Rock and Roll’s golden age was probably 1955. As veterans Bill Haley, Little Richard, and Antoine “Fats” Domino were reaching their creative peaks; Chuck Berry, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, and the Crickets (featuring Buddy Holly) were making their first significant contributions. A major turning point in popular music occurred that year, and when Bill Haley and the Comets' Rock Around the Clock was featured in the film Blackboard Jungle, it nearly caused riots at theaters throughout the United States and would soon find its way across the Atlantic with similar result.

By
1962, Rock music was losing it’s hold on American youth. The genre had always been a revolving door for artists to come and go with little to show before the next hit followed. Yet even for those who had more than a single moment of glory, it was no different. Bill Haley failed to have an original hit after 1957, and was soon headlining revival gigs. The music almost did die in February of 1959, as the brilliant Buddy Holly was lost, as were the Big Bopper and Richie Valens. Eddie Cochran, composer of Rock staples C'mon Everybody and Summertime Blues, died in April of 1960. Though “Fats” Domino entered the sixties unscathed, he failed to have an original hit after 1961. In November of that year, the American magazine Variety proclaimed that "Rock and Roll was dying." Elvis Presley, whom had long since shed his true rock and roll calling, was busy alienating his remaining rock fans. Chuck Berry was in jail by this time, and would only have a few scattered hits following his release. Little Richard, whom between 1955-57 had a plethora of rock classics to his name, decided to be a full-time minister. Even the artists who entered the scene in later years (Chubby Checker in 1960), failed to sell many records by the end of 1962.

America was about to get what it needed from England, where dozens of rock bands influenced by American artists named above, whom in turn were influenced by great rhythm & blues artists before them, entered the U.S.A. music charts. Bands whom would introduce a new form of Rock and Roll which was not always louder or more threatening, but emotionally deeper and more realistic. Many of these bands made their own unique mark in the sixties, though a fraction of them survived into the seventies, and far fewer to the eighties. The
sole survivors of Rock and Roll's great renaissance are...


Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, & Charlie Watts (1964 from left)

This first section briefly overviews Rolling Stones album releases prior to 1966 by Decca in the UK and London (later Abkco) in the US. These are titles either unique to one side of the Atlantic, or have track listings and arrangement alternating in titles of the same name. All listings are in basic chronological order.

Which album may I show you?

1964 The Rolling Stones (EP)- Actually an extended single with four (4) tracks which scored top-20 status as a British single and a solid #1 on the UK EP chart. At least two of the selections appear to have been transferred from different masters for later release on LP. None of the selections were written by a member of the Stones. The disc's strength came from You Better Move On, a popular hit which would later appear in the UK version of Through the Past, Darkly as a result.

RELEASE U.K. EP HCP LABEL CAT. NO. SALES select feature
1964, Jan. 10 #1 Decca DFE 8560 unknown You Better Move On


1964 The Rolling Stones (LP)- This long player spent forty-two (42) weeks on the top-10 albums chart in England, surpassing the BeatlesA Hard Days Night and Beatles for Sale as the most successful rock album of 1964. The hand-clapping heard throughout the album is an acquired taste for some from their early club days, yet this is easily overcome by the Stones impressive covers of some rather obscure blues songs. Though loaded with such covers, they gave an early indication that (in the form of Tell Me (you're coming back)) that would soon change. One of the original twelve selections, Mona (I Need You Baby), did not surface on their debut U.S. pressing. note-as did the Stones in 1964, Boston-based rock group Aerosmith covered Rufus ThomasWalking the Dog and placed it at the end of their 1973 debut album.

RELEASE U.K. HCP LABEL CAT. NO. SALES select feature
1964, Apr. 17 #1 Decca LK 4605 unknown Tell Me


Yes Mick, your future is bright ahead.

1964 England’s Newest Hit Makers - One selection [Mona] was omitted from the previously-mentioned album for release in the United States, replaced by the chart-friendly cover of The Crickets' Not Fade Away. This LP reached #11 on the US albums chart, far better than any of their Rock contemporaries did in their 1960's debut. Oddly, a shorter (fade-out) version of the Jagger/Richards composition Tell Me (you’re coming back) replaced the original, lengthier version. note-The first album pressing was accompanied by a full-color poster.

