Rolling Stones: 10 best albums ranked as Hackney Diamonds launched in east London

The Rolling Stones have dropped new single Angry in a blaze of publicity and the album, Hackney Diamonds, arrives on October 20.

While it remains under heavy embargo, music journalists have been reporting it is their best work since [insert last good album here].

The Stones have been a formidable live act for six decades now, but their greatest records came in the 1960s and 1970s.

With the help of readers, and other music fan correspondents, the LondonWorld newsroom has put together what we think are the 10 best, in order.

Rough Justice? Don’t judge us - judge the albums.

10. Between the Buttons (1967)

Before they became fully engulfed in psychedelia and emerged into their golden period, Between the Buttons delivers a fresh and light sounding Stones, from the spring of Ruby Tuesday to the McCartney-esque Something Happened To Me Yesterday. Key track: Let’s Spend The Night Together would have been a tremendously risqué proposition in 1967 but it still sounds joyous decades later.

9. Aftermath (1966)

There’s a clunking issue with Aftermath in the form of some exceptionally misogynist lyrics (to be fair, it’s not the only one), especially Stupid Girl and Under My Thumb (”Under my thumb is a squirming dog who’s just had her day”) but if you can get past that (big if), there are strong songs here. Key track: Case in point - Paint It Black

8. The Rolling Stones/England’s Newest Hit Makers (1964)

The debut album’s various iterations released either side of the Atlantic features the band finding their way into the rhythm and blues they loved so much. It’s largely covers, but charmingly realised. Key track: Not Fade Away - the Stones cover Buddy Holly? Yes please.

7. Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967)

The 1967 record was always going to struggle next to The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, but the band’s inevitable exploration of psychelia remains an exciting and occasionally disturbing listen. Key track: She’s A Rainbow delightful melody.

6. Tattoo You (1981)

It’s largely cobbled together from recordings throughout the ‘70s but it’s a strong record and was a surprise hit, in no small part due to the opening track, one of the band’s most recognisable... Key track: Start Me Up.

5. Some Girls (1978)

The Stones do disco - and it’s good. Okay, after the opener the record is actually the usual mix of blues rock riffs, but Miss You is so striking and brilliant that it colours the whole thing. Key track: Miss You

4. Beggars Banquet (1968)

The Stones were the masters of opening tracks and here they do it twice. Sympathy for the Devil kicks off the album, with Street Fighting Man opening side two. Key track: Please allow me to introduce you to Sympathy for the Devil.

3. Sticky Fingers (1971)

Possibly the band’s tightest and yet varied record, with the undeniable riff of opener Brown Sugar and the sweeping Wild Horses, reclaimed from The Flying Burrito Brothers. Key track: Sister Morphine is a spare, woozy beauty, written by Jagger and Marianne Faithfull.

2. Let It Bleed (1969)

Bookended by Gimme Shelter and You Can’t Always Get What You Want, this is the band at their most grand and vital, painting a picture of a world where the Summer of Love has long since passed. Key Track: Gimme Shelter - Brutal lyrics and haunting and distressing guitar, with a stunning vocal from Merry Clayton.

1. Exile On Main Street (1972

The songs are as good as on the preceding Sticky Fingers but a double LP, so twice as good. The album is unusual for having none of the absolute classic Stones singles, but instead being incredibly consistent - largely recorded in a rented villa in France, away from distractions (to some degree). Key track: It’s a difficult one but the swing Sweet Virginia captures the spirit of a gang of friends playing music together (in a very big house in the country).