THE ROLLING STONES 
Another artist that I loved a lot is the Rolling Stones, and getting all of their albums was a little tougher than those of Bob Dylan, since I didn’t really start buying them in earnest until around the time of Let it Bleed. The early albums in particular were not that easy to find. I did locate an original copy of their first album, The Rolling Stones and another that was almost as old for $2 each as I recall. Like those that I ordered through Columbia Record Club, they were mono copies (that was a simple decision for my junior-high self: stereo albums cost a dollar more, though with some records I definitely wish I’d have bitten the bullet). (April 2012) * * * The Rolling Stones’ bootleg album, The Greatest Group on Earth is mostly familiar material as might be expected in a live concert. However, until I got this album, I did not know or at least remember the song “I’m Free” (a different song from the well-known track, “I’m Free” from the Who’s album Tommy); it had been the b-side for the Stones’ second #1 song, “Get off of My Cloud”. The album also includes two Chuck Berry songs, “Carol” and “Little Queenie”. “Carol” was released as a single in January 1964, charting only in France, and was also on their first album, The Rolling Stones. While “Little Queenie” was never recorded by the Stones on a single or a studio album as far as I have been able to tell, “Carol” as well as “Little Queenie” are included on their second live album, Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! The Rolling Stones in Concert (1970). According to Wikipedia: “It [Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!] was reported to have been issued in response to the well known bootleg Live’r Than You’ll Ever Be” (the alternate name of The Greatest Group on Earth). (September 2017) |