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IT'S ONLY ROCK N ROLL
Twenty Reviews - Overall Average Rating - 8.0 Tongues
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IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
by
Dominic
October 22, 2017
Rating: 
It's Only Rock and Roll is one of my favorite Stones albums. I've really never understood why their mid seventies albums (GHS, IORR, BnB) are considered fairly weak, even though people have warmed up to them in time, they still receive some criticism as being mediocre. I think all 3 of those albums, while not living up to the big 4 of Beggars, Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile, are really good, with IORR being my favorite of the three. I like all the songs.
"If You Can't Rock Me" is awesome, I love the sound, especially during the verses. "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" is probably my favorite Stones cover. "It's Only Rock And Roll (But I Like It)" is a classic for good reason. "Till The Next Goodbye" is extremely underrated, one of my favorite Stones songs in general. Favorite part is the middle bridge of "I can't go on like this, can ya?". "Time Waits For No One" is also incredibly underrated, the first half of the song with the lyrics are awesome, as is the second half with Mick Taylor's great solo. "Luxury" is another great song, reggae-rock like. Much like "If You Can't Rock Me" and "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" and many others on this album, there's just something about the verses that sound awesome, Mick does a great job of singing them always. "Dance Little Sister" is simple and great, makes you want to party to it. "If You Really Want To Be My Friend" is an amazing ballad. I love the way the backing vocals sound especially when the kick in after the main vocal. "Short And Curlies" is jokey, but the band pulls it off, it's a fun one to hear. "Fingerprint File" is incredible, very dark and great sounding, especially the part with the lyrics being essentially spoken.
All in all great album, probably my favorite outside of the 1968-1972 run of albums.
To listen to some sound clips from
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N
ROLL or to buy it click here:
It's Only Rock 'N Roll
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IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
by Mike
Farina
April 6, 2013
Rating:
I remember becoming "cool" in eighth grade because I finally got into "rock
and roll". Who better than becoming a fan of "The Greatest Rock N' Roll Band in
The World" ( a la Ya Ya's). The year was 1978 and the Stones were
making their "comeback" with Some Girls, After becoming a fan, I
started to explore the wealth of their prior discography.
IORR I
think has been unfairly lumped into the triumvirate of the albums which classify
the Stone's mid 70's slump during the post Exile and pre Some Girls
period consisting of Goats Head Soup, IORR and Black and Blue.
I concede that someone growing up during that time would find Goats Head
Soup the equivalent of falling out of control into the Grand Canyon after
the magnum opus of Exile on Main Street and the four prior core albums
which signify the "glory years" for the Stones of Beggar's Banquet, Let it
Bleed, Ya-Ya's and Sticky Fingers.
I remember universally
that Soup and Black and Blue were generally derided by the
public during their release (and I think more so Soup based upon the
albums that preceded it. However, IORR was generally regarded as "good"
not "great" mind you album and I still think it is after more than 30 years
after it's release. Every song is listenable and enjoyable. The album starts out
with the adrenalin pounding "If you can't Rock Me" and just glides along with
the Title hit Song, Mick Taylor's tour de force guitar solo on "Time Waits for
No One", the great reggae tribute "Luxury" (why they passed this up as a single
is baffling), If 'You Really Want to be my Friend', and the big brother, 1984
overtones of the excellent "Fingerprint File" to end out the album.
Many
fans (myself included) consider the Mick Taylor era the best incarnation of the
band. Mick Taylor is definitely on target on what would be his last album with
the band. If you get the chance pick this one up and make it part of your
collection. You'll be glad you did.
More fan reviews:
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
by Henry
January 9, 2011
Rating:
It's Only Rock N' Roll is a very good album. The reason I gave
it an eight and a half rating is because it's not a masterpiece. The album does
have some very strong songs. "If You Can't Rock Me" has a great guitar riff. It
sounds like Mick and the boys had a lot of fun recording it. "Ain't Too Proud To
Beg" is a fair cover of a Temptations song. The title track is one of the most
known songs on the album. "Till The Next Goodbye" is a beautiful love song, like
others which they have done before. "Time Waits For No One" is a different kind
of song for them, that's not a bad thing though.
