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Welcome to the Rolling Stones' Mailing list FAQ list
====================================================
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COPYRIGHT 1994 (c) Anthony J. Rzepela (the "compiler")
This collection of four works is under the copyright of the compiler,
who may, at his discretion, relinquish said copyright to the authors
named herein.
This collection may not be broken up, or be made available
by any publisher. It may not be redistributed in any form
if any changes are made to it except by the holder of the
copyright.
The compiler of this FAQ retains all rights for use of it.
No author or proofreader or assistant credited herein grants
the use of his or her name to any publisher. Be warned that
attempts to publish this shared work-in-progress may interfere
with legal commitments individual authors may privately hold
with publishers.
/***********************************************************************/
This FAQ list is intended for new subscribers to the Rolling Stones'
Internet mailing list and digest, known as 'Undercover', and users of
alt.rock-n-roll.stones, where it is a monthly posting.
It is a four-part FAQ list, with the following sections:
Part 1: basic question list. You are reading it now.
Part 2: basic recording history
Part 3: a bibliography of Rolling Stones-related material
Part 4: The "Lazy Man's Discography"
Revisions, as they are made, will be available at the FTP site at
ftp.uwp.edu, in the directory
pub/music/faqs
and, pending approval, archived at rtfm.mit.edu in
pub/usenet/news.answers/music/rollingstones-faq/part<x>
(where x is in [1..4])
where it is accessible by an automated email server. Simply
send an email message with the line:
send usenet/news.answers/music/rollingstones-faq/part1
(or, part2, part3, part4, whichever is appropriate)
to the address mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu;
To get on Undercover, the Rolling Stones mailing list, send a
human-readable request to:
undercover-request@snowhite.cis.uoguelph.ca
List owner Steve Portigal (stevep@snowhite.cis.uoguelph.ca) can be contacted
personally if there is a problem.
Last revised - July, 1994
How to use: In the body of the document, you can just skip to the next
----------- question by having your software SEARCH for the next
occurrence of "@Q"
Disclaimers: The authors of information on hard-to-find items are unable
------------ to provide you with any more information than is provided
here on locating those items. Particularly where unauthorized
recordings are concerned, do not write anyone whose name is
listed here as an author and ask if they can help you get
your hands on such-and-such a recording.
Please realize that when you do so, you are asking a perfect
stranger to give you advice, in writing, on how to carry out
an illegal act.
The authors of this document make no guarantees about the
quality of workmanship or service you will get from
patronizing a publisher, CD house, or magazine listed here.
The information is provided to guide you, not make
recommendations on which vendor to spend your money with.
Authors:
--------
For part II of this document (recordings history), we thank D.H. ("Mr. X.")
For part III (the bibliography), we thank Stephen Carter (e-address below).
For part IV (EPs and albums), we thank Anthony Rzepela (e-address below).
Contributors to Part I of the Rolling Stones FAQ list are:
Jens Backlund (jbacklund@finabo.abo.fi)
Frank Blau
Jon Brode
Stephen D. Carter (stevedc@central.sussex.ac.uk)
D.H.
Charles Papworth
Ken Pennington (hfin011@uabdpo.dpo.uab.edu)
Steve Portigal (stevep@snowhite.cis.uoguelph.ca)
Anthony J. Rzepela (rzepela@cvi.hahnemann.edu)
We'd also like to thank the fine-tooth brigade: our FAQ helpers/
proofreaders/fact-checkers:
Todd Furesz (furesz@kids.wustl.edu)
Jim Henning (ujhennin@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu)
Michael Honig (honey@mwald5.chemie.uni-mainz.de)
Mark C. Walters (mark@pluto.logica.co.uk)
Finally, we would like to thank the Rolling Stones, for....whatever.
Maintenance: Maintenance on parts one, two, and four are carried out by
------------ Anthony Rzepela. Part three, the bibliography, is maintained
by Stephen D. Carter, who should be emailed directly with
updates, corrections, arguments, etc.
