Exiled

Every summer it happens; when the air is saturated with that sticky, humid thickness and the sun is burning, I always feel like listening to Exile On Main St (well, technically I should say, "I feel like listening to Exile more than I usually do", which is already an amount more sizeable than any person I know).  And it's not because Exile is a particularly 'sunny' record or anything (although it does contain the 'kind-of' love song, "Happy", written by Keith about Anita and two-year-old Marlon, and it doesn't contain the absolutely heart-wrenching, wrist-slitting ballads of its predecessor or successor, Sticky Fingers and Goat's Head Soup respectively, that contain songs like "I Got The Blues", "Wild Horses", "Sister Morphine", "Coming Down Again" and "Angie"). It must be because my mind can't help but transport itself to the summer of 1971, wandering through the long halls and gargantuan rooms of Villa Nellcôte, the mansion Keith Richards had rented in Villefranche-sur-Mer, where much of what became Exile On Main St. was written and recorded. It is, in fact, probably my top favorite Rolling Stones “I wish I was there” daydream – laying out on the veranda with Anita, eating a lavish meal at midnight while Keith and Gram strum their country blues, wandering down to the dark basement for a “Sweet Virginia” singalong…

Nicky Hopkins:

One of my favorite pics of Anita - making baby faces at Marlon:

Keith with Gram Parsons:

Anita with Marshall Chess:

Mick with Mick Taylor and his new bride, Rose Millar, who had recently given birth to the Taylors' daughter, Chloe:

Do those horseback riders know they are in the presence of greatness?

 This photo was taken by Michael Cooper:

Nicky Hopkins:

Family portrait on the grass

 All photos unless specified otherwise were taken by Dominique Tarle, scanned by me from a variety of sources. Pleeeeeeease credit if you re-post. Thanks.