England's Newest Hit Makers

''The Rolling Stones'' is the debut studio album by the English rock band of the same name, released by Decca Records in the UK on 16 April 1964. The American edition of the LP, with a slightly different track list, came out on London Records on 30 May 1964, subtitled ''England's Newest Hit Makers'', which later became its official title.

Recording

Recorded at Regent Sound Studios in London over the course of five days in January and February 1964, ''The Rolling Stones'' was produced by then-managers Andrew Loog Oldham and Eric Easton. The album was originally released by Decca Records in the UK, while the US version appeared on the London Records label.

The majority of the tracks reflect the band's love for R&B. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (whose professional name until 1978 omitted the "s" in his surname) were fledgling songwriters during early 1964, contributing only one original composition to the album: " Tell Me (You're Coming Back)". Two songs are credited to " Nanker Phelge" – a pseudonym the band used for group compositions from 1963 to 1965. Phil Spector and Gene Pitney both contributed to the recording sessions, and are referred to as "Uncle Phil and Uncle Gene" in the subtitle of the Phelge instrumental "Now I've Got a Witness".

Release

First pressings of the album, with matrix numbers ending in 1A, 2A, 1B, and 2B, have a 2:52 version of "Tell Me (You're Coming Back)", which was pressed from the wrong master tape. Subsequent pressings include the 4:06 version. Early labels and covers also have misprints with the fourth track on side 1 listed as "Mona", which was later changed to "I Need You Baby"", the subtitle of "Now I've Got a Witness" written "Like Uncle Gene and Uncle Phil", the word 'If' omitted from "You Can Make It If You Try", and 'Dozier' spelt 'Bozier'. "Route 66" is listed as "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66" on some versions of the album, and some later versions of the album have "I Need You Baby" listed as "Mona (I Need You Baby)" and the subtitles of "Now I've Got a Witness" and "Tell Me (You're Coming Back)" removed entirely.

The album cover photo was taken by Nicholas Wright. The cover bears no title or identifying information other than the photo and the Decca logo – an "unheard of" design concept originated by manager Andrew Oldham.

Upon its release, ''The Rolling Stones'' became one of 1964's biggest sellers in the UK, staying at No. 1 for twelve weeks.

The original British version of the album was released on compact disc in 1984, but became out-of-print on CD for many years afterwards. In November 2010, it was made available as part of a limited edition vinyl box set titled ''The Rolling Stones 1964–1969'', and by itself digitally at the same time. The original title was also re-instated as part of the ''Rolling Stones in Mono'' CD box set, released on 30 September 2016. The album was only released in mono in both the UK and US; no true stereo mix was ever made.

The US version of the album, originally self-titled but later officially called ''England's Newest Hit Makers'', was the band's debut US album and was released by London Records on 30 May 1964, a month and a half after the British version. The track " Not Fade Away" (the A-side of the band's third UK single) replaced " I Need You Baby", and the titles of the tracks "Now I've Got a Witness (Like Uncle Phil and Uncle Gene)" and "Tell Me (You're Coming Back)" were shortened to "Now I've Got a Witness" and "Tell Me" on most versions of the American release. Upon its release, ''The Rolling Stones'' reached No. 11 in the US, going gold in the process. To date, this is the Stones' only American studio album that has failed to place in the top five on the '' Billboard'' album charts. In August 2002, the album, by now officially called ''England's Newest Hit Makers'', was reissued as a new remastered CD and SACD Digipak by ABKCO.

Critical reception

The album was included in Robert Dimery's ''1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die'' (2010). Sean Egan of BBC Music wrote of the record in 2012: "It's a testament to the group's brilliance that the result was still the best album to emerge from the early 1960s British blues boom … the ensemble lovingly deliver some of their favourite shots of rhythm 'n' blues." It was voted number 418 in Colin Larkin's ''All Time Top 1000 Albums''.

Track listing

UK edition

US edition

Personnel

According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon, except where noted:

The Rolling Stones
*Mick Jagger vocals, handclaps, tambourine; harmonica , maracas
*Keith Richards backing vocals, lead and rhythm (6- and 12-string) guitars
*Brian Jones backing vocals, rhythm guitar; lead guitar ; slide guitar ; harmonica ; tambourine ; whistling
* Bill Wyman backing vocals, bass, handclaps
* Charlie Watts drums, handclaps
*Unidentified musician (played by the Rolling Stones) tambourine

Additional musicians
* Allan Clarke backing vocals
*Graham Nash backing vocals
* Gene Pitney piano
*Phil Spector percussion, maracas
* Ian Stewart organ ; piano

Production and additional personnel
*Andrew Loog Oldham producer
*Bill Farleyengineer
*Nicholas Wright photography

Charts

Certifications

References

Sources

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External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rolling Stones, The
1964 debut albums
ABKCO Records albums
Albums produced by Andrew Loog Oldham
Decca Records albums
London Records albums
The Rolling Stones albums