RELEASE U.S. HCP LABEL CAT. NO. SALES select feature
1964, May 1 #11 London PS/LL3/375 500,000+ Did not chart until July 26th

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1964 five by five (EP)- This 5-track set compares well to full-length LPs. Why these great songs did not appear on a UK LP until 1971, skipping both Big Hits titles, is a mystery. The record company executives in all their obliviousness, actually made a good decision in releasing these selections with additional tracks on the following US LP. They made good on covers of Chuck Berry's Around and Around and oft-recorded blues track If You Need Me. Empty Heart and 2120 South Michigan Avenue were both composed by the Stones.

RELEASE U.K. EP HCP LABEL CAT. NO. SALES select feature
1964, Aug. 14 #1 Decca DFE 8590 unknown 2120 South Michigan Avenue


1964 12x5 - Somehow, the brains (and I use that term loosely) at London Records found a way to transform the 5-track EP five by five into this LP by including seven tracks from various other sources. As the follow-up (in the U.S.) to their debut album, it was quite sufficient. 2120 South Michigan Avenue impressively opens the second side with easily the Stones best instrumental recording, unfortunately not found in it’s full length on the initial vinyl and CD pressings. There are a number of other great songs and the fans agreed, making it the most successful of the first three US LP releases. Before making its debut on the 2002 Abkco remastered series, the full-length version of 2120 SMA could previously be found only on the rare Around And Around German LP.

RELEASE U.S. HCP LABEL CAT. NO. SALES select feature
1964, Oct. 24 #3 London PS/LL3/402 500,000+ Time Is On My Side

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(1965) innocent looking enough

1965 Rolling Stones No. 2 - While continuing a trend that began in 1963, the Stones realized that the novelty of young British lads making good on covers of classic American blues and rock songs would soon wear thin but it was yet to show. Their cover of Under The Boardwalk (also found on 12x5) was almost offensively bad to American audiences yet found itself Australia's #1 single for the month of February, 1965. Dale Hawkins' Susie Q closed this set to help listeners recover from the forgettable Off The Hook. Though included on this album, the song I Can’t be Satisfied did not show up in the U.S. until 1972 (More Hot Rocks.)

RELEASE U.K. HCP LABEL CAT. NO. SALES select feature
1965, Jan. 15 #1 Decca LK4661 unknown Susie Q


1965 Rolling Stones NOW! - This is the lowest-charting studio album released for the U.S. market in the history of the Rolling Stones. Though reaching #5 is commendable, the consumer was in want of something fresh to bite into and this album did not offer much. The Stones were well aware of their situation and promptly dealt with it from this point forward. As the first top-twenty single in the US written by Jagger/Richards, Heart of Stone made it’s album debut as track #4. The amount of eventual B-sides outnumbered the hit singles on this release. Though listed as running under three (3) minutes, the opening track Everybody Needs Somebody to Love is actually over five (5) minutes in length.

RELEASE U.S. HCP LABEL CAT. NO. SALES select feature
1965, Feb. 13 #5 London PS/LL3/420 500,000+ Heart Of Stone

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1965 Out of Our Heads - Quite altered from the UK edition of the same name in both cover design and content. Choosing an alternate cover shot was deemed necessary as it had been decided to have two US LPs to the one UK release. This was the Stones first US #1 album with much help from the hit singles The Last Time and (i can't get no) Satisfaction. The collection closed with a live recording I’m Alright, which first surfaced on the UK EP got LIVE if you want it!

RELEASE U.S. HCP LABEL CAT. NO. SALES select feature
1965, July 30 #1 London PS/LL3/429 1,000,000+ First U.S. #1 LP

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Sep. 1965
Satisfaction
[Grammy® Hall-of-Fame]]
is finally #1 world-wide.

1965 Out of Our Heads - This album - the first UK LP available in stereo - failed to complete a hat-trick of #1 albums for the Stones due in part possibly to the exclusion of their hit single (i can’t get no) Satisfaction. Though far better than the US pressing of the same name, it was not as well received. The cover photo from this album would later re-appear on the US LP December’s Children front.

RELEASE U.K. HCP LABEL CAT. NO. SALES select feature
1965, Sep. 24 #2 Decca SKL/LK/4733 unknown I'm Free

BUY 'Out of Our Heads [U.K. version]' on Super Audio CD ... HERE NOW!


1965 December’s Children (and everybody’s) - This cult favorite among Stones “butchered” albums has songs from an incredible number of sources including the UK issue of Out of Our Heads and both UK EPs Rolling Stones and got LIVE if you want it! The 4th track Look What You've Done appears on no other LP or CD. First performed by Marianne Faithfull in 1964, the Stones version of their own composition As Tears Go By made it’s way on to this album as well as the top-10 US singles chart in December.

