12 x 5

by

The Rolling Stones

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This is the remastered super audio CDs (SACD) of the Stones ABCKO catalog (which includes all the early Decca/London material. ABCKO acquired the Stones' catalog after Allen Klein became their manager in 1965. The legal battles during the 70s produced releases that the Stones opposed (they took out full page adds asking fans not to buy them), including the controversial Metamorphosis releases (which are now available on CD for the 1st time ever). But the sad fact is that the Stones lost control of their great early material. With these remastered SACD releases, we at last have some idea of what they really sounded like in the studio. I guess if we had these 40 years ago they would have ended up Greatest Rock And Roll Band in the Universe instead of just our tiny little World.

This is the Stones 2nd US album, released Oct 23, 1964. It cemented the early blues band legend with tracks from their famous Chess Studios session in Chicago during the 1st American tour (Muddy Waters helped carry their gear into the studio) and tracks recorded at Regent Sound in London. Essentially, this is the album that finalized their status as champions of Chicago blues.

The album starts with Check Berry's Around And Around, which the Stones had been doing as a show stopper in the UK, the big hits Time Is On My Side and It's All Over Now, and the great slow blues numbers Confessin' The Blues & Good Times Bad Times. Although they used to do a lot of instrumentals, 2120 S. Michigan seems to have survived as the only memory of this part of the early Stones familiar to most fans. Personally I always liked Congratulations, but never cared for their version of Susie Q, although it was very popular at the time.

The tracks recorded June 10-11, 1964 at Chess Studios in Chicago were:

.....Around And Around

.....Confessin' The Blues

.....Empty Heart

.....Good Times Bad Times

.....It's All Over Now

.....2120 S. Michigan version 2

.....If You Need Me)

Tracks recorded at Regent Sound in London were done on Feb 25, 1964

.....Susie Q

June 24-26, 1964

.....Time Is On My Side version 1

.....Congratulations

Sep 28-29, 1964

.....Under The Boardwalk

.....Grown Up Wrong

This album was never released in the UK, however the tracks on it were released in the UK as follows:

6-26-64 It's All Over Now, Good Times Bad Times

8-14-64 Five by Five EP - If You Need Me, Empty Heart, 2120 S. Michigan version 1, Confessin' the Blues, Around and Around

1-16-65 The Rolling Stones No. 2 - Time Is On My Side version 1, Grown Up Wrong, Under The Boardwalk, Susie Q

Congratulations was not released in the UK until 10-5-73 on the album No Stone Unturned

This information comes from "It's Only Rock And Roll: The Ultimate Guide To The Rolling Stones" by Karnbach and Bernson and from my own collection.

The Stones were probably the best white band in the 60's to play rock n roll/blues and this is quite an example. They could play it with authority, not really trying to copy, but taking those songs and turning them into rolling stones songs, that somehow matched what they were all about: a bunch of ragged and dangerous guys with guitars. Even their ballads sound obscure and not polished. This Cd has some unforgettable tracks, like under the boardwalk, susie q, good times, ect. Probably just a couple of songs do sound like fillers, but this was just their second album.