"Luxury" has a good rhythm and it's fun to sing
along to. "Dance Little Sister" is okay, I really like Charlie's drum beat. "If
You Really Want To Be My Friend" is a really mellow song, I think it's just a
bit too long. "Short And Curlies" is a great, great song. And finally
"Fingerprint File". It is a funky sounding song. The guitar on this tune is
great and Mick's vocals is what makes the song one of the best tracks on the
album. It's Only Rock N' Roll is not a perfect album, but it worth
listening to.
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
by devilsadvocate
December 18, 2009
Rating:
It's Only Rock 'n Roll is not as great as the band's masterpieces, but it's still
a very strong album. It marks a return to a more "classic" Stones sound after
the mellow Goat's Head Soup. The album kicks off on a strong note, with the
excellent "If You Can't Rock Me". "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" follows,
and then the title track picks up the pace again. Co-written by Ronnie Wood (although he
is uncredited), it is one of the strongest tracks on the album.
"Till the Next Goodbye" slows things down for a while. It contains some very
nice slide guitar from Mick Taylor, sadly the last slide guitar we would get to hear from
him as a Stone. If he does a good job on this song, he positively shines on the next one:
"Time Waits for No One", a sad and nostalgic song and possibly the album's best
offering, ends with a long and brilliant Taylor guitar solo which is surely one of his
most unforgettable moments with the band.
The next three songs, "Luxury", "Dance Little Sister" and the drippy
ballad "If You Really Want to Be My Friend" are all nice without being
spectacular. "Short and Curlies" is a really fun number with some great piano by
Ian Stewart, who really does a nice boogie-woogie job on this one. The last song is one of
the album's best and has to be one of the Stones's most unusual, although I'm not sure I
agree with the assessment that it is rap before rap's time, despite the spoken section.
The song's message, which is quite disturbing, can be summed up in 5 words: Big Brother is
watching you!
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
By JT Curtis
September 30, 2003
Rating:
It's Only Rock 'n Roll but I REALLY like it! A nice album to wrap up the Mick
Taylor years. Taylor was a highlight on all five albums he's played on: Let it Bleed,
Ya Ya's, Sticky Fingers, Exile, and especially Goat Head's Soup. On this
one, Mick T. and everyone else in the band puts in a solid effort.
"If You Can't Rock Me" is a great way to kick off the album. Keith's open G
guitar is what we've been waiting for since the end of Goat Heads Soup and Taylor
plays in between. Charlie drives the band forward and Mick sings great. "Aint to
Proud to Beg" is a nice cover with some great clavinet playing by Billy Preston.
"It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I like it)" is the big song here. Both Micks,
Keith, and even future Stones member Ronnie Wood play with faces members Kenny Jones and
Willie Weeks. This song rocks hard giving a party atmosphere. This song really is pure
Stones Rock 'n Roll, and I like it too!!
When you think that "Till the Next Goodbye" is the last song Taylor played on,
it almost seems like the Stones are saying goodbye to him. Mick T. almost seems to answer
their calls with his slide work. But it's really "Time waits for No One" which
gets you down about Mick T. leaving the band. This is a great song!!!! Taylor. goes on
jamming in the end continually returning to a beautiful lick. Pianist Nicky Hopkins works
with him towards the end. A personal favorite!
"Luxury" is fun and rockin'. Keith plays a solo here, and if you listen to some
of the solos he did before Mick T joined the group, I think you can here what an
improvement Keith has made on his lead playing in part thanks to Mick Taylor. "Dance
Little Sister" and "Short and Curlies" are nice straight rockers to get you
going. "If You Want to be my friend" is also a nice ballad. However,
"Fingerprint File" is my favorite on the last half of this album. Great wah work
by Mick T. and great vocals by Jagger, especially Bill Wyman's grooving bass! Sounds like
a shot at reggae to me. And if you look back at this album, you'll see that Stones have
gone from straight rockers to Motown to country to RMB to Gospel and to Reggae. Therefore
this album isn't only rock 'n roll but I still like it!