Summary of questions:
---------------------
1. Who ARE the Stones - what is the band lineup/history?
2. Hey! Do you think they read email???
3. Not even Bill?
4. Where can I get an online discography?
5. Hey! Why isn't this discography complete?
6. Well, where *can* I get a complete one?
7. What about CDs? What do I need for a complete
set? How do they sound???
8. Can you at *least* tell me about the solo records????
9. Where can I get bootlegs?
10. Which bootlegs are best? Which will have my favorite song?
11. Where can I get online lyrics/chords/tabulature?
12. How can I get that Keith sound in the comfort of my own home?
13. Wouldn't it be neat if there were a Stones "museum"?
14. I'm a novice. Can you recommend the best...
a. albums
b. movies
c. books
d. home videos
e. fanzines
15. What is/who are
a. "Nanker Phelge"
b. "The Glimmer Twins"
c. "Rock and Roll Circus"
d. "Altamont"
e. "Cocksucker Blues"
16. Gossip
a. How many times have they been arrested?
b. How many times have they been married?
c. Will the band break up?
d. Are they going to tour?
e. Do you think this is the last time, really?
f. How old ARE they?
17. Myths & legends:
a. Did Keith really get his blood changed?
b. Do they worship satan?
c. Is Paul dead?
Sources used in this FAQ list:
------------------------------
(full publication information on these books can be found in part three of
the FAQ list, The Bibliography From Hell)
The primary resources for fact-checking in this document are:
Dalton, David - "The Rolling Stones - The First Twenty Years"
Giuliano, Geoffrey - "The Rolling Stones Album"
Wyman, Bill - "Stone Alone"
Weiner, Sue & Lisa Howard - "The Rolling Stones A to Z"
==========================================================================
Answers:
@Q1. Who ARE the Stones - what is the band lineup/history?
The first Rolling Stones long-playing album was released in 1964, to
enough advance excitement to encourage the band's management to
release it with only a portrait of the band on the front. Once you
understand that, all the rest really just falls into place.
Originally comprised of Mick Jagger (vocals), Brian Jones (gtr),
Keith Richards (gtr), Ian Stewart (piano), Charlie Watts (drums), and
Bill Wyman (bass), Ian Stewart was 'demoted' by de facto manager
Andrew Loog Oldham by the time of their first album, because he did
not look the part of a Rolling Stone. Although Ian did not appear in
photographs or get listed in band personnel information, he played,
credited, on records and in concert with the Stones up until his death
in 1985.
The first 'real' personnel change took place with the dismissal of
Brian Jones in 1969, who died several weeks later. Before his
death, his slot was filled by a young guitarist named Mick Taylor,
who had been in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, and who stayed with the
Stones until December 1974.
Ron Wood, already a star from his work with Rod Stewart and the Faces,
joined as a 'special guest' in 1975, and became a full member by the
end of the year. In 1993, bassist Bill Wyman, then 56, officially
quit after years of rumours and speculation. As of this writing, no
permanent replacement has been announced for Mr. Wyman.
@Q2. Hey! Do you think they read email???
There is no evidence that any popular musician is hooked into the
Internet, and the world of electronic communication, unless you count
Billy Idol. And maybe the Edge.
@Q3. Not even Bill?
No!
@Q4. Where can I get an online discography?
Part IV of this document has a minimal listing which includes all
Rolling Stones EPs and albums released in the US and UK, excluding
out-of-print compilations. Original release dates, producer, song
lists, and maybe a biased comment or two, are added.
A section of it lists tracks which cannot be found on albums as
of the time of this writing.
@Q5. Hey! Why isn't this discography complete?
To assemble a complete discography of the Rolling Stones is indeed a
daunting task. The band has, in its' long recorded history, multiple
versions of the same songs, multiple versions of an album depending on
country of origin, multiple record labels releasing their post-1970
recordings, mono and stereo versions of pre-1970 albums, mono and
stereo and "electronically processed" stereo versions of individual
songs, dozens and dozens of singles, dozens of European compilation
packages, and then, in the eighties, the re-release of three-quarters
of it all on compact disc. (!)
