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The Rolling Stones in the press: “The Stones In-Session”

*From the New Musical Express, England, June 1 1968

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Cooking Up a Classic: Stones at Olympic Studios, 1968

In the early months of 1968, The Rolling Stones hunkered down at Olympic Studios in London—turning raw riffs and rough ideas into what would become Beggars Banquet, one of the most important records of their career. The band had just gone through a weird psychedelic detour with Their Satanic Majesties Request, and this time, they were ready to get back to their roots: blues, grit, swagger, and soul. Olympic became their creative playground, and the sessions had a wild, anything-goes vibe. The Stones were in full experiment mode—trying out slide guitars, old blues standards, layered percussion, and even random sound effects. It wasn’t always smooth, but it was electric. Keith was riffing hard, Brian was still involved (though drifting), and Charlie laid it all down with that steady Gretsch beat. And of course, Mick was already evolving into a sharp, stylish frontman with bite in his lyrics.

The Rolling Stones in studios in 1968; Guests, Grit, and the Birth of Beggars Banquet

Those 1968 Olympic sessions also saw some interesting guests drop by. Nicky Hopkins added his signature piano magic, especially on tracks like Sympathy for the Devil and No Expectations. Producer Jimmy Miller helped tighten things up and gave the band the right balance of dirt and polish. What came out of those sessions wasn’t just another Stones album—it was a raw, rebellious, and rootsy comeback that set the tone for their late ’60s and early ’70s golden run. Beggars Banquet was proof The Rolling Stones could still surprise the world—and themselves. It marked a gritty, confident return to form that redefined their sound and paved the way for their legendary late ’60s era.

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