Saturday Boxing - The Rolling Stones

I was giving a little thought to what might be interesting to post; you know, looking through the music and so on, and realized I’ve got a few box sets that might have some hidden gems. I started rooting through them, and decided I could probably go a couple months of Saturdays posting up stuff from these boxes. At least while I procrastinate ripping more music from my LPs.

I’m going to dive right in with The Rolling Stones - singles collection* the London Years. Abkco Records released this three-disk set in 1989. It’s a compilation of the singles the Stones released between 1963 and 1969 while they were recording for Decca Records in England and London Records in America. All of the singles and their B-sides are on these disks, and most are in their original mono mixes. The entire set was re-remastered and rereleased in 2002.

What I’ve picked are some of what I think are the rarer and more interesting songs from the disks. There’s probably nothing here that hasn’t seen the light of day elsewhere, but if it’s new to only one person, I’ve done my job! The notes accompanying each song are liner notes from a booklet that came with the box set.

Stoned.mp3 released Nov. 1963
Written by Nanker/Phelge - the nom de plume for Jagger/Richards compositions shared equally by the five Stones and Andrew Oldham.
Quasi-instrumental B-side of “I Wanna Be Your Man.” Originally withdrawn in the US on “moral” grounds, its A-side, “I Wanna Be Your Man,” was eventually released in the US as the B-side of “Not Fade Away” in March 1964.

Little by Little.mp3 released Feb. 1964
Recorded at the “Not Fade Away” session with Phil Spector once again on maracas, Gene Pitney and sixth Stone Ian Stewart shared the same piano on this song “put together” by Mick Jagger and Phil Spector in the corridor. The A&B sides completed, Mick and Phil celebrated by singing the as yet unreleased “Andrew’s Blues,” a very “blue” blues satire on the chairman of Decca Records and the record industry in general.

Little Red Rooster.mp3 released Nov. 1964
The group’s last Blues single. They performed “Little Red Rooster” live on the May 2, 1965, Ed Sullivan Show. Brian Jones shines on guitar.

The Singer Not the Song.mp3 released Oct. 1965
UK B-side of “Get Off My Cloud.”

Long, Long While.mp3 released May 1966
UK B-side of “Paint it, Black.”

We Love You.mp3 released Aug. 1967
“We Love You” was the group’s most serious song to date, featuring not only extraordinarily elaborate production, but accompanied by a promotional film aimed directly at the heart of the British legal system, which had been harassing Mick, Keith, and Brian all of 1967. Mick and Keith were free on bail, and Brian had been hospitalized early the same month that this gem was conceived.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney sing background vocals.

In Another Land.mp3 released Dec. 1967
Bill Wyman’s first composition recorded with the Stones. Bill’s lead vocal is joined by Steve Marriot on guitar and vocals, Nicky Hopkins on keyboards, Charlie on drums, and Mick on backing vocals.

Surprise, Surprise.mp3 released Jul. 1970
This UK B-side to “Street Fighting Man” was culled from a 1964 Chicago session for its 1970 UK release.

I Don’t Know Why.mp3 released May. 1975
AKA “Don’t Know Why I Love You,” this Stevie Wonder co-penned song was originally recorded by the Stones with Mick Taylor and Ian Stewart the night Brian Jones died.

Jiving Sister Fanny.mp3 released Aug. 1975 (US)
B-side of “Out of Time.”



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NOTE: I'm taking down the February posts tomorrow. No April Fools....

posted by aikin @ 11:08 AM