The Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock N Roll [CD]

After years of building off their rhythm and blues credentials, the title IT'S ONLY ROCK & ROLL insinuates a lowbrow rock aesthetic, but on this album The Rolling Stones mixed rock's aggression with an unparalleled appreciation for soul music. From their joyous cover of the Temptations' "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" to "Time Waits for No One," Mick Jagger boldly duplicates the feel of James Brown's early singles. IT'S ONLY ROCK & ROLL is a portrait of a band in transition, it still rocks in classic Stones style, and stands with SOME GIRLS as one of the band's best post EXILE efforts.