To give you an idea of the volume, take the experience of German Stones'
authority Dieter Hoffman, who has a book out on the topic called the
'White Book'. The work covers all these issues in excruciating detail,
and requires more than 560 pages to do so.
So, in a nutshell - *you* want a complete online discography? Be our
guest, and feel free to type one up.
@Q6. Well, where *can* I get a complete one?
Although it has a mistake or two (out of THOUSANDS of opportunities),
Dieter Hoffman's 'Das Weissbuch' (German for the 'The White Book',
ISBN: 3980248940) lists all official releases, vinyl and CD, single and
LP, promos and dance remixes, by the Stones in Germany, Japan, the UK
and the United States. It is more than 560 pages long and includes
photographs of covers and labels, and a detailed index of all known
recorded selections by the Stones, even those appearing on 'official
unauthorized' recordings (see question 8). It is available as an
import, and will set you back about $US 90.00. As of this writing, it
is available from the Connecticut mail-order firm "The Disc Junkie".
Their phone number is 1-(203)-483-8317.
A more reasonably priced ($US 16), if less thorough and accurate book,
is available by Martin Elliott:
'The Rolling Stones: Complete Recording Sessions'
ISBN: 0-7137-2118-9
Great for a beginner, this book answers many basic questions. It is
current up to October 1989.
Stones "fanzines" can also be a good ongoing source of information for
collectors and interested parties. Please see the "fanzine" section
under question #14.
@Q7. What about CDs? What do I need for a complete set? How do they sound???
Part IV of this document also includes a brief summary on the
state of the Stones in the format of the eighties and nineties.
It briefly overviews who issues Stones CDs, what you need for
a complete set of Stones music on CD (answer: you can't do it
on Compact Disc just yet), and what kind of sound you can expect
for your purchase.
@Q8. Can you at *least* tell me about the solo records????
Fair enough. For our purposes we are not, at this time, including any
appearances by band members on others' recordings, or band members'
efforts at producing or presenting other artists, but restricting
ourselves, in the interest of brevity, to recording projects prominently
featuring the member, his name, or some variation thereof (e.g., the Charlie
Watts Orchestra), and excluding singles and configurations that do not
present previously unavailable material.
Although considered the first 'solo' effort by a group member, 'Memo From
Turner', sung by Mick Jagger in the movie 'Performance', released in
1970, is credited to the 'Rolling Stones' on compilations, although the
soundtrack, which is still in print, says 'Sung by Mick Jagger'. No one,
apparently, was all fired up to collect similar credit for Mick's song in
the movie "Ned Kelly": "The Wild-eyed Colonial Boy". A traditional song
sung by Mick's character, the movie came out on videocassette in 1993,
if you want to rent it.
Next up, in 1972, was a collection of lukewarm 'jams' which took place
several years earlier in the studio while the Stones were 'waiting for
our guitar player to show up'. The effort was called "Jamming With
Edward", and it features the talents of Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Mick
Jagger, and non-Stones Nicky Hopkins and Ry Cooder. It was released on
the Stones' own label.
The rest of the recordings should be fairly straightforward.
Promo-only versions have an asterisk.
