The Stones roll on with ‘Goats Head Soup’ reissue

“Goats Head Soup” might be held in greater regard if the Rolling Stones’ 15th studio album hadn’t been released after what is arguably the finest run in rock history. As the Beatles were disintegrating, the Rolling Stones released “Beggars Banquet” in December 1968, which is the iconic act’s first brilliant offering.

The self-proclaimed greatest rock and roll band lived up to the hype by following with the exceptional “Let It Bleed” in 1969. The raunchy and catchy tracks from “Sticky Fingers” saw the light of day in 1971, and 1972’s “Exile on Main Street” is an epic stunner, which is regarded as the Stones’ high water mark by many scribes.

The only streak of albums that can compare is the Beatles “Revolver,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Magical Mystery Tour” and “The White Album.” The Stones and Beatles each breathed rarified air while creating such exceptional and consistent albums during a turbulent era. Which output is greater is the subject of endless debate.

Incomprehensible periods of genius have to end, and when the Stones’ golden era came to a conclusion, there was “Goats Head Soup,” which was reissued and released Friday as a box set. The Stones continued to be inspired by excess and decadence during the “Goats Head” sessions.

Two of the Stones’ greatest songs, the poignant ballad “Angie,” which was inspired by David Bowie’s quirky wife, and the urgent “Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker),” featuring one of the Stones’ greatest horn lines, are part of the underrated album, which was recorded in 1972 in Jamaica.

Hats off to the rock steady rhythm section of bassist Bill Wyman, who barely moved onstage during his long run with the band, and the underrated Charlie Watts. Yes, frontman extraordinaire Mick Jagger embraced incomprehensible celebrity and guitarist Keith Richards was descending into the depths of heroin addiction.

But the Stones somehow crafted a very good album, which would have been the peak of many recording artists’ careers. The “Goats Head” box set includes cool rarities, outtakes and material, which has never been heard, such as the catchy “Criss Cross.” Guitar icon Jimmy Page is heard jamming with the Stones on “Scarlet.”

Even the Stones’ throwaways have considerable value. It’s a reminder of how great the Rolling Stones have been for approaching 60 years. The rock band, which has been the most popular and prolific since the British Invasion, is remarkably deep.

The mind-bending reality is that the Stones’ 250th best song would be another group’s greatest tune. With the avalanche of recent reissues, it’s not a bad time to indulge in the Stones.

A great place to start is with the “Let It Bleed” box set, which includes the remastered album in stereo and mono on vinyl and hybrid super audio CD. There are lithographs, a poster and a handsome 80-page hardcover book with an array of unpublished photos chronicling the Stones at the height of their powers.

The Stones just didn’t bask in their unbridled success. The brash act, which was at its best with guitarist Mick Taylor, wrote captivating songs inspired by their privileged position. That’s more difficult than you can imagine.

About 20 years ago, I was writing a feature on the one-album wonder Twisted Sister. I asked Twisted Sister vocalist Dee Snider why the band bottomed out after the tour behind its platinum-plus 1984 release “Stay Hungry.”

“I’m in my backyard sitting in front of my pool and looking at my boat,” Snider explained. Apparently, success spoiled Twister Sister. It isn’t easy to create when distractions courtesy of money and fame arrive.

And then there are the Stones, who are apparently fueled by extravagance. Check out the lyrics to “Let It Bleed’s” “Live With Me.” “The servants they’re so helpful, dear / The cook she is a whore / Yes, the butler has a place for her / Behind the pantry door / The maid, she’s French, she’s got no sense / She’s wild for Crazy Horse / And when she strips, the chauffeur flips.”

What other recording artist ever wrote about the hired help? The same band, which during the title track “Let It Bleed” penned, “There will always be a space in my parking lot / When you need a little coke and sympathy.”

The Stones didn’t have a driveway. The band, which never waxed about less being more, had a parking lot, of course! Jagger wrote what he knew. “My best friend he shoots water rats / And feeds them to his geese” was inspired by what Richards actually did on his British estate during the 1960s.

The Rolling Stones were badass. The legendary group crossed the line a number of times writing about statutory rape (“Stray Cat Blues”), physical abuse (“Brown Sugar”) and other jaw-dropping behavior that would have short-circuited their career today.

However, the public never turned on the Stones, and the beloved band has never been forgotten since much of their immense catalog still holds up, and the quartet just won’t drift away.

If there wasn’t a novel coronavirus, Jagger, Richards, Watts and Ron Wood would be on the road selling out stadiums around the world. The Stones canceled a summer’s worth of dates.

Each member of the Stones is on the edge of octogenarian status, but they keep moving forward.

Jagger, who turned 77 in July, once said he couldn’t imagine singing “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” at 40. Odds are he’ll be belting out that anthem at double that age.

Fans will have to wait for the Stones’ next jaunt, which will probably be dubbed “The Steel Wheelchair” tour, but the increasingly sedentary boomer audience won’t care. And then there is the younger base of fans. I saw countless teens at a Stones show last summer.

We can’t catch the Stones live, but we can revel in their back catalog, much of which has been remastered. Hail to the Stones – what a drag it is getting old, indeed.