Dez’s Record Guides: The Rolling Stones

Celebrating their 50th year as a recording band this year, some might see a trip through the discography of The Rolling Stones as a daunting task. Never fear, Dez is here to make some sense of it all for you. Obviously this will need to be divided into two posts. Are they the “Greatest Rock and Roll Band” in the world? I think you can argue that at times they have been, although never my very favorite. But if you were to pick one quintessential rock band for all time, even over The Beatles, I’d probably have to pick The Stones. We’ve discussed JMW’s 10 Year Rule quite a bit around here, and you can also apply it to the Stones. While they’ve recorded for 50 years, their essential recordings can be found 1965-78 (with some weak sauce in the mid-70’s). I love to look at streaks, and between 1968-72, The Stones had the most impressive streak in rock history. I will take The Stones ’68-’72 and you can put up anybody you want from a similar length of time, and The Stones will defeat them.

The early Stones discography is particularly confusing due to the nature of U.S. vs. UK releases during the 1960’s. In the early to mid-60’s, many bands released substantially different versions of the same album title in the U.S. vs. Europe. This is partly because in Europe, singles were seen more as their own entities and often not included on the LPs, whereas in the States we have always repackaged singles onto albums as well. I will rate and analyze each version. It was not until 1967’s Their Satanic Majesties Request that The Stones started to release the same record on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Rolling Stones (UK-1964) ***
England’s Newest Hitmakers (US-1964) ***
12X5 (US-1964) ***
Rolling Stones No. 2 (UK-1965) ***
The Rolling Stones, Now! (US-1965) ***
Out of Our Heads (US-1965) ****
Out of Our Heads (UK-1965) ***
December’s Children (and Everybody’s) (US-1965) ****
Got Live If You Want It (live) (US-1966) *
The Stones started out like many of the early British Invasion bands, playing in clubs slavishly trying to recreate American blues and R&B. They couldn’t quite get it, and that is the root of their own unique sound, trying and failing to be middle aged American black men. Others were better at it, like The Animals and Yardbirds, but there was a grit and wit about the Stones that was unique. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are the second most celebrated songwriting duo in rock (behind Lennon-McCartney), but in the early days the band relied heavily on covers while Mick and Keith were still trying to find their songwriting footing. The best out of this early batch is the American version of Out of Our Heads. Got Live If You Want It, sounding muddled and drowned out in teenage screams, started the dubious tradition of tossed off, largely pointless live records (with the exception of Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out) that the band continues to roll out whenever Mick and Keith want some more cash.

Aftermath (UK-1966) ****
Aftermath (US-1966) ****
Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) (compilation) (US-1966) ****
Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) (compilation) (UK-1966) ****
Most consider Aftermath to be the first classic Stones record, and it is the first one where Jagger and Richards write all of the songs, finally discarding the blues/R&B covers crutch. Brian Jones is a star here, taking these songs to new places with his daring playing and instrumentation (like the sitar on “Paint It Black,” the dulcimer on “Lady Jane,” and the marimbas on “Under My Thumb”).

Between the Buttons (UK-1967) ****
Between the Buttons (US-1967) ****
Flowers (compilation) (US-1967) ****
My daughter was one day old when I decided to introduce her to the finer things in this life. The first music she ever heard on this earth was the UK version of Between the Buttons. Flowers collects some great tunes previously only available on UK releases, but it is actually an excellent listen in its own right.

Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967) ***
Considered a rather embarrassing flop upon release, its reputation has been rehabilitated over time (going too far in the other direction, though). The Stones tried (and failed) to match The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album, but there are some great songs here, “2000 Light Years From Home” is genuinely creepy psychedelia, while “2000 Man” is one of their most underrated songs (improbably but wonderfully covered years later by KISS).

Beggar’s Banquet (1968) *****
They are no longer copying America’s music, they are using the templates and making their own thrilling blues, country, rock and folk out of it.

Let It Bleed (1969) *****
The best Stones record? If you open with the harrowing “Gimme Shelter” and close with the glorious, redemptive “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” and then fill the middle with nightmares like “Midnight Rambler” and “Monkey Man” and the finest cover of their career (Robert Johnson’s “Love In Vain” turned into a mournful country lament)…this should be in the discussion for greatest rock record…period.

Through the Past, Darkly (compilation) (US-1969) ****
Through the Past, Darkly (compilation) (UK-1969) ****
Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! The Rolling Stones in Concert (live) (1970) *****
The only remotely essential live Stones record is Ya-Ya’s.

Sticky Fingers (1971) *****
Let It Bleed may be their best, but this is my favorite Stones record. Weariness never sounded so good.

BELOW: Record collectors must have Sticky Fingers on vinyl, with the working zipper on the album cover (designed by Andy Warhol).


Hot Rocks 1964-71 (compilation) (1971) *****
More Hot Rocks (Big Hits & Fazed Cookies) (compilation) (1972) ****
Singles Collection: The London Years (compilation) (1989/1963-70) *****
Hot Rocks is one of those rare compilations that takes on a life of its own, in that it is absolute perfection spread over two discs. Every collection should have Hot Rocks in it on principle alone, I don’t care if you also own all of the albums. The Singles Collection is exactly what it sounds like, every Stones single and b-side released between 1963-1970. Speaks for itself.

Exile on Main Street (1972) *****
Funny how time gives you perspective. Exile was reviewed as a sprawling, muddy mess when it was released, and critics found it to be a disappointment. But now the critical consensus is that it is the Stones’ greatest album. A sprawling, double album masterpiece from the gutter, it caps off this remarkable run.

The rest next time…