|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
01/05/2004 The Rolling Stones - Singles 1963-1965
By Richard Smith
Singles 1963-1965 is housed in deluxe packaging, but spreading 33 (or 32 if you don't count 'We Want The Stones' - and I don't!) mainly short tracks across 12 CDs opens the project to accusations of inefficient use of the CD medium. Nine of the twelve discs contain only two songs. The accumulated playing time of all 12 CDs is the approximate length of one conventional CD. Most important, all the music contained here is already available elsewhere, and the remastered Singles Collection - The London Years contains many of the tracks. Indeed, every Stones track not already appearing on a studio album (now that the ABKCO re-issue series has finally reinstated most UK and US original studio albums), is housed on Singles Collection - The London Years. There is no new music exclusively on Singles 1963-1965. Maybe these criticisms miss the point. After all, this is a beautifully packaged product, designed to appeal as a collectible - the niche market the release is clearly pitched at. Owning it has more in common with stamp collecting, than listening to music. It's unlikely that anyone wishing to hear this material would get the box down from shelf, and then go through the lengthy process of placing several different CDs in the tray. That said, this is an undeniably attractive collectible. The 12 discs are housed in facsimiles of original picture sleeves, some sourced from rare European releases. The release is enhanced by a 28 page booklet and three photo cards. The booklet reproduces some intriguing early memorabilia and contains new essays on the Stones' early period. But remember, the only new material included here is the packaging. The release offers a rare chance to hear the B-sides in their original context, such as a version of Muddy Waters' 'I Just Want To Make Love To You'. However, this serves to highlight the shortcomings of some of the Stones' early readings of Chicago blues tunes - they are reconstructions, not reinterpretations. The definitive reading of the song remains the Etta James recording. Interestingly, an obscure recording of the song by Chuck Berry also exists - it may well have served as the band's template. Other obscure B-sides include the hastily assembled 'Stoned', which formed the B-side to 'I Wanna Be Your Man' (written by Lennon and McCartney). Two classic early EPs (The Rolling Stones EP and 5 x 5) are given their debut releases on CD. The latter contains the band's convincing take on Chuck Berry's 'Around And Around', whereas the former includes an astonishingly confident reading, for such a young outfit, of 'Poison Ivy'. A third, considerably less worthwhile, EP is also included - Got Live If You Want It. Although best known nowadays as an album, Got Live If You Want It started life as an EP in the UK - later sharing the title with an expanded live album issued only in the US. A whole disc (the twelfth and final CD in the box) is reserved for these 6 tracks - thus rendering it the fullest disc of the 12 CDs in the set! However, the first track listed is 'We Want The Stones', which is merely the eponymous audience chant - surely one of the most creative (and audacious) acts of song publishing! The Singles Collection - London Years represents better value for money and offers greater convenience in playing the music. However, its packaging is nothing like as pleasing as this new set - and if you've got a collector's inclination, then by all means purchase. But I guarantee that you won't be playing the discs - just as a stamp collector doesn't use his purchases to post letters.
[Previous entry: "Beatlemania - new on DVD"] [Next entry: "La Musique pour les Adultes: Les Inrockuptibles"] Search entries:
Copyright © Music
for Grown-Ups Ltd. 2005
www.musicforgrownups.co.uk
|
[Archives]
[Previous entry: "Beatlemania - new on DVD"] [Next entry: "La Musique pour les Adultes: Les Inrockuptibles"]
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Site design by watson press website design & authoring |
