12. “Memory Motel”
The Stones have done their share of road anthems, but few contain such a sublime mix of nostalgia and melancholy. It often gets overlooked because it appeared on Black And Blue, a transition album that saw the group auditioning guitarists to replace Mick Taylor. Although Ronnie Wood got the permanent gig, Harvey Mandel takes the lead here and does a great job. Jagger perfectly embodies the road-weary narrator, while Richards provides some counterpoint. Heck, this would have made the list if only for the “sha-la-la” backing vocals.
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