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
By fred gismondi
July 8, 2003
Rating:
This is probably the saddest album for Stones fans as it marks Mick Taylor's farewell
album. It is an uneven work, some tracks are great, some bad, and some mediocre, which
keeps it from being in the class of Beggars Banquet or Exile. But at its
best on "Time Waits For No One" , "Luxury" and "If You Cant Rock
Me", it shows what the Stones could have done had Taylor continued in the band.
"Time Waits For No One" is arguably the Stones greatest performance on record .
Not just Taylor's incredible solo but great playing by the entire band. Listen to Keith's
great second guitar, Nicky Hopkins' piano and Wymans' bass, and then compare it to
anything they did with Ron Wood and you will hear the difference. Ditto the incredible
ensemble playing on "Luxury". These are songs most people have never heard. The
album does have filler, an awful loud version of "Aint To Proud To Beg", an
uninspired song "Short and Culies", which sounds like an outtake, and the
most overrated song the Stones ever produced - the album's title cut. But listen to
"Time Waits For No One" and you will realize how much great music the Stones
could have made had Taylor stayed on over the next 30 years. instead the Stones ossified
with Wood. They just repeated themselves over and over. What is so great about Wood being
able to copy Taylor's solos thirty years later on the licks tour?
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
By ronan
June 21, 2003
Rating:
It's Only Rock and Roll is the most interesting Stones albums ever. The Stones
are known for a raw loose sound and this record is very polished with a gloss sound.
Opening numbers "Ain't to Proud to Beg" and "If You Can't Rock Me" are
two examples of this polished production. The following song "It's Only Rock and
Roll" is a rocker with Jagger sounding like a horror star..."blood on
stage." "Till the Next Time" a ballad that follows is Jagger doing his best
version of a crooner. "Time Waits For No One" is step in a direction The Stones
never went in. Mick Taylor shows how diverse he can be for the last time with the Stones.
The guitar solo displayed is magical and gives a mellow fusion sound to the instrumental
finale. "Luxury" is a reggae esque song where Jagger displays an island accent.
"Dance Little Sister" is the Stones rocking out with the rawest sound on the
album. "If You Really Want To Be My Friend" is a ballad that never ends. No high
points to this song even when the choir joins in. "Short and Curlies" gets lost
in the mix. "Finger Print File" has the most soul sound and is a big electronic
experiment with great bass riffs.
This album is worth checking out for the production that is the last of it's kind for the
Stones.
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
By Joe Cassandra
June 12, 2003
Rating:
This is a mediocre album, not reaching to the same hype as Let it Bleed
"If You Can't Rock Me" is not the best opening line to start off the
masterpiece, but it is a real hand-banger rocker, with Keef banging out a simple riff, and
Jagger hollering yells about being on stage.
"Ain't too Proud too Beg" is a simple copy of the 60's hit with extra spice on
the guitar.
"It's Only Rock n' Roll" is a perfect blend of guitars and drums, but without
2/5 of the band playing with appearances by Face members. It starts slow then speeds up to
Jaggers liking, not one of my favorites though.
"Till the Next Goodbye" is one of my favorites from the album as a slow ballad,
with superb bass by Wyman.
"Time Waits for No One" is another favorite, with great drums by Charlie, and a
beautiful 2 min. solo by Taylor.
"Luxury" is an okay blend about the want for riches with some pure Keef riffing.
"Dance Little Sister" is a unsatisfying song revolving around sharp Charlie
beats, and Keith's riffs.
"If You Really Want to Be My friend" is a song good at first that starts out
good at a slow pace, but drags out to an extra 4 min of repeating, and Jagger catching
breaths during stoppage.
"Short and Curlies" is a simple jittering song, with great piano by Ian Stewart,
but doesn't fit well with the rest of the album.