RELEASE U.S. HCP LABEL CAT. NO. SALES select feature
1965, Dec. 4 #4 London PS/LL3/451 500,000+ Get Off Of My Cloud

BUY 'December's Children' on Super Audio CD ... HERE NOW!

 

The following reviews of post-1965 Stones albums
are accompanied by “star”
ratings of one (*) to five (*****)
.
Half-stars are represented by a blinking star.

* - poor effort.
** - fair effort.
*** - good listening.
**** - great listening.
*****
- ultimate rock classic.

1966 Aftermath- The first collection of entirely new compositions is the best example of Brian Jones’ influence, as well as the maturing lyricism and musical arrangement of Jagger and Richards. Released in the UK only as a single, Paint It Black opened the US pressing of this album with probably the best rock song ever in which a sitar was used. Four tracks including the hit single Mother’s Little Helper were omitted for the US pressing, but the album’s effectiveness is little diminished. Stupid Girl, Flight 505, Under My Thumb, and Goin’ Home - whose arrangement Jim Morrison imitated almost step-by-step in his live performance of Gloria - are some of the many great tunes found on this, their best pre-1968 album. Incidentally, Under My Thumb was the first (of many) Stones songs which were unfairly labeled by the National Organization for Women (NOW) who viewed the song to be offensive and degrading to women. As a note for collectors, this was the last of the cover variations judging by release in either the US or UK.
rating-****

Origin RELEASE HCP LABEL CAT No. SALES Select Feature(s)
U.K. 1966, Apr. 15 #1 Decca SKL/LK/4786 unknown 14 tracks
U.S. 1966, July 2 #2 London PS/LL3/476 1,000,000+ 11 tracks incl. Paint It Black

BUY 'Aftermath [U.S. version]' on Super Audio CD ... HERE NOW!
... or ... the U.K. version HERE


1967 Between the Buttons- The last of the “butchered” Stones titles is an odd collection of songs which Jagger once labeled, “...a complete wash but for one or two tracks...”. The UK pressing did not contain either of the hit singles related to the recording sessions of this album, yet the two alternative selections were impressive. The US pressing omitted 2 great songs from the earlier UK issue (Please Go Home & Back Street Girl), replacing them with the double-hit, Let’s Spend the Night Together/Ruby Tuesday. This title was not well received upon release but has since been recognized as a Jones-era classic. Miss Amanda Jones provided a theme to the 1987 film Some Kind of Wonderful, and She Smiled Sweetly offered a touching moment from The Royal Tenenbaums. Still hard to listen to from start to finish, it is nonetheless valuable for at least a few reasons. Keith gets his first shot at lead vox, sharing the spotlight with Jagger on Something Happened To Me Yesterday. Back cover art by Mr. Charlie Watts.
rating-
**

Origin RELEASE HCP LABEL CAT No. SALES Select Feature(s)
U.K. 1967, Jan. 20 #3 Decca SKL/LK/4852 unknown Back Street Girl
U.S. 1967, Feb. 11 #2 London PS/LL3/499 500,000+ Miss Amanda Jones

BUY 'Between the Buttons [U.S. version]' on Super Audio CD ... HERE NOW!
... or ... the U.K. version HERE


She's a Rainbow was a US #25

1967 <(outer)<(inlay)
Their Satanic Majesties Request- The end result of a very turbulent period for the Stones, this album is not the Sgt. Pepper imitation that many protest, but it’s mimic. Not to be used as an excuse, they still created great music despite their lack of total enthusiasm. The band did not receive support from their usual sources and opted to produce and arrange this album themselves. Unofficially, the song 2000 Light Years from Home is one of the greatest psychedelic songs ever conceived both musically and lyrically, and remains as the most oft-performed live song from this album. The prophetic 2000 Man, with references to a man “...having an affair with a random computer...” and whose “...name is a number...”, was memorable enough to the American rock band KISS that they - as well as a number of other notable acts - recorded and continue to perform it live. Overall however the album is confusing and over produced with a stream of nauseating sound effects scattered about. Two songs which marked the only recorded collaboration between the Stones and the Beatles were realized during the sessions for this album, only to be slated for individual release. Michael Cooper would collaborate with both groups in 1967 as the photographer of Sgt. Pepper and this ground breaking 3-dimensional album cover. That is Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones arranging the strings for the melodic She’s A Rainbow, which itself became immensely popular 30 years later. The song was a staple of live performances during Stones tours of 1997-2003, and supplied the theme for the 1998 iMac computer promotional campaign.
rating-
**

Origin RELEASE HCP LABEL CAT No. SALES Select Feature(s)
U.K. 1967, Dec. 8 #3 Decca TXS/TXL/103 unknown Stones Produced
U.S. 1967, Dec. 9 #2 London NPS/NP/2 500,000+ Inner sleeve was red version of cloud cover

BUY 'Their Satanic Majesties Request' on Super Audio CD ... HERE NOW!


