The ROLLING STONES – The Rolling Stones In Mono (16 LP box set via Universal)

One of the most iconic of British bands, a bunch of kids with rhythm and blues roots who went on to conquer the rock, pop and blues charts around the world for over 50 years to come.

This 16-LP box set captures The Rolling Stones in all their ‘60s glory with the individual albums housed in original full colour sleeves. There’s also a deluxe 48-page book that features numerous rare photos by renowned photographer Terry O’Neill and a new 5,000-word essay by Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke. ‘The Rolling Stones in Mono’ was mastered by acclaimed Grammy award-winning engineer Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering. Lacquer cutting for vinyl was performed at Abbey Road Studios in London and all vinyl box sets will be numbered and pressed on 180-gram vinyl.

“’The Rolling Stones In Mono’ is the full studio account of that first decade of history and mayhem, newly remastered with unprecedented fidelity and revelatory detail.” – David Fricke. Includes the following albums: ‘The Rolling Stones’; ‘12X5’; ‘The Rolling Stones No. 2’; ‘The Rolling Stones, Now!’; ‘Out Of Our Heads (US)’; ‘Out Of Our Heads (UK)’; ‘December’s Children (And Everybody’s)’; ‘Aftermath (UK)’; ‘Aftermath (US)’; ‘Between The Buttons (UK)’; ‘Flowers’; ‘Their Satanic Majesties Request’; Beggars Banquet’; Let It Bleed’. Also includes the new collection ‘Stray Cats’, containing single-only releases, B-sides and E.P. tracks.

Formed in 1962 in London, the line-up consisted vocalist Mick Jagger, guitarists Brian Jones and Keith Richards, bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts, with pianist Ian Stewart soon sidelined to an occasional bit-part player.

This collection completes the 60s output, and also that of guitarist Jones, before his passing and replacement by Mick Taylor.

Mixing pop, rock and r’n’b, the band’s sound is well known and it conquered the world. Fronted by the demented pigeon Jagger, there’s many classics and hits; ‘It’s All Over Now’, ‘Satisfaction’, ‘Not Fade Away’, ‘Paint It Black’ and ‘Jumpin Jack Flash’ are just some that all will know.

The vinyl sound is fantastic and the packaging reproducing the originals nicely.

In this set you’ll notice a lot of duplication, US and UK versions of LPs, and the US only 12×5 LP. The latter featured some EP tracks, and often UK And US versions varied, often depending on which tracks were hits on which side of the pond.

Then there’s the bonus Stray Cats LP, a compilation of single A & B sides and EP tracks, which rounds up the period nicely.

Yes it’s extravagant, but it shows how good the catalogue is, and who good vinyl sounds, looks and feels. And smells too, if you want to go Spinal Tap on it all.

If you’re a Rolling Stones fan and have bit of spare cash lying around, you’ll love this set. 9/10

Joe

1) The Rolling Stones (UK, 1964)

2) 12 X 5 (1964)

3) The Rolling Stones No. 2 (UK, 1965)

4) The Rolling Stones Now! (1965)

5) Out of Our Heads (US, 1965)

6) Out of Our Heads (UK, 1965)

7) December’s Children (And Everybody’s) (1965)

8) Aftermath (UK, 1966)

9) Aftermath (US, 1966)

10) Between the Buttons (UK, 1967)

11) Flowers (1967)

12) Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967)

13) Beggar’s Banquet (1968)

14) Let it Bleed (1969)

15) Stray Cats (a new collection of single A & B sides plus E.P. tracks)