Finally, "Fingerprint File" my favorite piece puts Bill in the spotlight with
exciting bass riffs, while Jagger stakes out in the front hollering about the FBI, and
finally performing a rap backed by Charlie and front-and-center Wyman.
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
By Locked Away
November 30, 2002
Rating:
This is their worst album, the end result of deteriorating musical and lyrical standards
that started with Goat’s Head Soup. Exile On Main Street had been
their absolute masterpiece, and of course there was only one way to go, but did they have
to go down so quickly? At least with GHS there is some effort here and there-
'Coming Down Again', 'Silver Train' etc. But for me there is little on IORR that
can compare to the weaker cuts on Exile and much of it would be below par for
later albums. Despite this, I cannot write it off completely. Keith’s riff machine is
as good as ever- 'If You Can’t Rock Me' and the title track for example, the slower
number 'If You Really Want To Be My Friend' contains one of their best hooks, and 'Short
& Curlies' is a welcome touch of humor.
As an album though its just too patchy, too mediocre- 'Dance Little Sister' is simply
awful, and 'Luxury', though amusing, sounds like a shadow of the band that recorded
'Exile' just two years earlier.' Fingerprint File' is a highlight, but is it really the
Rolling Stones, or a one off studio experiment? Sadly, Mick Taylor never again graced a
Rolling Stones album with his technical wizardry, and with this album they enter a whole
new phase, but fortunately this is the least good example- Black and Blue would
be much stronger.
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
By Thijs den Otter
September 25, 2002
Rating:
But I like it! Although the '68-'72 joyride was over, the Rolling Stones were still able
to put together a great album. The first two songs on this album - 'If You Can't Rock Me'
and 'Ain't To Proud To Beg' - are a real burst of energy. These songs are followed by the
best song on this album. 'It's Only Rock 'n Roll' is one of the best 'basic' rock songs
ever made. 'Time Waits For No One' is another gem. As is 'Fingerprint File'. 'Short and
Curlies' is underrated by many fans I know, but one of the nicest tracks on this record as
far as I'm concerned. Still, there are a few songs I don't care for much. 'Luxury' and
'Dance, Little Sister' don't really bother me I guess. However, I don't really care much
for them either. But, these flaws aside, It's Only Rock 'n Roll is a strong
record. Strange that the Stones don't play these songs at live performances more often,
but then again...there's so much to choose from.
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
By Gary Roberts
September 10, 2002
Rating:
When getting heavily into the Stones in the mid-eighties, I was always a bit baffled as to
why many critics berated their mid-seventies output. True, GHS, IOR&R and B&B
are not as powerful works as those created between 68-72, but they are still very good,
and deserve to be appreciated for what they are, rather than what preceded them. It's
Only Rock N Roll kicks off with the punchy 'If You Can't Rock Me', continues with a
great version of 'Ain't Too Proud To Beg' (proving once again just how strong the boys
always were when it came to cover versions), and continuing through the slightly-leaden
title track and the nice-but-insignificant 'Till The Next Goodbye', and then things hot up
again. Yes, 'Time Waits For No One' is a true mid-seventies classic, bolstered by that
beautiful Mick Taylor solo, and 'Luxury' is a wonderful, feel-good reggae-style rocker
that chugs along nicely. I didn't use to care much for 'Dance Little Sister', but now I
love it; the guitar work is thick and heavy, and Mick's vocal is full of passion and
energy. 'If You Really Want To Be My Friend' compensates for its rather weak counterpart
on track 3, side 1; and 'Short And Curlies' is an enjoyably humorous throwaway track that
demonstrates the Stones hadn't lost their sense of humour. The great closing track,
'Fingerprint File', is another classic - exemplary, echoing guitar work, a dark, New York
City-at-midnight atmosphere, and a poignant statement of the band's (and particularly
Keith's) drugs difficulties at that time. The production is warm, the band members are all
on top form... an album that deserves, and commands, many repeat listenings.
