Memories (Rolled Gold - The Rolling Stones)

Member Name: eiley123

Product:	Rolled Gold - The Rolling Stones
Date:	06/12/07 (91 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Classics, original, music from the Stones best years

Disadvantages: Too old for some

Having read a couple of reviews of the Rolling Stones Rolled Gold album I thought I would throw my two penneth in. That expression alone shows that I am someone of increasing years who has been around as long as The Stones, well actually a little longer than the band. When I was 12 years old, The Stones played at our local ABC, which was a venue for many bands back in those 'good old days'. I was not allowed to go as I was, quite rightly, classed as too young ,although within a short time I was watching all sorts of other bands live, as my older brother kindly let me tag along with him. The Rolling Stones were my idols, as a screaming 13 year old, and they remained so for many years. I was in love with Brian Jones and felt as if I had lost a true friend when he died tragically in 1965, although I had somewhat moved on by that time. Brian Jones (guitarist) was replaced initially by Mick Taylor who I had seen performing when he was part of John Mayall's Blues Breakers. Mick Taylor never seemed to quite fit with the Stones despite being an excellent musician and he was replaced by Ronnie Wood ( previously of The Small Faces, who I had also seen perform live) The line up has pretty much stayed the same although I don't think Bill Wyman is with the band these days.

As a teenager the Stones represented the face of rebellion. They were guaranteed to shock your parents and could be relied upon to break the rules on a regular basis. This may be hard to imagine now they are the age of pensioners, although you only need to look into Keith Richards well worn face to see that he, for one, has led the 'rock and roll' lifestyle of debauchery.

I was interested to see this compilation on sale and wondered if many of the tracks would seem 'Out of Time' to quote one of the Stone's tracks.The album was originally released in 1975 but this release does have extra tracks. I guess it is the Stones' attempt to fully join the 21st Century, by releasing Rolled Gold on USB also There is still the option to buy as a double CD and the price on Amazon is just under £12.

The first half a dozen so tracks are from the Stone's early period of recording. They show their roots which were firmly in Rhythm and Blues and the Blues. Now this rhythm and blues is not the same as what is classified in that genre these days. Most , if not all, of these few tracks had been previously recorded by American Artists. Mick Jaggers lazy, drawling style on Little Red Rooster is as distinctive as ever. Not Fade away takes me back to our school-yard rendition of:
I'm gonna tell you how it's gonna be,
We're gonna have Lamb Chops for tea.
It's strange what stays with you over the years isn't it?

The next dozen or so tracks moved on a little in time but still remained in the 1960's. Many of these tracks such as Satisfaction, The Last Time and Paint it Black I had bought out of my pocket money as 45 singles. You know the old, small vinyl records. In fact I still have most of these but they are well worn, a little jumpy and mostly mono so the quality is a little raw. It was good to here these tracks in pristine fashion although the more earthy sound seems more authentic.

The final tracks move on to the late sixties and into the 1970's. Unless my aged memory is playing tricks on me I think that is as far as we move in time with this CD. This suits me as I feel that The Rolling Stones were at their peak during the 10-14 years from around 1964. Perhaps that is just because I was at my peak then, who knows. The Rolling Stones have carried on recording and performing live, but to this day I have never seen them live. I do not know if I would want to now as, although they still by all accounts put on a great show, they really are too old for rock.

This CD has forty tracks:
1: Come On-The first single from The Rolling Stones, or if not the first one that I heard back then. Quite a basic, raw sound.
2: I Wanna Be Your Man
3: Not Fade Away
4: Carol
5: Tell Me
6: It'sAll Over Now
7: Little Red Rooster
8: Heart Of Stone
9: Time Is On My Side
10: Last Time
11.: Play With Fire
12: I Can't Get No Satisfaction
13: Get Off My Cloud
14:Free
15: As Tears Go By-As tears go by was also recorded by Mick Jagger's woman of the time, Marianne Faithful, and I actually prefer her version.
16: Lady Jane
17: Paint It Black
18: Mother's Little Helper
19: 19th Nervous Breakdown
20: Under My Thumb
21: Out Of Time
22: Yesterday's Papers-This one apparently referred to Mick Jagger's ex girlfriend Chrissy Shrimpton
23: Let's Spend The Night Together-When this track was to be played on American TV the Stones had to compromise and change the words slightly, for the sake of decency. The words were changed from Let's Spend the Night Together to Some time together.Seems nuts now. At the time the fact they compromised lost them some credibility.
24: Have You Seen Your Mother Baby Standing In The Shadow
25: Ruby Tuesday-This was the B side to The Last Time, but don't quote me.
26: Dandelion-For me this is one of the weak links.
27: She's A Rainbow
28: We Love You
29: 2000 Light Years From Home-A slightly 'psychedelic' track
30: Jumpin' Jack Flash
31: Street Fighting Man-I love this track as it felt at the time as if the Stones were rebelling a little again.
32: Sympathy For The Devil-Great track which for me is memorable from the film 'Interview with a Vampire.
33: No Expectations
34: Let It Bleed
35: Midnight Rambler
36: Gimme Shelter
37: You Can't Always Get What You Want
38: Brown Sugar
39: Honky Tonk Woman
40: Wild Horses

The Rolling Stones have been a commercial success over the years . They have released many albums and singles. The forty tracks on this CD have all been singles or stand-out tracks on albums. This album would be a perfect gift for a Rolling Stones fan, especially one from my generation as they will know all the tracks so well. However there are many Stones' albums to choose from and perhaps this one is not the best. It will become memorable though for being their first on USB.

Overall I recommend Rolled Gold as a great album to sing, dance and reminisce along to.
Thanks For Reading
Copyright Eiley 2007

Summary: Early rockers