The Rolling Stones continue to be celebrated for their 60th anniversary. ABKCO Records released a limited edition collection, The Rolling Stones Singles 1963-1966 on June 10, 2022.
One day before its release, the band performed in Liverpool, U.K., for the first time since 1971. To commemorate their appearance, they played The Beatles’ “I Wanna Be Your Man,” a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney for the Stones to use, which they did in 1963. Watch the historic performance below.
From the May 12 announcement for the singles collection: Before they were thought of as one of the rock era’s quintessential album bands, the Rolling Stones began their recording career in 1963 with a slew of singles that captured the energy and excitement created by the classic lineup of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman. Their version of Chuck Berry’s “Come On” backed with a cover of Muddy Waters’ “I Want To Be Loved” kicked it all off, and was quickly followed up with “I Wanna Be Your Man,” before being recorded by The Beatles themselves. London Records, their U.S. label, quickly withdrew the single on “moral grounds” due to the illicit implications of the B-side “Stoned” (credited to Nanker Phelge – the songwriting pseudonym for the entire band). None of the songs from these first two singles appeared on any of their albums.
On June 9, 2022, the Stones played at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, their first concert in the Beatles’ hometown since 1971. They performed the song live for the first time since 2012.
The new collection follows the group’s shift away from covers in favor of originals, due in large part to Jagger and Richards developing into one of the most accomplished powerhouse songwriting duos of their generation. Of the nine U.S. Top 40 hits contained within the set, all but one are Jagger/Richards compositions. These include “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” and “Get Off Of My Cloud,” which were number one hits on both sides of the Atlantic. This collection includes the U.S. and U.K. versions of both these singles, which feature different sleeve art and B-sides.
The sole Top 40 cover is “Time is On My Side,” (written by Jerry Ragovoy and notably recorded by Irma Thomas). The single in this collection is the lesser-known version which features an organ intro.
Another rarity that never made it onto an album in any form is “Sad Day,” the U.S. B-side of the 1966 hit “19th Nervous Breakdown.”
Three extended-play (E.P.) 7” records are included in The Rolling Stones Singles 1963-1966, all of which were originally U.K.-only releases. These are The Rolling Stones (not to be confused with the album of the same name) and Five by Five (recorded at Chicago’s famed Chess Studio at 2120 South Michigan Avenue), both released in 1964, as well as 1965’s Got Live If You Want It! – the first of many live records by a band that to this very day is known as an explosive concert attraction.
The set includes reproductions of the first 18 7” vinyl singles and extended play records by “The World’s Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band,” as originally released by Decca and London Records. The tracks are all remastered by 12-time Grammy Award-winning engineer Bob Ludwig. The set, replete with period-correct picture sleeve art, will also come with a 32-page book with extensive liner notes by Stones authority Nigel Williamson, as well as rare photos and ephemera plus a set of five photo cards and a poster, all housed in a hard-shell box.
ABKCO Records is home to the entire catalog of The Rolling Stones from 1963 to early 1971.
The complete track listing is below the links.
A companion second vinyl box set in the series, The Rolling Stones Singles 1966-1971, will be released next year.
The Rolling Stones Singles 1963-1966 Tracklist
“Come On” (originally released June 1963)
Side A: Come On
Side B: I Want To Be Loved
“I Wanna Be Your Man” (originally released November 1963)
Side A: I Wanna Be Your Man
Side B: Stoned
The Rolling Stones E.P. (originally released January 1964)
Side A:
Bye Bye Johnny
Money
Side B:
You Better Move On
Poison Ivy
“Not Fade Away” (originally released February 1964)
Side A: Not Fade Away
Side B: Little By Little
“Tell Me” (originally released June 1964)
Side A: Tell Me
Side B: I Just Wanna Make Love To You
“It’s All Over Now” (originally released June 1964)
Side A: It’s All Over Now
Side B: Good Times, Bad Times
Five by Five E.P. (originally released August 1964)
Side A:
If You Need Me
Empty Heart
2120 South Michigan Avenue
Side B:
Confessin’ The Blues
Around and Around
“Time Is On My Side” (originally released September 1964)
Side A: Time is On My Side
Side B: Congratulations
“Little Red Rooster” (originally released November 1964)
Side A: Little Red Rooster
Side B: Off The Hook
“Heart Of Stone” (originally released December 1964)
Side A: Heart Of Stone
Side B: What A Shame
“The Last Time” (originally released February 1965)
Side A: The Last Time
Side B: Play With Fire
Got Live If You Want It! E.P. (originally released June 1965)
Side A:
We Want The Stones (Live)
Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (Live)
Pain In My Heart (Live)
Route 66 (Live)
Side B:
I’m Moving On
I’m Alright
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
(US version, originally released June 1965)
Side A: (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Side B: The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction)”
(UK version, originally released August 1965)
Side A: (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Side B: The Spider And The Fly
“Get Off Of My Cloud” (US version, originally released September 1965)
Side A: Get Off Of My Cloud
Side B: I’m Free
“Get Off Of My Cloud (UK version, originally released October 1965)
Side A: Get Off Of My Cloud
Side B: The Singer Not The Song
“As Tears Go By” (originally released December 1965)
Side A: As Tears Go By
Side B: Gotta Get Away
“19th Nervous Breakdown” (US version, originally released February 1966)
Side A: 19th Nervous Breakdown
Side B: Sad Day
Related: We spoke to ABKCO’s longtime chief audio engineer about the label’s work on the Stones’ catalog
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2 Comments
This is a dream come true for me.
definitely interesting but I still have my London Years box set I bought in the early 90s. and still love it.