Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Rolling Stones • 1963 - 1964

Rolling stones
Rolling stones England's Newest Hit Makers Rolling stones Come On single Rolling stones 12 x 5 cover
Left to right: Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts.

Fifty years ago in 1962, Brian Jones, Ian Stewart, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts were inspired by American Soul, Blues, and Rhythm & Blues artists,as they got together to form a band. In fact, they pulled the name for the newly formed band from a song by Muddy Waters, "Rollin' Stone." In 1963, Stewart came out of the lineup of the band, to become the tour manager for the Rolling Stones. The very first single released by the Rolling Stones was "Come On," a 1963 cover of the Chuck Berry song, originally released by Berry in 1961. It went to #21 on the UK charts.



The third single released by the Rolling Stones was "Not Fade Away," written by Charles Hardin (better known by his stage name, Buddy Holly) and Norman Petty. The song was originally recorded by Buddy Holly & the Crickets in 1957. This also served as the first single released by the Rolling Stones in the US. It was released in February of 1964, more than 48 years ago. It made it to #3 on the UK charts, and #48 on the US Billboard Hot 100, a great first effort.



"Time Is On My Side" was written by Jazz musician Norman Meade, and covered by The Stones in October of 1963. It was the first single off the album, 12 x 5. The song marked a first for the boys, as it made it to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, their first Top 10 single in the US. Of course, that was the first of 23 songs to take a coveted position on the Billboard Pop chart.



"It's All Over Now" was written by American artists Bobby Womack and Shirley Womack and sung by the group The Valentinos, featuring Bobby Womack. The Stones first released it in the UK, where it became their first ever #1 song. A month later, in July of 1964, the version by the Stones was released in the US, and made it to #26 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also off 12 x 5.



This was just the beginning of the very long story of one of the most legendary rock bands, the Rolling Stones. It would be another year before the band would have their first #1 song on the US Billboard Pop chart. Last month, fifty years after the formation of the band, they released the live album, L.A. Friday, recorded live in 1975. In 2005, they released their last studio album, A Bigger Bang. In between coming together and today, they've had nine #1 albums on the US Billboard chart, and nine #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. They were perhaps the most dominant Rock band in the latter half of the 20th century, with outstanding sales, and tours that sold out so quickly. So there is plenty more to come from the Rolling Stones.

4 comments:

  1. You know I love me some Stones! If you didn't see Mick hosting SNL this past Saturday, he did a great job, both in the skits and with the music. The music just blew me away. I told Ken, "If the Stones are touring, we're going!" I saw them back in '98, and it remains one of the highlights of my musical life. The are truly The Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World!

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    1. How can anyone not love The Stones? I mean, the music, just so damn iconic. And across many decades. Damn.

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  2. Your are dealing with the best phase of the stones.
    To me they are great music.
    Stripped of all the trappings of hype and fame, Rolling Stones is basically a very solid blues band. Rhythm & Blues was their initial passion which matured into uncanny mastery. The most instantly recognizable Stones riff has been the wail and gloom of blues.
    http://modernartists.blogspot.in/2012/05/rolling-stones-so-that-we-can-all-grow.html

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    Replies
    1. Agreed, they were truly great from the beginning.

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