"The Rolling Stones In Mono" by THE ROLLING STONES (2016 ABKCO Records 15CD Box Set Of Remasters with Mini LP Repro Artwork and 48-Page Booklet) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Play With Fire..."

Oh lawdy mama yes. I pre-ordered this sucker the day it was announced and I've been giddy like Donald Trump at a Deluxe Toupee Convention ever since. On arrival and being a Rolling Stones reissue 'MONO' is typically a mixed bag of the fabulous vs. the downright sloppy and lazy (presentation glitches) – especially at this price and in 2016. But overall it's been worth the wait. There's a ton of info to get through and crossovers between the UK and American variants as well as the first official release of the first two British LPs in Mono on CD ("Rolling Stones No.1" and "No. 2") - so let's get to the factoids first...

UK and USA released Friday, 30 September 2016 – "The Rolling Stones In Mono" by THE ROLLING STONES on ABKCO Records 018771834526 (Barcode 018771834526) is a Remastered 15CD Box Set with a 48-Page booklet containing all of the UK and USA albums released between 1964 and 1969 on Decca, London and ABKCO Records (MONO only) and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 "The Rolling Stones" (32:51 minutes, 12 Tracks, UK Mono LP):

1. Route 66

2. I Just Want To Make Love To You

3. Honest I Do

4. Mona

5. Now I've Got A Witness (Like Uncle Phil And Uncle Gene)

6. Little By Little

7. I'm A King Bee [Side 2]

8. Carol

9. Tell Me (You're Coming Back)

10. Can I Get A Witness

11. You Can Make It If You Try

12. Walking The Dog

Tracks 1 to 12 are their debut album "The Rolling Stones" – released 17 April 1964 in the UK on Decca LK 4605 (Mono only) – first time on CD.

Their US debut album was called "England's Newest Hitmakers" – released 3 May 1964 on London LL 3373 (Mono) and London PS 375 (Stereo). The Bo Diddley cover of "Mona" from the British LP was dropped in favour of "Not Fade Away" - a Buddy Holly cover version (see Track 10, Disc 15). The other tracks remained the same and to sequence that US album from these discs use the following [10/15 = Track 10, Disc 15, 5/1 = Track 5, Disc 1 etc]:

1. Not Fade Away [10/15]

2. Route 66 [1/1]

3. I Just Want To Make Love To You [2/1]

4. Honest I Do [3/1]

5. Now I've Got A Witness... [5/1]

6. Little By Little [6/1]

7. I'm A King Bee [7/1] [Side 2]

8. Carol [8/1]

9. Tell Me (You're Coming Back) [9/1]

10. Can I Get A Witness [10/1]

11. You Can Make It If You Try [11/1]

12. Walking The Dog [12/1]

Disc 2 "12 x 5" (32:27 minutes, 12 Tracks, US Mono LP):

1. Around And Around

2. Confessin' The Blues

3. Empty Heart

4. Time Is On My Side

5. Good Times, Bad Times

6. It's All Over Now

7. 2120 South Michigan Avenue [Side 2]

8. Under The Boardwalk

9. Congratulations

10. Grown Up Wrong

11. If You Need Me

12. Susie Q

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 2nd US album "12 x 5" – released 23 October 1964 on London LL 3402 (Mono) and London PS 402 (Stereo).

Disc 3 "The Rolling Stones No. 2" (37:02 minutes, 12 tracks, UK Mono LP):

1. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love

2. Down Home Girl

3. You Can't Catch Me

4. Time Is On My Side (Guitar Intro Version)

5. What A Shame

6. Grown Up Wrong

7. Down The Road Apiece [Side 2]

8. Under The Boardwalk

9. I Can't Be Satisfied

10. Pain In My Heart

11. Off The Hook

12. Susie Q

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 2nd UK LP "The Rolling Stones No. 2" – released 30 January 1965 on Decca LK 4661 (Mono only) – first time on CD.

Disc 4 "The Rolling Stones, Now!" (35:58 minutes, 12 Tracks, US Mono LP):

1. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love

2. Down Home Girl

3. You Can't Catch Me

4. Heart Of Stone

5. What A Shame

6. Mona (I Need You Baby)

7. Down The Road Apiece [Side 2]

8. Off The Hook

9. Pain In My Heart

10. Oh Baby (We Got A Good Thing Goin')

11. Little Red Rooster

12. Surprise Surprise

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 3rd US album "The Rolling Stones Now!" - released 12 February 1965 on London LL 3420 (Mono) and London PS 420 (Stereo)

Disc 5 "Out Of Our Heads" (33:41 minutes, 12 tracks, US Mono LP variant):

1. Mercy Mercy

2. Hitch Hike

3. The Last Time

4. That's How Strong My Love Is

5. Good Times

6. I'm Alright

7. Satisfaction [Side 2]

8. Cry To Me

9. The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man

10. Play With Fire

11. The Spider And The Fly

12. One More Try

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 4th US album "Out Of Our Heads" - released 30 July 1965 on London LL 3429 (Mono) and London PS 429 (Stereo).

