*Review* The Rolling Stones No. 2

The Rolling Stones No. 2

Released
January 15, 1965

Only two singles between this and 12 x 5, compared to the seven singles and two EPs between England’s Newest Hit Makers and 12 x 5.

This song made it high in the charts for a bit, but was pretty much battered down by Beatles for Sale and The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. Brutal competition.

Everybody Needs Somebody to Love

(Solomon Burke, Bert Berns and Jerry Wexler)

I cringed a bit when the singing started, but it got better. Nothing special

4.5/10

Down Home Girl

(Jerry Leiber, Arthur Butler)

Jerry Leiber strikes again. While nothing particularly special, it’s an average song with a nice beat.

6.5/10

You Can’t Catch Me

(Chuck Berry)

Pretty close to being on par with the original, despite being a bit slower (you can’t hide that), so it’s a fantastic cover in that regard. (I still prefer Lennon’s version on Rock N’ Roll, but this is 1965 and that album hasn’t been released yet.)

8/10

Time is On My Side

(Norman Meade)

So now I have to make a decision; this version or the single version. Although I love organs, especially when used correctly, I think the guitar works much better here. And the organ is still there, just in the background, so it’s a win-win. So, while I don’t agree with the rating I’m going to give this, I don’t think it deserves anything lower.

10/10

What a Shame

(Jagger / Richards)

(Copied from the Heart of Stone / What a Shame single)

 The Rolling Stones seem to do better when they write a song then when they cover a blues song and try to fit in. This mix is a lot better than the single, and there’s a loud bass in my right ear with a nice, crisp guitar in the other.

8.5/10

Grown up Wrong

(Mick Jagger / Keith Richards)

I was about to be very angry with this decision, as this was included in 12 x 5 as well. But this is a UK album, and 12 x 5 is a US album. That’s the opposite of what usually happens; it’s the UK that gets a song then the US takes it in a future album. That’s just the sad separation that is region-specific records.

Also, I’m giving this song a slightly higher rating than what I had on 12 x 5. This album has been full of unreasonably high ratings, and I’m just feeling good today, and that’s why ratings are flawed.

6.5/10

Down the Road Apiece

(Don Raye)

A song that transitioned nicely from boogie to rock and roll, and The Rolling Stones play this song to perfection. Jagger has a different feeling to his voice that was needed on this song, and, of course, that rocking guitar mixed with a boogie piano is beautiful.

10/10

Under the Boardwalk

(Arthur Resnick and Kenny Young)

This song returns after being in 12 x 5, and it’s still as average as it was in 12 x 5. As I said before, no one would mind if this didn’t make it on the album.

7.5/10

I Can’t Be Satisfied

(Muddy Waters)

I’ve noticed how the quality of Jagger’s voice changes quite a bit on this album. On this song it sounds clear, but other songs retain their early-sounding, err, sound. But anyway, here’s a nice blues rock song.

8/10

Pain in My Heart

(Allen Toussaint)

See, what happened to the quality here. It’s much worse than I Can’t Be Satisfied. Whatever.

This was going to be a 6.75/10, but the lead guitar made me change my mind and add that extra .25.

7 / 10

Off The Hook

(Jagger / Richards)

As I said in the single Little Red Rooster / Off the Hook, this is a pretty drastic change. Each instrument is doing a nice job of sounding good, and that includes the voice of the one and only Mick Jagger.

7.5/10

Suzie Q

(Dale Hawkins, Stan Lewis and Eleanor Broadwater)

(Complete copy from the 12 x 5 album, since it’s still completely relevant)

This is hardly a cover. This is a imagination of the original. And I’ll tell you, what a great song to end an album. Short but sweet.

Although it doesn’t deserve a 9. A 4.5/5 sounds right, but a 9/10 doesn’t, even though they are the same thing. Ratings hurt. Also, I wish they didn’t end with a short song.

8.5/10.

92.5/120

So, great album with some flaws. Here’s my major disappointment; it was full of covers again. 12 x 5 did a good job giving us a great mix of covers and self-written songs. That and the album didn’t really open up too great. All in all, good album, not as good as 12 x 5, which is the complete opposite of what happened to The Beatles’ albums where the UK got the good albums and the US’ only contribution was Magical Mystery Tour.  The rest had horrible mixes and excluded good songs. But this is about the Rolling Stones; I can’t take the spotlight off them yet. Not until Rock and Roll Circus.