Jagger, Mick "Don't Look Back" sgl (1978)
(billed as a co-lead vocal w/Tosh in some countries)
"State of Shock" sgl (1984)
(billed as a co-lead vocal w/Michael Jackson)
She's the Boss LP (1985)
"Hard Woman" sgl (1985)
(German 7", re-recorded version of the LP track)
"Lucky In Love" (4:51*, 4:45, and 3:57* versions)
"Lucky In Love" (extended, and a 6 min. + dub version)
"Dancing in the Street" (duet w/ David Bowie)
sgl (1985)
"Ruthless People"/"I'm Ringin'" sgl (1987)
Primitive Cool LP (1987)
"Catch as Catch Can"
(flipside to "Let's Work") sgl (1987)
"Memory Motel"
(re-recorded for a BBC TV show) song (1990)
Wandering Spirit LP (1993)
"Sweet Thing" 12" single
("Mick's Extended Version", "Mick's Dub",
"Instrumental of Extended Mix", "Extended Remix",
"Stripped Down Version", "Instrumental of
Stripped Down Version") 12" (1993)
"Sweet Thing" CD5
("Mick's Extended Version", "Mick's Dub",
"Extended Remix", "Stripped Down Version",
"Instrumental of Stripped Down Version", "LP Mix")
CD5 (1993)
"Everybody knows About My Good Thing"/"Sweet Thing
(Funky Guitar Edit)"
(flip selections on "Don't Tear Me Up" Euro-CD5)
CD5 (1993)
Richards, Keith "Run Rudolph Run"/"The Harder They Come"
sgl (1978)
Talk is Cheap LP (1988)
"Make No Mistake" (single edit) sgl (1988)
"Make No Mistake" (extended edit) 12" (1988)
Live at the Hollywood Palladium LP (1991)
Main Offender LP (1992)
"Eileen" US CD5 has 4 extra non-LP tracks
("Gimme Shelter", "Wicked As it Seems", and
"How I Wish" live, plus "Key to the Highway"
with Johnnie Johnson)
CD5 (1993)
Taylor, Mick Mick Taylor LP (1979)
Stranger in This Town (live) LP (1990)
Too Hot for Snakes LP (1991)
(Mick Taylor & Carla Olsen)
Once in a Blue Moon LP
(Gerry Groom, Mick Taylor & Friends)
Watts, Charlie Live at the Fullham Town Hall LP (1986)
(Charlie Watts Orchestra)
From One Charlie to Another
(CD plus book "Ode to a high-flying bird")
BOX (1991)
A Tribute to Charlie Parker
(Charlie Watts quintet) LP (1992)
Warm and Tender LP (1993)
Wood, Ron I've Got My Own Album to Do LP (1974)
(aka "Cancel Everything", on CD)
Now Look LP (1975)
"Sweet Sunshine" (flipside to 'Big Bayou')
sgl (1976)
Mahoney's Last Stand (w/Ronnie Lane) LP (1976)
Gimme Some Neck LP (1979)
1234 LP (1981)
"It's Not Easy" (soundtrack to "Wild Life")
song (1984)
Live At the Ritz (w/ Bo Diddley) LP (1989)
Slide On This LP (1992)
"Seven Days" (appearance on Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary CD
CBS C2K 53230) song (1993)
"Somebody Else Might" (3:48 remix)/
"Ain't Rock & Roll" (3:46 remix) CD5 (1993)
Slide On Live (Plugged in and Standin') LP (1993)
"Stay With Me" (edit from live LP*) CD5 (1993)
"Somebody Else Might" (5:59 remix)/"Josephine" (remix)
(tracks are on US "Stay With Me" CD5) CD5 (1993)
Wyman, Bill Monkey Grip LP (1974)
Stone Alone LP (1975)
Bill Wyman LP (1981)
Green Ice (film soundtrack) LP (1981)
Digital Dreams (video soundtrack) LP (1983)
Willie and the Poor Boys LP (1985)
("superstar" group w/ Charlie Watts, others)
Stuff (Japan only) LP (1992)
@Q9. Where can I get bootlegs?
Stones fans are pretty lucky when it comes to bootlegs. There are
hundreds of bootlegs available, many of them are even high quality
recordings. You can find all sorts of things on bootleg: demos,
rehearsals, outtakes, concerts and interviews. Unfortunately,
bootlegs are sort of illegal.
A legal loophole discovered by 'Swingin' Pig' records in 1986 created
an explosion in the "unauthorized recording" market, although it still
finds challenges in court by the likes of U2. Many, but not all,
"unauthorized recordings" are not "bootlegs" but legitimate releases
throughout much of Europe. (You may find "unauthorized recordings" at
your own local store clearly marked *IMPORT*.)
Here are the 4 main ways to acquire bootlegs:
First, know your local record stores. Avoid the large chains - they
generally only carry legitimate items. The small, independently run
stores are good places to look, but used record stores are your best
bet. Get a phone book and visit all the stores listed. Bigger
cities usually have better stores. College towns are excellent, too.
Go to your nearest metropolis or campus and comb the stores.