The UK LP "Out Of Our Heads" (their 3rd British LP release) was issued 24 September 1965 on Decca LK 4733 (Mono) and Decca SKL 4733 (Stereo) but with different artwork and a radically different track list – presented here as Disc 6.

Disc 6 "Out Of Our Heads" (29:37 minutes, 12 tracks, UK Mono LP variant):

1. She Said Yeah

2. Mercy Mercy

3. Hitch Hike

4. That's How Strong My Love Is

5. Good Times

6. Gotta Get Away

7. Talkin' 'Bout You [Side 2]

8. Cry To Me

9. Oh Baby (We've Got A Good Thing Goin')

10. Heart Of Stone

11. The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man

12. I'm Free

Disc 7 "December's Children (And Everybody)" (29:07 minutes, 12 tracks, US Mono LP):

1. She Said Yeah

2. Talkin' About You

3. You Better Move On

4. Look What You've Done

5. The Singer Not The Song

6. Route 66

7. Get Off Of My Cloud [Side 2]

8. I'm Free

9. As Tears Go By

10. Gotta Get Away

11. Blue Turns To Grey

12. I'm Moving On

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 5th album "December's Children (And Everybody's)" - released 4 December 1965 on London LL 3431 and London PS 451 (Stereo).

Disc 8 "Aftermath" (52:47 minutes, 14-tracks, UK Mono LP variant):

1. Mother's Little Helper

2. Stupid Girl

3. Lady Jane

4. Under My Thumb

5. Doncha Bother Me

6. Goin' Home

7. Flight 505 [Side 2]

8. High And Dry

9. Out Of Time

10. It's Not Easy

11. I Am Waiting

12. Take It Or Leave It

13. Think

14. What To Do

Tracks 1 to 14 are their 4th UK album "Aftermath" - released 15 April 1966 on Decca LK 4786 (Mono) and Decca SKL 4786 (Stereo).

The US variant of "Aftermath" dropped three of the British tally of 14 tracks (down to 11) and replaced them with their recent US hit "Paint It Black" as the opening track on Side 1 and like "Out Of Our Heads" - it also featured different artwork to the US issue. Disc 9 is the American version.

Disc 9 "Aftermath" (43:01 minutes, 11 tracks, US Mono LP variant):

1. Paint It Black

2. Stupid Girl

3. Lady Jane

4. Under My Thumb

5. Doncha Bother Me

6. Think

7. Flight 505 [Side 2]

8. High And Dry

9. It's Not Easy

10. I Am Waiting

11. Going Home

Tracks 1 to 11 are their 6th US album "Aftermath" - released 2 July 1966 on London LL 3476 (Mono) and London PS 476 (Stereo).

Disc 10 "Between The Buttons" (38:47 minutes, 12 tracks, UK Mono LP variant):

1. Yesterday's Papers

2. My Obsession

3. Back Street Girl

4. Connection

5. She Smiled Sweetly

6. Cool, Calm & Collected

7. All Sold Out [Side 2]

8. Please Go Home

9. Who's Been Sleeping Here?

10. Complicated

11. Miss Amanda Jones

12. Something Happened To Me Yesterday

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 5th UK album "Between The Buttons" - released 20 January 1967 on Decca LK 4852 (Mono) and Decca SKL 4852 (Stereo).

The US variant of "Between The Buttons" dropped down from 12 to 11 and also had different tracks lists to its UK equivalent. Using Discs 10 and 11 the US "Between The Buttons" LP can be sequenced as follows [3/11 = Track 3 on Disc 11 - 1/10 = Track 1 on Disc 10 etc]:

Side 1:

1. Let's Spend The Night Together [3/11]

2. Yesterday's Papers [1/10]

3. Ruby Tuesday [1/11]

4. Connection [4/10]

5. She Smiled Sweetly [5/10]

6. Cool Calm And Collected [6/10]

Side 2:

1. All Sold Out [7/10]

2. My Obsession [2/10]

3. Who's Been Sleeping Here? [9/10]

4. Miss Amanda Jones [11/10]

5. Something Happened To Me Yesterday [12/10]

Their 7th US album "Between The Buttons" was released 11 February 1967 on London LL 3499 (Mono) and London PS 499 (Stereo).

