Aftermath Songs Ranked
Aftermath is a studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. The group recorded the album at RCA Studios in California in December 1965 and March 1966, during breaks between their international tours. It was released in the United Kingdom on 15 April 1966 by Decca Records and in the United States on 2 July by London Records. It is the band’s fourth British and sixth American studio album, and closely follows a series of international hit singles that helped bring the Stones newfound wealth and fame rivaling that of their contemporaries the Beatles. The album was also highly successful with critics, although some listeners were offended by the derisive attitudes towards female characters in certain songs. Its subversive music solidified the band’s rebellious rock image while pioneering the darker psychological and social content that glam rock and British punk rock would explore in the 1970s. Aftermath has since been considered the most important of the Stones’ early, formative music and their first classic album, frequently ranking on professional lists of the greatest albums. Here are all of the Aftermath songs ranked.
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11. High and Dry
“High and Dry” features some fine acoustic guitar and harmonica that takes this song in a country direction. “High And Dry” is another terrific track, offering something to Country fans as well.”
10. It’s Not Easy
“I don’t have to convince anybody that the Rolling Stones is the greatest band of all our times. Listening Aftermath one can feel the 60’s, the beggining of the Rolling Stones style. I simply love it and I’m kind of addicted to their old riffs which are immortal !”
9. I Am Waiting
“I Am Waiting,” which must be one of the best forgotten songs in the Stones’ lengthy repetoire. Even the cover is different (though in this, I actually prefer the US version to the UK).”
See more: Rolling Stones Albums Ranked
8. Flight 505
“This album is one of the reasons that the RS became huge back in the 60’s & 70’s. After 40-50 years, I’m amazed at how great these songs sound today, including a good variety as well.”
7. Doncha Bother Me
“Doncha Bother Me has a sound like it had come to me straight off a Martin Scorsese-movie from somewhere in the 80s, 90s or 2000s. What a versatile guy, that Marty. “There is a deep, intrinsic and gratifying relationship between esteemed director Martin Scorsese and the iconic rock ‘n’ roll band”, said Far Out Magazine in a March 2021 article of theirs.”
6. Think
“This twisted form of rock, stupendously haunting, was like a cursing shadow that brought malice with gestures The Beatles simply weren’t born to deliver. It was nature working in favor of rock. Despite being simple, it has a red and raw power to it.”
5. Going Home
“The Stones definitely took a big step forward with “Aftermath” without losing sight of their roots (although the one song on the album I can do without is the bluesy improvisational “Going Home,” which never seems to end).”
See more: Rolling Stones Songs Ranked
4. Stupid Girl
“Stupid Girl has all the swagger and sexism of a thousand Stones classics, but it’s more of an organ-driven pop song than a rocker. “Stupid Girl” is a funny little song that has Mick criticizing the female race in a somewhat cynical way.”
3. Lady Jane
“Lady Jane,” is a divine acoustic ballad, with a heavy english folk sound about it (trivia bit: on neil young’s masterpiece “tonight’s the night” he sings a song about borrowing a tune from the rolling stones for one of his songs, because he’s too wasted to come up with his own tune. The melody which he borrowed from the stones for that tune is the melody from “Lady Jane.”).”
2. Under My Thumb
“Strange combination for a single, even if it was only in Japan. Main side “Under My Thumb” dresses up Jagger’s chauvinist bile in a poppy, marimba-driven guise and demonstrates how good their official UK and even US singles were that it never saw the light of day there on 45.”
1. Paint It Black
“It opens with a total classic, Paint It Black. Not many songs dare to go where this one does, into the bleak and dangerous world of depression. With an Indian beat that’s augmented by Brian Jones playing the sitar, the song rocks in and out of two different formats while Mick Jagger sings of living in hopelessness.”
