Scratch a Track: Music Review and Commentary Podcast · The Dude and Grimm Show

The Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet - Album Review

·51 min·3 clips

The hosts call 'Sympathy for the Devil' a six-minute song with the signature 'woo woo' hook.

The hosts open by welcoming listeners to a Beggars Banquet conversation. They call it a beggar's banquet and settle into the Rolling Stones record. One host talks about a Record Store Day 2023 version. They describe the pressing and joke that it looks like a bowling ball. They also mention seeing several copies at a record shop. The copy is praised as something worth grabbing if you want the album or just cool vinyl. The conversation moves into the appeal of the clear copy one host owns and the odd visual effect of the grooves. That leads into a broader point about how the Stones embody rawness. The hosts contrast that with the Beatles' more polished studio approach. They argue that not every record needs to sound crystal clear. They bring up criticism that Exile on Main St. sounds rough or even bad to some listeners. Their view is that the grit gives these records character and personality. The talk then turns to how Beggars Banquet was recorded. They focus on the idea that Keith Richards used early cassette-style machines because they overloaded in a good way. They connect that to the compressed guitar sound on Street Fighting Man. They also mention a drum-kit-related note. The discussion lands on how overload and redlining can make a sound feel more electric. Near the end, they open up the rankings question. Listeners are asked where they place Beggars Banquet in the Stones' big four, or whether their own top tier leaves it out. The episode closes by inviting people to share what they would scratch and what they would keep.

As heard by us

A loose, gear-minded Stones talk that treats Beggars Banquet as rough-edged character on purpose.

The piece treats Beggars Banquet as a record with real character, letting the colored reissue, the bowling-ball look of the vinyl, and the Stones' roughness carry the conversation.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a Stones album chat that cares about how Beggars Banquet sounds, not just the songs.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Scratch a Track: Music Review and Commentary Podcast