In researching the Rolling Stones, who perform at the Delta Center on Tuesday, I was stunned to learn that the band's "Exile on Main St." album received some scathing reviews when it hit record stores in 1972, roughly six months after I was born.

The shock came because "Exile" is the album that gave me my first "Eureka!" Stones moment. Up until the point when I bought "Exile," around 1992 or so, I considered the Stones a creatively spent oldies act. And the band's output during the '80s, when I was coming of musical age, largely backed me up.

After seeing "Exile on Main St." listed on all sorts of "10 Greatest Rock Albums Ever" lists, I relented, bought the thing and finally "got" the Rolling Stones 20 years after "Exile's" release. The jagged blues-based guitar of Keith Richards earned him the apt nickname of "The Human Riff," and his parts weaving with fellow Stones guitarists Brian Jones, Mick Taylor or Ronnie Wood are the definition of rock 'n' roll, especially with singer Mick Jagger's lascivious lyrics on top and drummer Charlie Watts' incredibly steady beats holding down the bottom end.

Now, "Exile on Main St." is rightly considered part of the blueprint for rock music, even though it might not even be the Stones' best album. It's still my favorite, though.

I asked some musically savvy folks around Salt Lake City for their personal favorite Stones song or guitar riff, and the various answers help illustrate how far-reaching is the band's catalog. I've also included five songs that immediately let me know I'm listening to the Stones. "Start Me Up" and "Satisfaction" are disqualified because, while they are fine songs, I don't need to hear either one again in my lifetime.

Nailen's 5 favorites

"Happy" Sung by Keith Richards, it's the first Stones song I turn to when I only have time for one.

"Paint It Black" It's the first song I remember associating with the Stones from childhood. I think it was Brian Jones' sitar part that drew me in.

"Honky Tonk Woman" Charlie Watts' clicking drumsticks, one of the stickiest guitar intros ever, and Jagger in prime form from the song's first line: "I met a gin-soaked, bar-room queen in Memphis, she tried to take me upstairs for a ride."

"Brown Sugar" The horns and the piano, in addition to all the typical Stones elements, make for an instantly recognizable classic.

"Tumbling Dice" The sauntering groove and gospel backing vocals kill me every time.

To hear clips of these songs and to read full-length interviews and hear clips of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards talking with The Tribune's Dan Nailen, visit http://www.sltrib.com/themix.

'Gimme Shelter.' I like the haunting beginning of it. I like the madness of the lyrics. . . . It's the end of all that idealism of the time. And it's got such a great beat. There's hardly any Stones song you can't dance to."

- Susan Cottler, Westminster College history professor who delivered the paper "Mick Jagger and Keith Richards: History Professors Extraordinaire" at the Popular Culture Association conference in April.

"The main riff to 'Live With Me' is ridiculously sexy - especially the live version from 1970's 'Get Your Ya-Yas Out,' which sounds like the Stones covering Led Zeppelin. Plus, Mick & Keef haven't sold the song to Century 21 . . . yet."

- Bill Frost, Salt Lake City Weekly associate editor and guitar player

" 'Happy' from 'Exile on Main St.,' that's how I start the semester off. I just like it. I like the perkiness of it. I like the hook on it."

- John Costa, assistant professor at the University of Utah, and teacher of a History of Rock 'n' Roll class

" 'Jumpin' Jack Flash.' It always makes me laugh. It reminds me of Michael Keaton in the movie 'Night Shift': 'You like music? Good.' "

- Kevin Kirk, owner of The Heavy Metal Shop