Second, go to record shows and conventions. Even the ones that have
a "no bootleg" policy can be rewarding, as they often don't enforce
the rule very well. Check in area newspapers and with local record
stores for dates and locations. Goldmine magazine prints record
show listings, but it may not list all of the shows in your area.
Third, use mail order places. Record magazines, such as Discoveries,
(or "Record Collector", in the UK) abound with ads offering Stones
merchandise. Of course, there's always an extra risk involved when
dealing with mail-order places, but most that advertise in major
magazines are reputable. If you're unsure, start small and work up
to larger purchases. Start with buying one item from a vendor. If
they are prompt with that order, then send a larger one. You can
usually find a copy of Discoveries or Record Collector in record or
book stores, or get in contact with them directly.
Fourth, trade with friends. This is the cheapest way to build a
collection of bootlegs. Buy a few and trade tapes to get other
things.
Caveat emptor. Bootlegs are often over-priced and low quality. Most
places don't have a friendly return policy on bootlegs either.
@Q10: Which Stones bootlegs are best? Which will have my favorite song?
Part two of this document is occupied with nothing but answering
this question. It is a concise history of the band's performing
career, and it includes remarks on availability of outtakes,
unreleased studio recordings, and live performances.
@Q11: Where can I get online lyrics/chords/tabulature/GIFs?
If you have access to USENET news, look at the groups
rec.music.makers.guitar.tablature and the less official
alt.guitar.tab. People will often post chords or tablature to Stones
songs on those groups. If you have chords and/or tab for a song, feel
free to post it to those groups. Tab is probably not appropriate for
posting to undercover (although it's been done before). If you are
posting tablature, perhaps the best solution is to post it to the
newsgroups and just indicate on undercover that you have done so.
Offer to mail it to anyone who doesn't have news access.
The Rolling Stones are just one act with goodies archived at
the FTP site ftp.uwp.edu (131.210.1.4). In the
pub/music/artists/r/rolling.stones directory JPEGs, lyrics and
so on can be found. In pub/music/guitar/r/rolling.stones AND
pub/music/ guitar/r/Rolling.Stones (don't ask) you can find a
selection of archived chords and tablature.
@Q12. How can I get that Keith sound in the comfort of my own home?
Two approaches, here:
If you want to play like Keith, well you *really* need a Fender
Telecaster ;-). As well, Keith plays in open G tuning, his own 5
string version. Take your low E string OFF the guitar and tune it:
(low to high) GDGBD. You can always tune the low E string to D as well
if you don't want to remove strings. Keith sums up his guitar playing
thusly: "5 strings, 3 fingers, and one asshole."
or:
barre at the 5th fret (that's a C in open G tuning) and slam a few
chords... hammer on an Am7 form in fron of the bar.. that's an F... slam
a few more... repeat progression at the 2nd fret... noodle around on the
open G.... that'll get you through about 70% of all the solo albums and a
great deal of Stones stuff as well. A few tidbits... Keith uses talcum
powder on the neck before he plays...it speeds things up a lot, but if
you are really picky about strings, you will have to be religous about
wiping them when you are finished. And of course, never be so dull as to
actually play chords ON the downbeat... wait about 20 nanoseconds from
all major timing cues...get that one string about 2 clicks out of tune...
it's all in the tension, you know. And remember, no effects boxes and
keep in mind that "it only tightens up"...
@Q13. Wouldn't it be neat if there were a Stones "museum"?
Bill Wyman operates a restaurant called "Sticky Fingers" in the
well-heeled Kensington section of London. The food is much the
same general type of menu as you might find at Hard Rock. Cost
seems OK. The whole place is of course a shrine to a certain
well known band! Bill has decorated it with framed (etc)
posters, magazine covers, guitars, gold discs, etc etc. - even
an especially good blown up cutting on the right of the door
as you go out, headed 'Korner Cancels', referring to the
first real Stones Gig, on 12th July 1962. No trouble finding
things to read and gaze at while you await your meal. Most of the
time Stones music plays. Location: 1 Phillmore Gardens, London.