Disc 11 "Flowers" (37:04 minutes, 12 tracks, US-only Mono LP):

1. Ruby Tuesday

2. Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow?

3. Let's Spend The Night Together

4. Lady Jane

5. Out Of Time

6. My Girl

7. Backstreet Girl [Side 2]

8. Please Go Home

9. Mother's Little Helper

10. Take It Or Leave It

11. Ride On, Baby

12. Sittin' On A Fence

Tracks 1 to 12 are their 8th studio album "Flowers" - released (US only) 15 July 1967 on London LL 3509 (Mono) and London PS 509 (Stereo).

Disc 12 "Their Satanic Majesties Request" (44:18 minutes, 10 tracks, UK and US Mono LP):

1. Sing This All Together [Side 1: Frontside]

2. Citadel

3. In Another Land

4. 2000 Man

5. Sing This All Together (See What Happens)

6. She's A Rainbow [Side 2: Backside]

7. The Lantern

8. Gomper

9. 2000 Light Years From Home

10. On With The Show

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 6th UK LP (9th US LP) "Their Satanic Majesties Request" - released 8 December 1967 in the USA on London NP 2 (Mono) and London NPS 2 (Stereo) and 9 December 1967 in the UK on Decca TXL 103 (Mono) and Decca TXS 103 (Stereo).

Disc 13 "Beggars Banquet" (40:00 minutes, 11 tracks, UK and US Mono LP - uses the US artwork):

1. Sympathy For The Devil

2. No Expectations

3. Dear Doctor

4. Parachute Woman

5. Jigsaw Puzzle

6. Street Fighting Man [Side 2]

7. Prodigal Son

8. Stray Cat Blues

9. Factory Girl

10. Salt Of The Earth

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 6th UK studio album (10th US LP) "Beggars Banquet" - released 6 December 1968 in the UK on Decca LK 4955 (Mono) and Decca SKL 4955 (Stereo) and 7 December 1968 in the USA on London LL 3539 (Mono) and London PS 539 (Stereo).

Disc 14 "Let It Bleed" (42:25 minutes, 9 Tracks, UK and US Mono LP):

1. Gimme Shelter

2. Love In Vain

3. Country Honk

4. Live With Me

5. Let It Bleed

6. Midnight Rambler [Side 2]

7. You Got The Silver

8. Monkey Man

9. You Can't Always Get What You Want

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 7th UK studio album (11th US LP) "Let It Bleed" - released 28 November 1969 in the USA on London NP 4 (Mono) and London NPS 4 (Stereo) and 5 December 1969 in the UK on Decca LK 5025 (Mono) and Decca SKL 5025 (Stereo).

Disc 15 "Stray Cats" (70:17 minutes, 24 Tracks):

1. Come On

2. I Want To Be Loved

Tracks 1 and 2 are the non-album A&B-sides of their debut UK 7" single released 7 June 1963 on Decca F 11675

3. I Wanna Be Your Man [Lennon-McCartney song]

4. Stoned [Instrumental]

Tracks 3 and 4 are the non-album A&B-sides of their 2nd UK 7" single released 1 November 1963 on Decca F 11764

5. Fortune Teller (A Benny Spellman cover version on the 1964 UK LP compilation "Saturday Club" on Decca LK 4583)

6. Poison Ivy (Version 1) (A Coasters cover version on the 1964 UK LP compilation "Saturday Club" on Decca LK 4583)

7. Bye Bye Johnny

8. Money

9. Poison Ivy (Version 2)

Tracks 7, 8 and 9 are on their first UK EP (Extended Play) "The Rolling Stones" released 10 January 1964 on Decca DFE 8560

10. Not Fade Away (A Buddy Holly cover version, 21 February 1964 UK 7" single on Decca F 11845, A-side)

11. I've Been Loving You Too Long (an Otis Redding cover version and 1965 outtake minus the fake applause of the "Got Live If You Want It" LP version)

12. The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man (Single Version) (5 June 1965 US 7" single on London 9766, B-side of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction")

13. 19th Nervous Breakdown (4 Feb 1966 UK 7" single on Decca F 12331, A-side)

14. Sad Day (12 February 1966 US 7" single on London 9823, non-album B-side of "19th Nervous Breakdown")

15. Con Le Mie Lacrime (As Tears Go By) - (Italian Language Version sung by Jagger on the Italian 1956 7" single for Decca F22270)

16. Long, Long While (13 May 1966 UK 7" single on Decca F 12395, non-album B-side of "Paint It Black")

17. Who's Driving Your Plane? (23 September 1966 UK 7" single on Decca F 12497, non-album B-side to "Have You Seen Your Mother...")