Brian (far right) is fading away.

Jumpin' Jack Flash was a UK #1, but ...
Street Fighting Man is the undisputed King of Picture Sleeves.

1968 (inlay)
Beggars Banquet- Keith Richards’ favorite album to this day was the first in a series of magnificent albums released during the latter part, and just beyond, the Brian Jones era. With concern over content and cover design however, the album was [commercially] the least successful for the Stones in this same period. Most of the tracks found here have a lighter acoustic sound such as in the excellent No Expectations, but they hold up well beside the violent electric guitar, stamping drums and sneering vocals of the powerful Street Fighting Man, and the building, torturing brilliance of Sympathy for the Devil. The single from this period did not appear on the LP, yet Jumpin’ Jack Flash could have only made this album even better.
rating-
*****

Origin RELEASE HCP LABEL CAT No. SALES Select Feature(s)
U.K. 1968, Dec. 6 #3 Decca SKL/LK/4955 unknown Stones "white" album
U.S. 1968, Dec. 7 #5 London PS/LL3/539 1,000,000+ Keith's favorite LP

BUY 'Beggar's Banquet' on Super Audio CD ... HERE NOW!


Honky Tonk Women was #1
in more countries than any other Stones single.

1969 Let it Bleed- This is disputably the greatest Rolling Stones album ever. Difficult to detect even a single weak moment on the entire Jimmy Miller production. The group’s moment of true brilliance is captured expertly by Miller on the album’s opener Gimme Shelter, as well as in the taunting blues of Midnight Rambler, and the first released (non-shared) Richards lead vocal track You Got the Silver. Despite Brian Jones having long since detached himself from the group, he does appear on the album beside newly-acquired guitarist Mick Taylor, though the sessions were separated by many months. Honky Tonk Women, an homage to Hank Williams which appeared in alternate form on this album, would have suited Jones’ blues feel which Taylor expertly performs in his absence. Providing music for a great many number of films to this day, virtually all of the selections found here are quite worthy of such attention. Check out the Layla-like closing to Monkey Man. Though some may argue that the live version of Midnight Rambler [from Ya-Ya's] outperforms the original, there is little doubt that You Can't Always Get What You Want has never been improved upon. During a turbulent period within the Stones as well as around the globe, this album provided the most appropriate soundtrack to the decade which was about to violently end.
rating-
*****

Origin RELEASE HCP LABEL CAT No. SALES Select Feature(s)
U.K. 1969, Dec. 5 #1 Decca SKL/LK/5025 300,000+ 1st with Mick Taylor
U.S. 1969, Nov. 29 #3 London NPS-4 2,000,000+ 1st stereo-only U.S. release

BUY 'Let It Bleed' on Super Audio CD ... HERE NOW!

See ...

Part I: Studio Albums 1964-69

Part II: Studio Albums 1971-2005

Part III: Compilations 1966-2005

Part IV: Live + Solo 1965-2004

Mick Jagger (b. July 26, 1943).
Brian Jones
(b. February 28, 1942 - d. July 3, 1969).
Keith Richards
(b. December 18, 1943).
Charlie Watts
(b. June 2, 1941).
Bill Wyman
(b. October 24, 1936).
Ian Stewart
(b. July 18, 1938 - d. December 12, 1985).
Mick Taylor
(b. January 17, 1948).
Ron Wood
(b. June 1, 1947).
Bobby Keys
(b. December 18, 1943).
Chuck Leavell (b. April 28, 1952).
Darryl Jones
(b. December 11, 1961).
Dick Taylor
(b. January 28, 1943).

 

GO TO: INTRO ... 1964-69 LPs ... 1971+ LPs ... Compilation LPs ... Live + Solo
Hit Singles ... Hit Albums ... Brian Jones ... Unit $ALE$ ... CDs
Reel Stoned ... US LP Label History ... Gigs & more Licks
Credits

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