@Q14. I'm a novice. Can you recommend the best...
First.... a note on the worth of opinions. They are, as the saying
goes, like anal cavities. Everyone has one and they all stink. They
are also free, so remember that you get what you pay for.
Detached, objective judgment of the worth of a particular period of
the Rolling Stones' career is a problem all its own. As Keith
Richards has said, people tend to be fond of what they were hearing
the first time they got laid.
a. albums
If you are thinking of starting out with live albums or greatest-hits
compilations for an exposure to the Rolling Stones, (or for someone
else's benefit!), consider:
Their early work (the first eight years), originally on DECCA records
(London Records in the USA), is covered by any of the greatest-hits
compilations that are now being released on CD by ABKCO.
"Hot Rocks 1964-1971", the double-CD set, is a near-definitive collection
of hit singles. Alternatively, you could pair up the single CDs "High
Tide and Green Grass (Big Hits)" and "Through the Past Darkly (Big
Hits Part 2)" for a collection of equal length with a slightly
different impact. Or, get the 1989 ABKCO 3-CD set called "The London
Years", which is full to the rim with just about anything the band put
out as a single in these years. It includes everything found
on the American versions of the two "Big Hits" compilations, everything
on "Hot Rocks" with the exception of three songs, and it has several
somewhat rare selections otherwise unavailable reasonably to CD
consumers.
(As of this writing (June 1994), the three compilations mentioned
below seem to be off the shelves indefinitely and _superseded_ by the
1993 European compilation "Jump Back". If you can find any of these
three compilations on your store shelves, you may consider that they may
be gone forever soon. No big deal, really, except that "Sucking in the
Seventies" has a couple tracks on it unavailable elsewhere on CD.)
Several compilations cover their post-ABKCO work. "Made in the Shade"
was originally released in 1975, and "Rewind (1971-1984)" in 1984.
Unfortunately, the CD releases of these two albums have an overlap of
four songs. "Rewind" is the better value for your CD money. "Sucking
in the Seventies", from 1981, is of interest largely to collectors.
It has three tracks otherwise unavailable on CD, and single/promo
edits of 6 Stones numbers released after 1975. A 1993 compilation,
entitled "Jump Back", was not released in the States, but has, on a
single CD, everything from the "Rewind" CD except for "Hang Fire" and
"Heartbreaker", plus "Bitch", "Wild Horses", "Respectable", "Mixed
Emotions", and "Rock and a Hard Place"
The Rolling Stones have released five "live albums", and except for
'Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!', (1970), everyone seems to hate something
about all of them.
Moving on to "regular" releases, many people are strongly persuaded that
the Rolling Stones' years with Mick Taylor, and just before, are an
artistic peak that no one before or since has been able to touch. To
acquire that era, you can obtain the albums released from 1968 to 1972.
(In order of release: 'Beggar's Banquet', 'Let It Bleed', 'Get Yer
Ya-Ya's Out' (live), 'Sticky Fingers', and 'Exile on Main Street').
While an investment in the ABKCO compilations provides a fairly complete
overview of the best of the Rolling Stones' first eight years, the band's
first three American releases ('Newest Hit Makers', '12 X 5', and 'Now!')
stand as a powerful documentary of what all the fuss was about.
'Aftermath' is also a favorite among many aficianados.
What one critic has referred to as their 'silver age' occurred in the
late 70's-early eighties, after many had given the boys up for dead. The
albums "Some Girls", "Emotional Rescue", and "Tattoo You" (released from
1978 to 1981) show a veteran outfit churning out top-notch material
which was a critical and commercial success. Common rock criticism to the
contrary, this rejuvenation was NOT just the result of the appearance of
punk rock and the Sex Pistols in the world. After all, the punk
phenomenon didn't seem to do much for Led Zeppelin or the Who.
b. movies
The Rolling Stones are the focus of several films that have not made it
to the home video market.
Their film history is somewhat chaotic. Part of the reason you
can't see them all at your leisure may have as much to do
with technical feasibility as court injunctions.
