like Play With Fire for instance, but it is not as important a song as The Last Time.”

Others believe starting with Exile on Main St. may be a “turn-off” for those not ready for The Rolling Stones post-Let it Bleed work. They wrote: “Exile on Main St. is an acquired taste, you learn to love it as you get to know it. But someone not familiar with The Stones style and sound I doubt would get it at first and may even be turned off by it.”

Another added: “I think Let it Bleed, then Sticky Fingers, then Exile on Main St. It’s a lot to walk into, you’ll be in a dirty sweaty French basement two songs in going ‘what the fuck is going on here’, you can’t prepare for that ride.”