Ladies and Gentlemen - The Rolling Stones!

That says it all!.  The most exciting phrase in show business! 

I've been posting a lot of oddball and goofy stuff lately, but that's not my primary focus in amassing records.  I love Rock and Roll.  And I love the Rolling Stones.   

As those who have been following know, I also love 45's.    Well one thing that's even more fun than a 45 is a vintage 45 with a picture sleeve.  Here are some Rolling Stones ones that I particularly enjoy.  I won't disclose where I got these.  Let's just say I paid much less than they were worth.

Jumpin' Jack Flash b/w Child of the Moon    (1968)

The Rolling Stones emerge from the psychedelic detour of 1967 with one of the strongest and most durable rock and roll songs ever.   Played at virtually every show since.  Usually in the important  opening, closing or encore slots.

This 45 has a lot of umph.  A very loud mono mix.  Sounds great cranked up to 11.  The last single for Brian.  Charlie's doing Uncle Fester.


Honky Tonk Women b/w You Can't Always Get What You Want   (1969)

Mick Taylor joins the band as lead guitarist.  This is his debut recording.  The standout performance here is blending of Keith's guitar riffs and Charlie's drumming.  They're completing each other's sentences.   Another one of those songs the Stones have to play at every concert.

Mono mix of both.  YCAGWYW (as the setlist transcribers call it) is the short version without the choir.    Picture sleeve features the new guy behind the bar.  Mick is dressed as a sailor.  It wouldn't be the last time.

And as an extra added treat....

Having a Jewish Party vs. Having a Polish Party

It's Party Time.  Pick your ethnicity.   Whether you do the hora or the polka, there's a record for you!

Both of these records feature traditional music accompanied by party sounds.  I'm not sure why these were made.  If you were having an actual party you wouldn't want the party noises piped in, you'd want to make your own.

Perhaps it's a duck call to all of the same ethnicity to come in and join the party.  Say a Pole was walking down the street and heard polka music with lots of whoops and hollers.  Wouldn't he be curious and check it out?  Others may join the fun.  Poles may call their friends.  Pretty soon you're having a real Polish Party  - just by playing a record.

Same goes for the Jewish party.   Of course you'll put on a pot of coffee and have some noshes available.    

So whether you're sitting alone in a schmata drinking Manischewitz or wearing one of those colorful Polish vests drinking vodka - just put on one of these records and you'll soon find yourself surrounded by people ready to party.     Then you can take off the record.  You'll be all set.   

I don't remember where I got the Polish one.  The Jewish one has a sticker from Record Trader - a store that used to exist in Reseda, California.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band vs.We're Only In It For the Money

In 1967, The Beatles released 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.'   The Beatles were so big that even though there were no singles on the album, each track was played on AM radio in the USA.  

The album's design set a new standard in 'album cover as art.' 

It's so iconic that it can be parodied and instantly recognized - even by those who aren't record geeks.

In 1968, The Mothers of Invention released 'We're Only In It for the Money.'  It featured a very detailed parody cover of something exalted by an entire generation.

 It even included the cutouts.  

Legend has it that Frank Zappa sought permission from Paul McCartney.  Paul told Frank to 'check with the business manager, because that's what they're for.'   Frank tells Paul 'the artist is supposed to tell the business manager what to do.'

At any rate, the album was held up for months while the legal folks at MGM figured out how they could release it without a lawsuit.

Their ultimate solution, print the cover in reverse (the outside is in and the inside is out).

Thematically, Zappa addresses the commercialization and marketing of the counter-culture.  It's only fitting that this image was chosen.    

If you look closely at the Mother's cover, you'll see that Jimi Hendrix stopped by for the shoot.  Designer Cal Schenkel is seen holding a carton of eggs, and producer Tom Wilson is striking the Sonny Liston pose on the left side.

"Is This Faze One of Lumpy Gravy?"

U2 - The Rattle and Hum Singles

Continuing on with U2 singles.  This series came out with the Rattle and Hum singles.  Same concept as The Joshua Tree batch.  One band member on each of the four releases.  Same basic graphic design.

Desire b/w Hallelujah, Here She Comes

This one is gatefold.

Angel of Harlem b/w A Room at The Heartbreak Hotel

When Love Comes to Town b/w Dancing Barefoot

B-Side is a Patti Smith Cover

All I Want is You b/w Unchained Melody

Yes, THAT Unchained Melody.  Righteous Brothers Cover.

The next album, Achtung Baby! went from vinyls singles to CD singles.  In the UK, they got vinyl.

The Ames Brothers - Destination Moon

8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 LET'S GO!
Come and take a trip
On my rocket ship
We'll have a lovely afternoon....

Space age sci-fi at it's best.  Did you know the 1969 moon landing was not the first. The Ames Brothers were there first in 1959.  No need for a space suit when you're wearing a tuxedo.  No space helmet because the air is fine.  No atmosphere, no problem. 

It looks like they found a lot of bitchen rocks, though.

Cover lists credits for dress, shoes, jewelry and gloves.    I wonder if they forgot to change the liner notes after they switched to this picture from typical 50's cheesecake.  