Any movies that were subsequently released to the home video market are
listed under part d. of this question, "home videos"
'Cocksucker Blues' -
A concert film cum tour documentary, widespread exhibition of
this film has been frustrated by much legal wrangling over the
years. See question #14.
'Ladies & Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones' -
A concert film by which all others surely must be judged. High
excitement prevails in this film of two concert performances from
their 1972 American tour.
'The Rolling Stones At the MAX' -
A concert film of the 1990 European tour (the 'Urban Jungle'
tour), this film was the first 'entertainment' film (i.e., no
penguins, no beavers) to be filmed with the IMAX process.
Exhibition of an IMAX film overwhelms your peripheral vision, and
displays several stories high, resulting in a realism and
immediacy unavailable with conventional filming techniques.
This requires specially-equipped exhibition theatres, the kind
usually found only in planetariums or learning institutions.
An excellent, highly realistic technology capturing a compelling and
exciting performance. Highly recommended.
c. books
The number of published books about the Rolling Stones can (and does)
fill up a separate document all its own: Part three of this FAQ list.
Still, it is probably of some use to have a 'shortlist', some starting
point, so here are the titles of five current books we recommend for
giving you a good start in learning about the history, influence, and
greatness of the Rolling Stones.
Please note that these five are not necessarily the best
books about the Stones, but they ARE the best of what's currently
available.
'Dance With the Devil'
Stanley Booth
- Delayed for years due to litigation, this book combines
equal parts tedious personal confession and juicy Stones-tour
gossip. Particularly compelling is the detailed description of
a group rehearsal. An insider's account of the Stones' entree into
the big time.
'Symphony For the Devil'
Philip Norman
- Stops in 1983, but the author delivers a respectful and
competent biography. Bookended by anecdotes about their
1981 tour, Norman's analysis of characters in the play
known as the Rolling Stones is deep and thoughtful. Revised
and reissued in 1992.
'Keith Richards - the Biography'
Victor Bockris
- Little more than a cut-and-paste job of other,
indiscriminately chosen biographies, this book still has the
advantage of recent vintage, and the fact that the author
can turn out seductive and flowing prose. Never a dull moment,
which is actually difficult to say about lesser Stones'-related
works.
'The Rolling Stones Album'
Geoffrey Giuliano
- Biographically, nothing is very deep - only a thumbnail
sketch of the band's history is attempted. Sometimes, though,
this is more refreshing than failed attempts at deep analysis.
Intended as pornography for the Stones-memorabilia fetishist,
this book has great color photographs of records, books,
promotional items, and posters. If a picture paints a thousand
words, this is a million-word chronicle.
'Stone Alone'
Bill Wyman (with Ray Coleman)
- The only book by any band member that was there in the early
years, and at the height of the madness, this can (surprisingly)
get awfully boring. If, as is said, the devil is in the details,
then opportunities abound here, as one of Wyman's techniques is to
provide the full text of letters for rather unseemly work-a-day
tasks. Yet, there is no discussion of the band's working
techniques, except as they pertain to, for example, how long they
would spend working on a new song of Wyman's versus one penned by
Jagger and Richards. Great opportunities missed, but others taken,
if you have the interest and patience. NB: only covers up to
July, 1969.
Now these five *are* the best: good luck finding them all!
'Stone Alone' - Wyman/Coleman
'Symphony for the Devil' - Phillip Norman
'An Illustrated Record'
Roy Carr
- A beautiful, thoroughly researched, large-format book which
presents the Rolling Stones' discography up to 1976. It includes
tour history, side-project information, interviews, unreleased
album covers, and beautiful reproductions of the original DECCA
LP covers. Essential.
'The Rolling Stones - The First Twenty Years'
David Dalton
- Dalton has edited several books on the topic, any and all of
them worthwhile. Another large format book, this collection of
essays, reviews, band history, interviews, photographs, and a
sessionography, remains overwhelming years after you acquire it.
Out of print, and highly recommended.
'S.T.P.'
Robert Greenfield
The abbreviation of "Stones Touring Party", and the name of a
drug, this out-of-print classic is about life on the road
with the World's you-know-what on their most infamous excursion
to the United States, in 1972.
d. home videos
The Stones have several releases on home video.