18. We Love You (Single Version)

19. Dandelion (Single Version) (Tracks 18 and 19 are the A&B-sides of the 18 August 1967 UK 7" single on Decca F 12654)

20. Child Of The Moon (23 May 1968 UK 7" single on Decca F 12782, non-album B-side to "Jumping Jack Flash")

21. Jumpin' Jack Flash (23 May 1968 UK 7" single on Decca F 12782, non-album A-side)

22. Street Fighting Man (Single Version) (30 August 1968 US 7" single on London 909, A-side)

23. Honky Tonk Women (Single Version)

24. You Can't Always Get What You Want (Single Version Edit) (Tracks 23 and 24 are the A&B-sides of the 11 July 1969 UK 7" single on Decca F 12952)

This Box Set will also allow fans to sequence two iconic compilation Best Of LPs from the period – "Big Hits (High Tide And Green Grass)" and "Through The Past Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)" in both their US and UK variants using the follow tracks:

"Big Hits (High Tide And Green Grass)" – US LP

Side 1:

1. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

2. The Last Time

3. As Tears Go By

4. Time Is On My Side

5. It's All Over Now

6. Tell Me (You're Coming Back)

Side 2:

1. 19th Nervous Breakdown

2. Heart Of Stone

3. Get Off Of My Cloud

4. Not Fade Away

5. Good Times Bad Times

6. Play With Fire

Their first greatest hits compilation "Big Hits (High Tide And Green Grass)" was released 11 March 1966 in the US on London NP 1 (Mono) and London NPS 1 (Stereo). All tracks on previous albums except "19th Nervous Breakdown" which was exclusive to this compilation.

"Big Hits (High Tide And Green Grass)" – UK LP

Side 1:

1. Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow?

2. Paint It Black

3. It’s All Over Now

4. The Last Time

5. Heart Of Stone

6. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction

Side 2:

1. Get Off Of My Cloud

2. As Tears Go By

3. 19th Nervous Breakdown

4. Lady Jane

5. Time Is On My Side

6. Little Red Rooster

Their first greatest hits compilation "Big Hits (High Tide And Green Grass)" was released 4 November 1966 in the UK on Decca TXL 101 (Mono) and Decca TXS 101 (Stereo). All tracks on previous albums except "19th Nervous Breakdown" which was exclusive to this compilation.

"Through The Past Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)" - US LP

Side 1:

1. Paint It Black

2. Ruby Tuesday

3. She's A Rainbow

4. Jumpin' Jack Flash

5. Mother's Little Helper

6. Let's Spend The Night Together

Side 2:

1.Honky Tonk Women

2. Dandelion

3. 2000 Light Years From Home

4. Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow?

5. Street Fighting Man

Their 2nd Greatest Hits compilation "Through The Past Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)" was released 12 September 1969 in the US on London NP 3 (Mono) and London NPS 3 (Stereo). All tracks previously released on various US albums.

"Through The Past Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)" - UK LP

Side 1:

1. Jumpin' Jack Flash

2. Mother's Little Helper

3. 2000 Light Years From Home

4. Let's Spend The Night Together

5. You Better Move On

6. We Love You

Side 2:

1. Street Fighting Man

2. She's A Rainbow

3. Ruby Tuesday

4. Dandelion

5. Sittin On A Fence

6. Honky Tonk Women

Their 2nd Greatest Hits compilation "Through The Past Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)" was released in the UK 12 September 1969 on Decca LK 5019 (Mono) and Decca LKS 5019 (Stereo). All tracks previously released on British albums except the four single sides "We Love You", "Dandelion", "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Honky Tonk Women" which were new to a British LP here.

CREDITS:

DAVID FRICKE does the expert and affectionately written liner notes (Pages 1 to 43) that are accompanied by beautifully rendered black and white and colour period photos of the band from the TERRY O’NEILL Archive. There are all the 14 variants of album covers pictured but disappointingly for such a prestigious project there's zero memorabilia, foreign picture sleeves (where's the beautiful Italian Picture Sleeve to "Con Le Mie Lacrime"? a song featured on the "Stray Cats" double or the iconic American artwork to "19th Nervous Breakdown" with its exclusive "Sad Day" B-side and of course the uber rare "Street Fighting Man"), trade adverts or even an indication from the sedate photos of just how much mayhem this unruly mob of R&B reprobates caused around the world. It’s classy for sure but there's little acknowledgement of 'The Rolling Stones' if you know what I mean - all a bit sedate really for my tastes...

