I'd like to do a series of retrospective reviews on the part of Rock's Off's membership, on each Stones album. For the early releases, we'll go by both the UK and US releases--Both releases will be covered in a single thread. Sort of like both your own personal feelings on the albums, then and now, and perhaps even (if you want to go in depth) a track by track review--That part isn't necessary, though, just an extra if you really wanna go in depth. Could also talk about your first time listening to the album(s), how you felt about them then, and if your feelings have changed. Your memories. This is a big year--let's give the boys all we got. Let's let it all hang out.

I figured since we're now in 2012, we're in the Stones' Fiftieth Year of being the World's Greatest Rock N' Roll Band and if nothing else, this would be a cool sort of way for all of us as a community to celebrate them and the works they've given us, by talking about all their albums. Each album will get it's own thread as I said.

So, we'll begin at the start--with the Stones' first album; The first gift they gave to the world. It was released as "The Rolling Stones" in the UK on 16 April 1964, and as "The Rolling Stones: England's Newest Hitmakers" in America on May 30th, 1964.

A track listing for each version is as follows:

The Rolling Stones (UK)
1.      "Route 66"        
2.      "I Just Want to Make Love to You"        
3.      "Honest I Do"        
4.      "Mona (I Need You Baby)"        
5.      "Now I've Got a Witness (Like Uncle Phil and Uncle Gene)"        
6.      "Little by Little"        
Side two
7.      "I'm a King Bee"        
8.      "Carol"        
9.      "Tell Me (You're Coming Back)"        
10.      "Can I Get a Witness"        
11.      "You Can Make It If You Try"        
12.      "Walking the Dog" (Mick and Brian Jones on vocals, notably)

Now I've Got a Witness and Tell Me were the first ever original Stones' songs released.

The Rolling Stones (England's Newest Hitmakers)- US tracklisting:

1.      "Not Fade Away"
2.      "Route 66"
3.      "I Just Want to Make Love to You"
4.      "Honest I Do"
5.      "Now I've Got a Witness"
6.      "Little by Little"
Side two
7.      "I'm a King Bee"
8.      "Carol"
9.      "Tell Me"
10.      "Can I Get a Witness"
11.      "You Can Make It If You Try"
12.      "Walking the Dog"

Notably, Gene Pitney and Phil Spector play on Little by Little as guest musicians. Tell Me was the Stones' first original single, released in June 1964, although it was their sixth single overall (their first, Come On, was released in June 1963). It reached number 24 on the charts.

In the UK, The Rolling Stones' first record was a smash--It stayed at #1 for 12 weeks and established the Stones as a breakout artist. On the other side of the pond, it wasn't as popular; it went to #11 and went Gold, but is their only album not to place in the Top Five in the American charts.

A great album, all great songs.  My personal favorites: King Bee, Route 66, Can I Get A Witness, Little By Little, Honest I Do.  Much better than anything The Beatles put out that year.

3 responses
I was hoping for this one to get more, IMO This was a good Discussion!

The only difference is Not Fade Away and Mona are not on both records by some odd decision making. Maybe they felt Not Fade Away was more of an American tune? King Bee is my favorite song providing some sexual content but back then they had to use metaphors instead of being too shocking. Those were the very early days and the album title England's Newest Hitmakers it was a self proclamation that The Stones are new and making hits in England in case you dont know! That title got the youth of America paying attention to The Stones! Smart move!

Kilroy wrote on Jan 25^th, 2012 at 8:05pm:

I AGREE.WISH THERE WAS MORE TALK LIKE THIS.

Kilroy wrote on Jan 10^th, 2012 at 11:10pm:


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Nice Read Mate -


Ian

to this day..Tell Me..remains one of my top 5 songs of all time..any band.......

BILL PERKS wrote on Jan 30^th, 2012 at 4:10pm:


That would Be GREAT!
Now The Question,  when and if ever did they play that last live?
Seems to be a fitting song for a Stones aniversary IMO.
I'm playing NOW!
By The Way Thank you Ian.

not a bad album for one of those get the girls panties wet to sell records boy bands!!! I often wonder if I would've been so uptight back then, jealous and threatened by their look and popularity that I might have ignored them, at least for a while!!!
Great album... not my fave of the early stuff... back then they were churning out music almost daily.

Kilroy wrote on Jan 30^th, 2012 at 7:16pm:


What's amazing is, you watch videos of the band from 1965 or so and their hair would be considered pretty short today, yet at the time it was considered even more radical than The Beatles. Hair was a goddamn big issue it seems in the 60s.

1965:




1969 (last photoshoot with Brian, May 1969):
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg28/scaled.phpserver=28&filename=stoneshds.jpg&r...

The picture of the boys by the Thames and the one where they are sporting waistcoats were both probably taken in 1963 - not 1965.

Anyway... yeah, the Rolling Stones debut is a classic and was probably my introduction to the group. Route 66 was such an explosive, rollicking, opener.