20 Most IMPORTANT Classic Rock Albums Ever Made
4. Let it Bleed - The Rolling Stones
When it comes to the great British bands that led the British Invasion, no other group exuded the dangerousness of rock and roll quite like the Rolling Stones. You could argue that bands like the Beatles had a bit more of a rabid following, but when it came to combining pop sensibilities with the grit of blues, these guys were the complete package.
However, the end of the 60's is where the band really starts getting interested. Free from the boyish charm of their early years, the band's run after the Summer of Love showed them maturing into some of the greatest songwriters in rock, which is no more apparent than on Let It Bleed. Starting with "Gimme Shelter," this album is much more dark than the other rock and roll of the day, almost as if the band could feel that the hippie idealism was giving way to death and destruction.
The album also shows them paying tribute to their heroes like on Robert Johnson's "Love In Vain" as well as the uplifting closer "You Can't Always Get What You Want," which sports a genuinely moving gospel choir. Let it Bleed can sometimes feel like watching the end of the world, but it was one hell of a ride while it lasted.