SOUND:

But that's small beer to the really big deal news – the superb new MONO AUDIO. Mastered by BOB LUDWIG at Gateway Mastering - a team of three handled the transfers – STEVE ROSENTHAL and TED YOUNG did Sound Restoration while TERI LANDI did Analogue-to-Digital Transfers and Tape Research. GUS SKINAS is the DSD consultant while SEAN MAGEE and ALEX WHARTON did the Lacquer Cutting for the Vinyl Version at Abbey Road Studios. First generation tapes were used and as David Fricke enthuses on Page 3 of the excellent liner notes - the whole shebang is 'newly remastered with unprecedented fidelity and revelatory detail'. And I'd agree with that. I've waded through the lot over the weekend and I'm convinced by everything up to "Satanic Majesties" (far better in Mono to my ears) - but not so persuaded by "Beggars Banquet" or "Let It Bleed" (which the liner notes acknowledge were never true Mono in the first place) – I'll take the Stereo versions of those from the 2002 ABKCO SACD/DSD reissues any day of the week. And listening to the array on "Stray Cats" is a blast...like a weird 'Best Of' you've never sequenced before...

CONTENTS:

'Made In The Czech Republic' on the base of the oversized glossy clamshell box is probably not what every Stones fan wants to read immediately – but I'd have to say that once inside the EU version of ABKCO Records 018771834526 the detail is impressive and at times beautifully tactile. The credits page is pasted onto the back of the box so its not one of those annoying sheets that falls away the second you undo the shrink-wrap. Each oversized glossy full-colour hard card sleeve is held in a resealable 300 grams plastic and the glossy CDs themselves protected on the inside by an anti-static Japanese plastic so the surface of the disc remains un-scuffed by the card repro. But even though they look the part - practically speaking - re-sealable plastics are a frigging nightmare to actually use. Anyone who knows what those Japanese versions are like will cringe - they look gorgeous but tear so easily and the sealable flap sticks to the sleeve on exit and entry. Fortunately as these are all 'glossy' hard-card sleeves that won't matter too much. Also instead of those brittle Japanese issues - ABKCO have smartly used a durable plastic on their re-sealable wraps. It's a little thing to note for sure - but if you actually want to play these and not rip strips off of your repro artwork every time you open them - it's a smart move.

I like the flip-over lid, the covers in their plastics fit snugly within the box and the booklet looks the part too. The rear sleeves are paste-on for the first few albums and 'No. 1' even comes with the 'Mona' track credit of the first British pressing (later issues have "I Need You Baby"). But rather stupidly they've used the American 'Toilet' sleeve for "Beggars Banquet" and then the British white sleeve by way of compensation to UK fans on the "Stray Cats" gatefold cover - when I feel it should have been the other way around. All the red labels on the CDs ape the Decca Mono LP look but "Beggars Banquet" has a US sleeve and a Decca CD Label when it should have been London of course to reflect the correct US issue (sloppy). And while its smart to have the track list in the same script font as the UK "Beggars Banquet" LP on the "Stray Cats" 2CD compilation - other than that there's no song details either in the booklet or on the artwork as to what track is what on "Stray Cats" or on any of the other LPs for that matter. Why in God's name aren't the LPs listed inside the booklet – songwriting credits, release dates, catalogue numbers, the differences between US and UK LPs - like say the two superlative Bowie boxes have done? At least David Fricke gives some explanation of the odds and sods tracks on the "Stray Cats" double on the final pages of the booklet but there's no catalogue numbers or release dates on anything (you'll get more info from my review). "Let It Bleed" is missing the poster, the red inner sleeve with track details and the 'Poster Included' sticker that came with British originals on the front cover is also AWOL (see PS re Japanese version below). The booklet does admits that "Beggars Banquet" and "Let It Bleed" are not True Mono but are really only included for completeness. And where are those Decca/London Inner Bags that came with original UK and US issues? It’s all a tad haphazard really after all these years waiting.

On the up side - fans will know that the first two British albums "Rolling Stones No. 1" and "No. 2" were originally released in Mono in the UK for a limited time (later in other territories) and have been officially AWOL on CD forever - a fact that seems amazing in 2016. So it's very cool to see their release here at last. The typo error of "Congradulations" to "Congratulations" on "12 x 5" has been made on the rear sleeve and US fans will appreciate the inclusion of 'both' sides of the Mono coin - the US and UK variants with their different track line-ups - even if there is a wee bit of duplication. A little about that too...

