Goats Head Soup (1973)
Artist: The Rolling Stones
Type: Studio album (11th UK / 13th US)
Released: August 31, 1973
Label: Rolling Stones Records
Genre: Rock • Blues rock • Soul rock
Length: 46:56
Producer: Jimmy Miller
Released at the height of their 1970s dominance, Goats Head Soup followed the monumental success of Exile on Main St. While less raw and sprawling than its predecessor, the album leans into moodier, more polished territory, blending rock with soul influences and introspective songwriting.
It became another major commercial success and continued the band’s streak of chart-topping albums.
📦 Cover Art & Design
🎨 Design Highlights
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📸 Cover photography by David Bailey.
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🎭 The band members’ faces appear distorted behind gauze-like fabric, giving the image a dreamy, surreal effect.
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🖌️ Soft-focus, purple and red tones create a hazy, mysterious atmosphere.
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🐐 The album title adds a provocative, cryptic touch, though no actual “goat’s head soup” imagery appears on the cover.
The artwork reflects the album’s darker, more atmospheric tone compared to the gritty documentary style of Exile on Main St.
🎵 Tracklist
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Dancing with Mr. D
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100 Years Ago
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Coming Down Again
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Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)
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Angie
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Silver Train
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Hide Your Love
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Winter
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Can You Hear the Music
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Star Star
👥 Band Lineup (Goats Head Soup Era)
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Mick Jagger – Lead vocals
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Keith Richards – Guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on “Coming Down Again”
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Mick Taylor – Lead guitar
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Bill Wyman – Bass
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Charlie Watts – Drums
Additional Musicians:
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Nicky Hopkins – Piano
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Billy Preston – Keyboards
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Bobby Keys – Saxophone
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Jim Price – Horns
🎶 Top Tracks
⭐ Angie
Acoustic ballad that became a worldwide #1 hit; one of the band’s most famous songs.
⭐ Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)
Groove-driven track with strong horns and socially conscious lyrics.
⭐ 100 Years Ago
Blends piano balladry with a funk-rock midsection.
⭐ Winter
Moody, atmospheric deep cut often praised by fans.
📈 Commercial Performance & Sales
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🥇 UK Albums Chart: #1
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🥇 US Billboard 200: #1
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💿 Certified Platinum (US)
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🌍 Estimated worldwide sales: 5+ million copies
The album topped charts in multiple countries and further cemented the Stones’ global dominance.
🏆 Awards & Recognition
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“Angie” reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100
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Frequently cited as one of the stronger entries of the band’s 1970s catalog
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Part of the Stones’ acclaimed early-70s album run
🎤 Fun Facts & Trivia
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🇯🇲 Portions of the album were recorded in Kingston, Jamaica, contributing to its laid-back, warm vibe.
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🎸 Mick Taylor’s melodic lead guitar work is especially prominent on tracks like “Winter.”
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🎵 “Star Star” (originally titled “Starf****r”) was controversial for its explicit lyrics.
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🎹 Billy Preston’s keyboard work adds a soulful layer throughout the record.
🤯 Did You Know?
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“Angie” has often sparked speculation about who inspired the song, but Mick Jagger has denied it being about any specific person.
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Keith Richards takes lead vocals on “Coming Down Again,” reflecting personal struggles at the time.
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Though initially compared unfavorably to Exile on Main St., the album has gained appreciation over time.