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
By the chipper
June 29, 2002
Rating:
The majority of professional rock critics write as if the Rolling Stones ceased to matter
after Exile On Main Street, but the truth is that just about everything they ever
released is, at the very least, pretty good stuff. A case in point is 1974's It's Only
Rock 'n' Roll; it may not feature any epochal smashes like "Brown Sugar" or
"Honky Tonk Women", but there's not a weak cut to be found among the album's ten
tracks. "If You Can't Rock Me" is a high-energy opener, followed by a spirited
rendition of the Temptations' "Ain't To Proud To Beg", which surprisingly was
issued as a single. Next up is the album's title track and statement of purpose,"It's
Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I like it)", co-written (uncredited, of course) by popular
man-about-town and future Stone Ron Wood. "Till The Next Goodbye" is well done,
the first of Mick Jagger's "Love in the City" songs, with some typically
tasteful piano work from session man extraordinaire Nicky Hopkins. The 6-and-a-half minute
"Time Waits For No One" is a rare Stones' instrumental showcase, in this
instance the spotlight shining on Mick Taylor's sinuous guitar stylings. Also of interest
is the unusual gravity of Jagger's lyrics, but the solemnity is quickly blown away by the
following tune,"Luxury", a Jamaican flavored toe-taper that also serves as the
band's best-ever ode to the working man. "Dance Little Sister" is a bit
monotonous, but does feature some archetypal rhythm guitar from riff-meister Keith
Richards. "If You Really Want To Be My Friend" is a truly soulful number, with
some some sanctified backing vocals courtesy of an obscure group called Blue Magic. Ian
Stewart gets to add his patented barrelhouse piano to the playful "Short And
Curlies" (with its cheery refrain, "She's Got You By The Balls!"). Closing
out the show is Keith's wah-wah guitar on the Stones' first true stab at Funk,
"Fingerprint File". There you have it, one fine line-up of songs--buy this CD,
and to hell with "The Rolling Stone Album Guide"!
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
By Gilbert Hétu
May 13, 2002
Rating:
Ever since I have first heard IORnR in full, in '94, I have been wondering why it
was not rated higher by the fans. I would perhaps even recommend this one to any starter
seeking to discover the Stones with an original studio album that's more representative of
their career as a whole. I know that LiB has more passion and that SF is
also wonderful all the way. But there is a lot of rage and funk to IORnR,
bridging a little more towards what they will become, balanced with rather sweet melodies,
as well as the rightly acclaimed contribution of outgoing Mick Taylor… Not to mention
the celestial, late Nicky Hopkins, weaving piano arpeggios that will make you cry! Boy
does the Virgin remaster sound good… Listen to those drums! Title track is IMO THE
party-perfect RS song of all times! Why it didn't score as #1 hit in '74 is beyond
me… Guitars wall to wall (great acoustic groove topped with great el. rhythm, topped
with great Berry-inspired solo lines, played with fire…), intricate rhythmic
construction at the end of the verse, weird "un-square" song structure, choruses
that SOUND like a party, brilliant lyrics (…but what is SHE doing there, suddenly, in
the bridge?), Jagger nearly choking himself in the end… WHAT else is there to listen
to after that?
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
By Fiji Jim
April 29, 2002
Rating:
IORR is the second in a string of three mediocre mid-70's albums. That's not to
say it's bad, because an average Stones album is still pretty solid. There are several
highlights here and the album starts off strong with a trio of tough, funky rockers. The
problem is that IORR loses steam about midway through 'Luxury', their first stab
at reggae. There's the Stones-by-numbers boogie of 'Dance Little Sister', the pretty but
far too long, 'If You Really Want To Be My Friend' and the one note joke of 'Short And
Curlies'. The blaxplotation paranoia-funk of 'Fingerprint File' and Santanesque Latino
jazz fusion of 'Time Waits For No One' show the band in step with the platformed-soul
times. Keith sounds more prominent on here than he did on GHS and Ron Wood's
appearance on the title track was a foreshadowing of the Stones future line-up. All in all
a collection of some nice tracks but nothing essential. The Stones on cruise control
rolling down the street to some pounding funk-rock R&B in a '74 Buick Riviera.