UK and US LPs and THE TWO "Big Hits" COMPILATIONS:

The UK and US LPs didn't merge track-wise until "Their Satanic Majesties Request" in late 1967 - so all the Mono variants of those first eight American studio LPs can be sequenced using this box - as well as iconic compilation LPs like "Big Hits (High Tide And Green Grass)" from November 1966 (with "19th Nervous Breakdown" as an exclusive track) and its follow up "Through The Past Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)" from September 1969. Being a studio only Box Set - the US live album "Got Live If You Want It" from 9 December 1966 on London LL 3493 (Mono) and London PS 493 (Stereo) is excluded - excepting the studio version of "I've Been Loving You Too Long" which has been stripped of its fake "Got Live" applause and added here as an 'outtake' on the "Stray Cats" double - Track 11.

MONO MUSIC:

It's genuinely bizarre after all these years to hear "Rolling Stones" (No. 1) and "No. 2" in MONO on CD officially - the sly harmonica R&B of Slim Harpo's "I'm A King Bee" and cool stuff like "What A Shame" and Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me". And you can only imagine what The Stones must have been like during a live version of "Down The Road Apiece" - that Berry Boogie ripping through the room - it sounds fabulous here - less cluttered somehow and packing real punch.  Even better is the Bluesy "Confessin' The Blues" - that echoed Jagger vocal and their own Bo Diddley knock off "Empty Heart" - tambourine shakes and drum whacks hitting your speakers like a boxer. Dig that Bluesy Instrumental vibe in "2020 South Michigan Avenue" as they pay homage to their R&B heroes at Chess Records on the "12 x 5" LP (Jagger giving some wicked Harp) .

I prefer the US version of "Out Of Our Heads" to the UK line-up. "Hitch Hike" is very clear but the Mono wallop off "The Last Time" is a revelation – yummy. The Bass is warm and clear on their cover of "That's How Strong My Love Is" and there’s sweetness to Sam Cooke's "Good Times". Even the live cut of "I'm Alright" can be heard above the screaming girls. But most impressive of all is the stark power to both "The Spider And The Fly" and "Cry To Me" – I haven't heard either sound this clear in decades ("Heart Of Stone" on the UK LP is the same). That fuzzy-wuzzy guitar on the British LP version of "Have Mercy" is also a tad clearer but "Talkin' About You" has Bass that will actually threaten the structural safety of your speaker cones. And of course the monster "Satisfaction" has amazing oomph all of a sudden - those fuzzed-up guitars giving it some neck jerk with conviction (no losing streak here).

I've had the Mono vinyl to "Between The Buttons" for decades but this CD is so damn clean - I'm double-taking on each song. Love that fuzz guitar in "Yesterday's Papers" and those layered vocals. Great wallop during that Piano and Drums beginning of "My Obsession" and the same to the forgotten "Connection" (were they ever this Pop again). Jagger's vocal during "She Smiled Sweetly" is very clear even if that organ still sounds weedy and the Bass overdone. The Acoustic/Harmonica combo that intro's "Who's Been Sleeping Here?" must surely have been their nod towards Dylan (sounds sweet too). I'm loving "Miss Amanda Jones" - huge grungy guitar and a rhythm section that's punching way above its weight all of a sudden. And dig Keith's unmistakable vocal on the Tuba-happy "Something Happened To Me Yesterday" - amazing clarity throughout.

The whole of the "Flowers" album also surprises me - I love this record in Stereo - but I'd gladly admit to be blown away by "Ruby Tuesday" in Mono - amazing clarity and so centred. I'm not so sure about "Have You Seen Your Mother..." but acoustic cuts like "Lady Jane" and "Back Street Girl" are amazing - and I'm still taken aback at how 'pretty' some of the Stones songs are. That clavinet on "Ride On, Baby" is right up there as are the drums and vocals. Hell even the slightly embarrassing "Majesties" has renewed clarity (if I can bring myself to suffer the whole album). And on it goes to the true Stones genius of "Beggars Banquet" and "Let It Bleed" where I'd agree with other reviewers - give me the Stereo versions any day of the week...

As ever with Rolling Stones 'Deluxe Editions' there's a compromise for long-suffering fans - but it would churlish and penny-pinching to call this reissue anything other than a triumph. I'm going to be opening this re-sealable plastics for years - and I like that a lot...

