portrait of this blog's author - by Stephen Blackman 2008

Thursday, May 31, 2018

The Rolling Stones first album is a classic that stands the test of time and no mistake and is probably in my top twenty (at least) of album of all time. The track here 'Route 66' is an absolute unmistakeable peerless classic of British Rock 'n' Roll and one of the best album openers ever committed to vinyl and we have explored the original elsewhere, or earlier rather, by Julie London's husband Bobby Troup as a jazz standard either way it is a classic 12 bar - and no I didn't buy either when they came out I was too young but I bought the album later and still play it today


On this day in music history: May 30, 1964 - “England’s Newest Hit Makers”, the US debut album by The Rolling Stones is released. Produced by Andrew Loog Oldham, it is recorded at Regent Sound Studios in London from January 3 - February 25, 1964. Recorded in just five days worth of studio time spread over a six week period, the album features mostly R&B and blues covers the band has been performing as part of their live act. The US title of the album is amended from its original eponymous title, and includes the bands first two American singles “Not Fade Away” (#3 UK, #48 US Pop) and “Tell Me (You’re Coming Back”) (#24 US Pop). Original US pressings also include a color reproduction of the cover photo inserted inside the sleeve. Over time, these have become quite rare and are sought after collector’s items among Stones fans. The album is remastered and reissued a hybrid SACD (Super Audio Compact Disc) in 2002. Out of print on vinyl since the late 80’s, it is reissued as a 180 gram LP in 2003. This vinyl release has been supplanted by the mono reissue of the original UK album, included in the box set “The Rolling Stones In Mono” released in 2016. “England’s Newest Hit Makers” peaks at number eleven on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

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