Note: ("import") means this is a title that is not generally available
in the States except in 'specialty' stores. Since the rest of the world
has a different video standard from the US, these tapes are often made
through a format-conversion process, and so may suffer in son et lumiere.
'The Rolling Stones: Unauthorised Biography'
This program consists mostly of *still* *photographs* in a small
portion of the screen with a black background. There is occasional
motion picture footage (a couple uninteresting complete shots of
some airport arrival or departure which would be shown for only
two seconds in a judiciously edited documentary.), and the *only* music
one hears is about 30 seconds of "Around and Around" in front of that
froofy curtain (is this PD stuff YET?). There are a couple TV news
stories (Mick's 1967 bust and the 1976 UK tour), about one minute
of a Wyman interview, and two minutes of of an interview with Mick
done after his solo appearance on Saturday Night Live. (He wouldn't
do his Keith imitation without the props.)
'25 X 5 (The Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones)' -
This two-hour retrospective of the band's entire career, released in
1990, has some exclusive footage and performances from the band's own
collection. It's narrated by interviews with the band, so bring your
own grain of salt. Highly recommended.
'Mick Jagger & the Rolling Stones'
A 30-minute episode of something called 'Celebrity Showcase'. At
least the outside box is honest: it warns potential customers
that there is no Rolling Stones music on the entire program. Not
reviewed.
'Video Rewind' -
A one-hour feature, this early attempt at making a unique offering
in the then-infantile home music video market is occasionally
successful and funny. Includes rarely seen "official" videos of
records released from 1978 to 1983, two television performances
from the mid-70's, and a cut-and-paste version of "Brown Sugar",
using footage from several tours.
'Let's Spend the Night Together' -
The home video version of the film of their 1981 US tour, directed
by Hal Ashby. Opinion on this film is widely varying. Some longtime
Stones' enthusiasts are disappointed by the performance, while others
find it an exciting document of a great tour (current author loves
it, but he was 18 when the tour took place!). A video rental costs
you three bucks - we're not going to sweat making a bad recommendation.
'Rolling On' -
A 60-minute television documentary, assembled in 1982, but consisting
of an annoying 'rock' soundtrack (no Jagger-Richards tunes), and some
rarely seen footage from the 'Charlie is My Darling' era (1965). Little
to recommend it except when you mute the horrendous audio tracks, and
watch Jagger work a crowd in some rarely-seen early live footage.
'Gimme Shelter' -
This home video of the documentary of the 1969 tour and the disastrous
free concert that closed it ("Altamont") stands as a classic film
separate from any other rock film due to its' too-true human drama
and its portrait of the end of an era. Refurbished in 1992, the newer
editions of the VHS tape are in Hi-Fi.
'The Stones in the Park' ("import") -
A one-hour Granada TV documentary of the Stones' July 1969 free concert
in London's Hyde Park. The stage debut of new guitarist Mick Taylor, this
show has snippets of some classic performances.
'One plus one (Sympathy for the Devil)' -
A pretentious bore by Jean-Luc Goddard, this film has splices of the
Stones building and recording the classic track 'Sympathy For the Devil'
in the studio. Seeing the Stones 'behind-the-scenes' at work is so rare,
this is a valuable document. No. No. Yes. No. No. No.
'Charlie is My Darling' ("import")
A one-hour documentary of their 1965 tour of Ireland. Some stunningly
funny documentary footage of Keith and Mick, drunk, at a piano and
singing. Also, a nice portrait of the frenzy and excitement that
accompanied their early road work, including a truly frightening mob
scene at a show that got out of hand while the band was playing.
'That was Rock/The TAMI Show' -
The Stones perform five songs in twelve minutes on the "Teenage
Music International" show, filmed in Los Angeles in 1965. Other
guests on the show(s) were Chuck Berry, James Brown, Lesley Gore,
Marvin Gaye, the Supremes, and Ike and Tina Turner. Worth it to
see a young Mick and Diana Ross singing together at the finale.
e. fanzines