PS: Objects Of True Lust x 2 – the Japanese 15CD Box set Edition of "The Rolling Stones In MONO" on Universal/Polydor UICY-77710 (Barcode 4988031139295) – also released Friday, 30 September 2016 - has exclusive SHM-CDs for each title but are in '7" Single Sized Repro Artwork' with Obi Strips and all relevant inserts. They replicate the original UK and US artwork – laminate sleeves for No. 1 and No.2 with flip-back cover art, paste-back card covers for the US albums, the US issue of "Majesties" with a wavy Red Inner Sleeve, the Red Inner Sleeve instead of a Blue one for the Mono "Let It Bleed" including Poster etc. It's available for approximately £250 from many online retailers including Amazon.

The 2nd is Universal's own version of "The Rolling Stones In MONO" available only from their global websites as a very limited edition bundle - TRSMONOBUND01 comes with the 15CD Box Set AND Repro's of 9 x 7" rare singles from around the world (seven in picture sleeves):

German 7" Single in Picture Sleeve

A - 2,000 Light Years From Home

B - She's A Rainbow

UK 7" Single in Decca Label Bag (Export Issue)

A - Poison Ivy

B - Fortune Teller

Australian 7" Single in Picture Sleeve

A - Fortune Teller

B - Sad Day

U.S.A 7" Single in Withdrawn Picture Sleeve

A - Street Fighting Man

B - No Expectations

French 7" Single in Picture Sleeve

A - We Love You

B - Dandelion

Japanese 7" Single in Picture Sleeve

A - Tell Me (You're Coming Back)

B - Carol

Norwegian 7" Single in Picture Sleeve

A - Time Is On My Side

B - Congratulations

Dutch 7" Single in Picture Sleeve

A - Empty Heart

B - Around And Around

Canadian 7" Single in Decca Label Bag

A - Not Fade Away

B - I Wanna Be Your Man

"Three Friends/Octopus" by GENTLE GIANT (2013 Beat Goes On 2CD Reissue - Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Fate And Skill And Chances..." 

The first double-disc reissue of Gentle Giant’s extensive back-catalogue put out by England’s reputable 'Beat Goes On' label remastered the Portsmouth boy’s first two Prog outings at Vertigo Records - "Gentle Giant" from 1970 and "Acquiring The Taste" from 1971 (see separate review for that 2012 Andrew Thompson Remaster).

Now we get those difficult third and fourth albums – "Three Friends" and "Octopus" – which for GG saw huge musical progress and an ever-expanding fan base. Both hailed from 1972 (April and November) and were their last two LPs for the famous Progressive Rock label 'Vertigo' – home of many’d the eye-catching and elaborate gatefold sleeve. Here are the wee beasties...

UK released June 2013 – "Three Friends/Octopus" by GENTLE GIANT on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1090 (Barcode 5017261210906) offers their third and fourth studio albums remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 "Three Friends" (35:27 minutes):

1. Prologue

2. Schooldays

3. Working All Day

4. Peel The Paint [Side 2]

5. Mister Class And Quality?

6. Three Friends

Tracks 1 to 6 are their third studio album "Three Friends" - released May 1972 in the UK on Vertigo Records 6360 070 and April 1972 in the USA on Columbia PC 31649 with different artwork. Produced by GENTLE GIANT and Engineered by Martin Rushent.

Disc 2 "Octopus" (34:17 minutes):

1. The Advent Of Panurge

2. Raconteur, Troubadour

3. A Cry For Everyone

4. Knots

5. The Boys In The Band [Side 2]

6. Dog’s Life

7. Think Of Me With Kindness

8. River

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 4th studio album "Octopus" - released November 1972 in the UK on Vertigo Records 6360 080 and February 1973 in the USA on Columbia PC 32022 with 'an Octopus in a pickle jar artwork'. Produced by GENTLE GIANT and Engineered by Martin Rushent.

GENTLE GIANT was:

KERRY MINNEAR – All Keyboards, Vibraphone, Moog, Cello, Lead and Backing Vocals

RAY SHULMAN - Bass, Violin, Guitar, Percussion and Vocals

GARY GREEN – Guitars and Percussion

DEREK SHULMAN - Lead Vocals and Alto Sax

PHILIP SHULMAN - Alto and Tenor Sax, Trumpet, Mellophone, Lead and Backing Vocals

MALCOLM MORTIMER – Drums ("Three Friends" LP only)

JOHN WEATHERS – Drums, Congas and Percussion ("Octopus" LP only)

Guests:

CALVIN SHULMAN – Boy’s voice on "Schooldays" on the "Three Friends" LP

The outer card slipcase gives the release a classy feel (now generic with all BGO releases) while the 16-page booklet is packed with original details (the Three Friends drawings and Roger Dean’s Octopus artwork) and properly in-depth assessments of the albums and the band by noted writer NEIL DANIELS (done in 2013). The final few pages give you the lyrics to both records - all of it backed up by original album and reissue credits. ANDREW THOMPSON has carried out the new Remasters at Sound Performance in London and both albums are huge improvements over the 1st and 2nd records – real presence and power taking full advantage of the very serious Production values poured into both platters by a band obsessed with getting their aural vision right.