So away we steal
In a space-mobile
A supersonic honeymoon
Leave your cares below
Pull the switch, LET'S GO!
8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
DESTINATION MOON!


I got this at at thrift store in the Atwater Village neighborhood of Los Angeles.  When Silver Lake could not longer hold all the hipsters (and hipster oriented businesses) they spilled over into Atwater Village and Echo Park.

U2 - The Joshua Tree Singles

U2's been in the news lately.  Seems they dropped their new album for free on iTunes this week.  Well they did a little bit more than drop it.  They pushed it to 500 million iTunes account holders - whether they wanted it or not. I've heard it said that they should have called their new album 'Spam.'

They're actually embracing the new business model of the music industry.  Back in the day, the concerts were inexpensive to encourage people to see the band, then go home and buy the record.  Now the recorded music is presented free or inexpensive to get you to go hear the music so you go out to the concert.  Not only are ticket prices higher than the $6.50 top price back then, but there is a ton of merchandise that goes with it.   $45 t-shirt anyone?

Not to diss the band.  It's not really their fault.  I saw them a few times and they were excellent.  Put out some killer albums as well.  They were also very generous with B-Sides to their singles.  Both 'The Joshua Tree' and 'Rattle and Hum' had a series of four singles each.  

I'll present 'The Joshua Tree' series below.  It's a cool collection of pictures sleeves each featuring an individual band member.  All photos by Anton Corbijn.  Photos of the Anton Corbijn photos by me.

'With or Without You' b/w 'Luminous Times (Hold On To Love)' and 'Walk to the Water'

B-Side plays at 33 1/3

"Hey Anton - Is this enough like Stevie Wonder's 'Talking Book'"

'Which one of us whistled for the limo again?'

'Where the Streets Have No Name' b/w 'Silver and Gold' and 'The Sweetest Thing'

B-Side Plays at 33 1/3

"I love hide and seek in the desert.  They'll never find me here"

'If we each look in a different direction, we'll be sure no coyotes surprise us'

'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' b/w 'Spanish Eyes' and 'Deep in the Heart'

B-Side Plays at 33 1/3

'It's hot.  I'm tired. My feet hurt and we're all out of potatoes'

'Adam - This is the last time we let you pick the hotel'

'In God's Country' b/w 'Bullet the Blue Sky' and 'Running to Stand Still'

B-Side is on the LP.  Plays at 33 1/3

"Hey Anton - Where's my cover shoot?  How come I'm last?  I'm supposed to be first.  I can do 'Talking Book' as good as Edge"

'Don't know about Bono - He's having trouble staying focused'

The Rattle and Hum series will follow at some point.  Same concept.  Four of them with a solo portrait of a band member on each one.  

Excuse the humor in the captions below the photos.  I really like this band, but there are times I wish they didn't take themselves so seriously.  Hope I don't offend their disciples.


The Rattle and Hum Singles

Back Side of the Faces

I recently came across some 45's by the Faces.  I always thought they were a great band, despite the fact that their flamboyant singer, Rod Stewart, overshadowed them at the end before going off to an annoying career as a solo artist.  Other members went on to supplement other British bands.  Ronnie Wood and Ian McLagan went on to play with the Rolling Stones.  Kenny Jones joined the Who.  Ronnie Lane paired up with Pete Townshend on an album or two.

The 45's were a revelation.  The B-Sides on three of them consist of in studio jams without vocals.  They didn't appear on the albums.

Maybe I'm Amazed b/w Oh Lord I'm Browned Off

B-Side is one of those loose jams.  Surprisingly, the A-Side is a studio take.  I was fully expecting the live version that's included on 'Long Player'

Had Me a Real Good Time b/w Rear Wheel Skid.

An offering from Long Player  - although in edited form coupled with another one of those studio jams.  The A-Side gives songwriting credit to 'Bonnie Wood - Rod Stewart.'  I'm sure Ronnie wasn't too happy about that.  For some reason this is credited to the Small Faces.

Cindy Incidentally b/w Skewiff (Mend the Fuse)

The A-Side is from their final album 'Ooh La La.'  The B-side is another one of those studio Jams.   B-Side gives credit to McFagan.  I'm sure Ian wasn't too happy about that.

Pool Hall Richard b/w I Wish it Would Rain (With a Trumpet)

Their final track.   A gritty rocker.   This never came out as a 45 in the USA as it was custom here to make consumers buy 10 tracks they already had to get the one they didn't.  It showed up on their 'Greatest Hits' LP released after their demise.  In the UK, this was sensibly put out as a 45.  The B-Side, recorded live, foreshadows the mediocrity to come with Rod's solo career once the band dissolved.

 A great band worth looking into. I kind of wish they would have carried on without their singer.  They did it before when Steve Mariott left the Small Faces to form Humble Pie.  It was not to be.   Ronnie Lane left the band for health reasons towards the end and wasn't on the final tours.   Ronnie Wood went on to a better gig.  The Faces hadn't officially broken up when he toured with the Rolling Stones in '75. Kenny Jones had a decent run with The Who.   Ian McLagan is now based in Austin and regularly tours with his Bump Band.