The Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger (vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano); Keith Richards, Mick Taylor (guitar, bass, background vocals); Bill Wyman (bass); Charlie Watts (drums).

Additional personnel: Jim Horn (flute, alto saxophone); Bobby Keys (tenor & baritone saxophones); Chuck Finley (trumpet); Ian Stewart, Nicky Hopkins (piano); Billy Preston (keyboards); Pascal, Rebop, Jimmy Miller (percussion).

Recorded at Dynamic Sound Studios, Kingston, Jamaica.

The Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger (vocals, guitar, harp, piano); Keith Richards, Mick Taylor (guitar, bass instrument, background vocals); Bill Wyman (bass instrument); Charlie Watts (drums).

Additional personnel: Jim Horn (flute, alto saxophone); Bobby Keys (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Chuck Finley (trumpet); Billy Preston (piano, Clavinet); Ian Stewart, Nicky Hopkins (piano); Rebop Kwaku Baah, Jimmy Miller, Nik Pascal Raicevic (percussion).

Recording information: Dynamic Sound Studio, Kingston, Jamaica.

Following the enormous success of EXILE ON MAIN STREET, GOATS HEAD SOUP found the Rolling Stones jetting down to Jamaica in 1973 and tweaking their rebellious image with a bit of voodoo imagery. Kicking things off with "Dancing With Mr. D.," the Stones picked up the thread of "Sympathy For The Devil" and gilded their already hedonistic reputation with some Satanic allusions. References to Beezelbub aside, SOUP offered up some of the Stones' more heartfelt ballads including "Winter," "Coming Down Again," and the lilting, minor-key classic "Angie."

Of course, being known as "The World's Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band" means a number of songs more than back up this moniker. Among them are "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)," propelled by Mick Taylor's wah-wah pedal and Billy Preston's electric piano, and the twang and slide guitar of "Silver Train." There's an abundance of cheeky attitude here despite a slew of slow songs, and the Stones close out with a nasty, backhanded tribute to groupies called "Star Star." Though GOAT'S HEAD SOUP does not hold up to the four studio masterpieces that preceded it (BEGGAR'S BANQUET, LET IT BLEED, STICKY FINGERS, and EXILE ON MAIN STREET), it is still full of strong songwriting, great playing, and plenty of classic Stonesy swagger.

NME (Magazine) (7/9/94, p.43) - 6 - Good - "...the jaded Stones struggle to stave off burnout..."