Whilst the first two studio efforts sounded not dissimilar in style to King Crimson and Yes meets Family (Roger Shulman’s lead vocals were even akin to Roger Chapman) – by the time our South Coast Progressive Rock band reaches early 1972 – they sound more Greenslade than ELP. With musical adventure and boundary-breaking forcibly built into their every song – the six-piece band hammer you with virtuosity and ideas. And even though Tony Visconti did a great job on the first two platters (especially their brilliant 2nd LP "Acquiring The Taste") – GG took the Producing helm for Three and Four and man does it show. The short but ambitious concept LP "Three Friends" – stories of three pals who grow and they go their separate ways (some successful – some not) – and the much loved "Octopus" – sound HUGE here.

"Prologue" doesn't make for an 'easy listening' start - jerking/gangly synth chords that eventually settle into an almost church-like set of harmony vocals. The production is fabulous as the boys sing of three childhood friends feeling the 'winds of change' (oh yes folks the concept album). "Schooldays" feels like Greenslade's "Bedside Manners Are Extra" or 1974's brilliant "Spyglass Guest" (see separate review) - dancing keyboards and voices tell of 'happy days' and 'going nowhere' - the amazing vocals and pinging vibraphone building as lyrics come at you about 'pink ice cream' and dull homework and Mister Watson wanting to see the naughty lads in his Master's office. "Schooldays" is incredibly accomplished and at times beautiful in its melodies and scope. "Working All Day" sees the three pals in dead-end jobs whilst at home 'papa was rough...he didn't care for learning...' where they quickly learn that 'everybody's equal' just isn't true. There's a clever guitar/saxophone refrain that holds the five-minute passage together. "Peel The Paint" is a Prog song with choral strings about superficial layers being stripped away to reveal 'the same old savage beast'. The perky "Mister Class And Quality?" follows the more successful of the three buddies with his house and car and pretty wife - sounding very "Tarkus" ELP in its keyboard jabs and containing a wild almost vulgar guitar wig-out where the band simply lets rip. That eventually segues into the final "Three Friends" which mellotrons its way to a rather nondescript ending...

If "Three Friends" was good rather than great - "Octopus" upped that ante. A very Medieval passage on the giant 'Pantagruel' meeting a friend from Hell opens the "Octopus" album - a complicated Crimsonesque set of piano, bass and guitar jerks called "The Advent Of Panurge". The vocal interplay along with serious musicianship impresses throughout - a continuation of a book theme first explored on the "Acquiring The Taste" album. If you thought the Side 1 starter was 'difficult' - "Raconteur, Troubadour" is the kind of Prog Rock that will infuriate some and leave others breathless. "A Cry For Everyone" even employs some riffage at the start but soon weaves its way into incredible Rush territory - a complicated mini Rock Opera based on the writings of Albert Camus. Vocal gymnastics fill "Knots" - a staccato jabbing set of Captain Beefheart "Trout Mask Replica" moments based on R.D. Laing's oblique poetry. That's followed by the instrumental "The Boys In The Band" - a rapid-fire Jazz Fusion piece preceded by a coin making its way across your speakers. The largely acoustic "Dog's Life" meshes the world of 'old faithful' hounds and whines of Roadies (go figure). The surprisingly pretty "Think Of Me With Kindness" keeps the complicated out in lieu of a delicate vocal and equally tender piano (check out the beautiful brass interlude). "Octopus" ends on proper Prog - "River" - where it seems Gentle Giant play every instrument at their disposal whilest singing lyrics like 'trust the shallow virgin stream' (know what you mean mate).

Neither album is mainstream or easy to digest for sure – and some will say its all pretntious claptrap - but that was always the case with GG's output. Having said that you do get amazing playing virtuosity - clever classical interludes and layered harmony vocals sat on top of a trademark guitar sound not unlike Robert Fripp or Keith Emerson enjoying themselves. It's all here on these two revered slices of British Progressive Rock - sounding and looking great too.

Eleven albums on and England's Prog heroes were still there in 1980 – giving it loads of difficult syncopations and selling bugger all records. Yet GENTLE GIANT did and still does engender a fiercely loyal following - and on the evidence presented here - you can understand why that affection still endures today...