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
By Alan Alwiel
February 17, 2001
Rating:
The last album during the Mick Taylor era 1969-1974 and wow what a body of work that was
released during that period, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Exile On Main Street, Goats
Head Soup and Its Only Rock And Roll. How ironic IORR was Mick Taylor's last
with the band, but wow he added so much to the album. MT's guitar on 'If You Can Rock Me'
over Mick Jagger's nasty vocals. MT's beautiful acoustic harmonics on 'Till The Next
Goodbye', played against Keith's rhythm, and MT's middle and ending solo is just
dynamite.Jagger's great vocals on 'If You Really Want To Be My Friend', against MT's great
lead runs. 'Short And Curlies', a fun song by the boys.'Its Only Rock And Roll', all the
guitars and Jagger's great vocals, a last goodbye song to Mick Taylor.'Time Waits For No
One', what more can you say about Mick Taylor's great guitar. MT's looping solo takes you
to another place and seems like he is left alone on the record to showcase his talent. To
bad that MT's lead was cut short and MT did not get any song credit.'Fingerprint File' has
Keith on wah wah guitar and MT's bass playing is like an extension of his guitar,with
Jagger's great vocal delivery. Thank You Mick Taylor for your contributions on the best
body of work the band put on record, and thank you for shaping many songs and making some
tunes like 'Time Waits' For No One', your signature song. The MT Stones era is forever
timeless.
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
By Alex Short
January 11, 2001
Rating:
A bit of a disappointment this one. This album is Mick Taylor's last, and it also features
Ronnie Wood. So like Let It Bleed, it closes one chapter and opens another. The
album couldn't get off to a better start with the bone crunching, hard riffing rockiness
of "If You Can't Rock Me". Words can't describe it really. Then the album goes
slowly down hill. However you do then have "Time Waits For No One" This a
haunting beautiful piece, with some of the nicest guitar on a Stones record by Mick
Taylor. The way the guitar creeps up on you is truly magic. At 6 minutes 30 seconds though
perhaps its too long. Now the title song, also a top ten hit, I do not like. Why some like
it I don't know. The song was inspired by Ronnie Wood, who I think also plays guitar on
the song. The other songs I haven't really mentioned aren't really worth discussing, and
are of little merit. Buy it for the opening rocker, and "Time Waits For No One",
or otherwise just don't bother. Its not one of their best.
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
By Net Pimp
November 27, 2000
Rating:
This album managed to feed a commercial frenzy briefly, but its music somehow seemed more
manufactured and less honest than in previous years. This is a recovery from the
near-fateful mediocrity of Goats Head Soup, a rather average album, but still
above the rest! It combined gritty honesty and more glamish rock like from Goats Head.
Less experimentation with softer sounds, but still a better-than-usual affair. "If
You Can't Rock Me" is a fine toss-off of a rock song that's sexual again. It shows
they had regained the knack for hard rock-Sticky Fingers style! "Ain't Too
Proud to Beg" is a pretty good cover of the 1966 Temptations top 20 hit! We get the
nice harmony from Mick and Keith. But how could it be just as soulful without a soul man
himself, Billy Preston, adding piano. The title track, is a review of the life of a rock
star, singing its praises (a funny video with bubbles foaming out onto the stage,
encapsulating Charlie at the drum kit too). Ron Wood (soon to replace Mick T.) helps out
and sings backup along with David Bowie. Another soft rambling comes with the wise
"Till the Next Time We Say Goodbye," that uses the chilling piano of Nicky
Hopkins again. Another standout tune, the psychedelic, creepy "Time Waits for No
One," that incorporates synthesizers and wah-wah guitars. Not only that, but it also
shows hints of reggae with a song written about the tax woes of England (which they were
escaping by moving to different countries and recording elsewhere, outside USA for awhile,
going to Kingston, Jamaica for Goats and Munich, Germany for Rock n' Roll
and Black and Blue). "Luxury" is an uplifting tune nonetheless.
