The Case for Their Satanic Majesties Request

Originally published at https://www.splicetoday.com. The editors chopped up the last paragraph, so this is the full version I submitted to them.

It’s true that Their Satanic Majesties Request is the Rolling Stones’ failed attempt to make their version of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Mick Jagger said “ it’s not very good.” However, Jagger’s wrong; the album isn’t that bad. It’s no masterpiece, and it doesn’t hold up like many of the Stones’ later albums- Beggars Banquet, Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main St.-but it has some great songs. If nothing else, Their Satanic Majesties Request is a chance for listeners to explore the Stones’ brief flirtation with psychedelic pop before the band realized they’re better off doing blues-inspired rock.

The album starts on a good note with “Sing This All Together,” a cheery signalong where Jagger invites the listener to join the band on their psychedelic trip:

Why don’t we sing this song all together

Open our heads let the pictures come

And if we close all our eyes together

Then we will see where we all come from

The music lets the listener know this isn’t a typical Stones record; bongos, various percussion instruments, horns, and a piano take center stage, while Keith…