Considering their decades-long career, it’s not surprising that some major events in Rolling Stones history may fall on the same date, but December 6 marks the anniversary of three very important moments.

1968 – Release of Beggars Banquet

This album kicked off one of the greatest sequences of albums (followed by Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St.) in all of rock and roll.  It also marked the Stones’ return to their rock roots (“Sympathy for the Devil,” “Street Fighting Man”) after experimenting with more psychedelic sounds.

1969 – Altamont

The Altamont Speedway Free Festival kicked off just one day after the release of Let It Bleed.  The chaotic concert that infamously featured the Hells Angels as security resulted in countless injuries and four deaths, including the stabbing death of 18-year-old Meredith Hunter by Hells Angel Alan Passaro.

1970 – Release of documentary Gimme Shelter

Taking its name from the opening track to Let It Bleed, Gimme Shelter chronicled the ill-fated Altamont Speedway Free Festival and its fallout. Multiple members of the camera crew even captured Hunter’s death, which was then shown in the film. Mick Jagger was also shown watching the footage and is by far one of the most chilling moments in any documentary.

Rolling Stones' 'Let It Bleed': Every Track Ranked

• 9. “Country Honk”

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  This album is basically flawless, but a song had to come in last, and since “Country Honk” is just the twangy original version of “Honky Tonk Woman,” that’s why it comes in last. Even though this track certainly evolved into a classic, it is interesting to see its origins.

• 8. “You Got The Silver”

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  The first time we hear Keith Richards on lead vocals is on this country blues tune, and it’s the last song to feature Brian Jones, who is credited for playing the autoharp. The track has grown into a fan favorite in recent decades when the Stones play live.

• 7. “Monkey Man”

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  A unique hard rock moment on an album dominated by country and blues influences, “Monkey Man” stands out thanks to Bill Wyman’s vibraphone and Nicky Hopkins’ piano playing.
• 6. “Live With Me”

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  That undeniable bass line? That was the work of Keith Richards, not Bill Wyman. The track notably is the first song the Stones recorded with new guitarist Mick Taylor, who replaced a fired Brian Jones, and the first song to feature Bobby Keys on saxophone. The chemistry between the guitars of Richards and Taylor cannot be mentioned enough.

• 5. “Love In Vain”

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  The lone cover on the album, The Rolling Stones’ country blues take on this Robert Johnson song adds a unique ache to the album as a whole.

• 4. “Midnight Rambler”

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  Easily one of the best straight-forward blues tracks written by Jagger and Richards, “Midnight Rambler” opens up side two of album and serves as another example of Jagger being incredibly underrated on the harmonica.
• 3. “Let It Bleed”

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  Almost a lustier predecessor to “Waiting on a Friend,” “Let It Bleed” walks the line between dark and sweet, sincere and sarcastic and manages to do so with minimalist swagger.

• 2. “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”

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  Despite how Dick and Berry from ‘High Fidelity’ feel about this song’s association with ‘The Big Chill,’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” has remained one of the Rolling Stones’ biggest showstoppers for 50 years and for good reason. The ethereal sounds of the London Bach Choir provided a unique juxtaposition to the Rolling Stones closing out not only this album but the ‘60s themselves, a decade that brought both great change and pain. The ‘70s were on the horizon, and while so much was uncertain, one thing that wasn’t was how somehow, we’d all figure out how to get what we need.

• 1. “Gimme Shelter”

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  One of the best Rolling Stones songs in their entire catalog that’s also one of the greatest opening album tracks of all time and that also features Merry Clayton with, perhaps, the most iconic rock vocal solo ever. “Gimme Shelter” is somehow ALL of these things, and 50 years on, it continues to move the masses and features lyrics that are as poignant now as they were upon their release. “It’s just a shot away” resonates now more than ever.

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