"Dance Little Sister" is a mere 50s-styled party tune, nothing more. An okay
filler cut. "If You Really Want to Be My Friend" is a glorious ballad about
betrayal and such which adds harmonies form Keith, Mick T. and Billy Preston's soulful
pipes. "Short and Curlies" is another r & b flavored mediocre tune. It
provides some excitement. "Fingerprint File" is a mysterious, wah-wah drenched
tune about the FBI following a star closely. Maybe influenced by John Lennon's stalking
from the Government to deport him! A good album, a portent of their mid-70s
transition to dance rock!
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
By christophoros
April 11, 2000
Rating:
This is the last album with Mick Taylor, the first one to leave the Rolling Stones alive,
and, how the cover shows it, it' s a whole big celebration. There aren' t any real
classics, except for of course IT' S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL (BUT I LIKE IT), which has even
become some kind of an idiom, it' s an uncommercial album full of fun. On the title song,
Ron Wood, who is also credited for the influence on the whole album, makes his first
appearance with the Stones, and the lyrics about what it' s like to be a rock star, are
great. The hardrockers IF YOU CAN' T ROCK ME and FINGERPRINT FILE are monumentous ends,
SHORT AND CURLIES is a good song to be played at a bar, LUXURY is their first reggae. With
AIN' T TOO PROUD TO BEG, TILL THE NEXT GOODBYE (especially beautiful), TIME WAITS FOR NO
ONE (especially black), DANCE LITTLE SISTER and IF YOU REALLY WANT TO BE MY FRIEND, they
match a glorious return to the EXILE sound.
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
By Steve Cronen
July 13, 1999
Rating:
IORR is the perfect example of a love child between Exile On Main Street and Goat’s
Head Soup. The songs on here, despite what some would tell you, are all really good, with
some standing out the most in the Stones catalogue. The album rocks, really, but it has
its tender side. There are, of course, classics like “It’s Only Rock and
Roll” and “Dance Little Sister.” Rockers like “If You Can’t Rock
Me” and “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” hooked me from my first listen.
“Fingerprint File” has Mick Taylor’s bass playing at its peak, and I simply
fill up with glee when Mick utters at the end, “Good night… sleep tight…
ow!” But its songs like “Time Waits For No One” and “Till the Next
Goodbye” that are underrated classics, with Mick Taylor’s amazing solos on the
former, and the touching lyrics of the latter. A great album, but not quite up to the
standards of Beggar’s Banquet or Exile.
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
By Jim Wilgus
May 8, 1999
Rating:
This album was released the year I was a junior in high school, needless to say it made
the year tolerable. Mick Taylors' work on "Time waits for no one" is worth the
price of admission. Hypnotic and mellow as a sunset, sadly it was to be M.T.'s swan song
with the lads. Jaggers' singing was emotional and I've always thought his voice improved
from the Goat's head soup tracks, I don' know perhaps I'm daft."Dance little
sister" is pure Jagger,with outstanding support,(as musicians), from Stewie,
r.i.p."If you can't rock me"is a treat which leads of the album with a classic
gem that probably gets overlooked since it was the lead-off track. My girlfriend at the
time, a lovely raven-haired beauty named Carol for whom I will always secretly love,and I
both genuinely loved this lp so my opinion is distracted by emotion. Isn't that what the
Stones are all about though, an emotional tie-in with the moment. That's probably why they
are still vital to rock n roll to this day. Our parents/grandparents had Frankie and
Bing,we have those who've "kicked out the jams" and defied age rather than
embrace it. There were arguments amongst many Stones fans at the time of this lp's release
over the identity of the "Glimmer Twins", some said it was Jagger/Bowie but I
always knew it was just a seventies up-date of nanker/phledge.Up-dates...that's what makes
them,"the greatest rock'n roll band in the world".nuff said.
Keno's mini review, song list, lyrics and more info on IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL
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