The Rolling Stones – The Rolling Stones Review

England’s newest hitmakers was one of the many taglines thrown at The Rolling Stones. For a band as prolific and legendary as this, it was, perhaps, a slower start. One of the biggest bands and brands in history, fronted by the iconic members of a new rock movement who can still kick through the mess of the world. It is an exceptional power to hold and their self-titled debut had the little flickers of wonder. Returning to their earliest works is a fascinating experience because even here, their style and the Mick Jagger vocals which would echo on for decades to come, are already in place. They have not quite found a few integral parts of their showmanship, but ultimately The Rolling Stones is the culmination of early club performances, heavily tied to Chuck Berry and Bobby Troup covers. 

Those influences can be heard enough with opener Route 66. An Americanised touch has always held the band and made their transition to the United States all the easier. Energetic, in touch with the spirit of the out-there times, The Rolling Stones become the British band adapting a sound from across the waters, rather than a band trying to sell their style and origins to other parts of the world. Jagger holds these influences firm in his vocal performances and the moody guitar work from Keith Richards and Brian Jones is excellent. Predominantly made of covers which would go on to define the band, The Rolling Stones has a few glimmers of original material in the form of Tell Me (You’re Coming Back). A slow yet enjoyable collection of covers is what this debut offers.  

An inspired warmth can be heard on the likes of Mona (I Need You Baby), the clawing want of a hopeless lover made all the better with some exceptional, ahead-of-their-time instrumentals. There is a nice board of influences here, a tremendous collection of noise from a prolific band who would go on to enjoy the spoils of their ear for interesting sound. Their self-titled first release is marvellous, but not the best way to introduce yourself to the band. Go for those hits, and experience the unique sound The Rolling Stones had when Jagger penned those greats like Paint It Black or Gimme Shelter. Their first record becomes an exercise in historical revision afterwards, and it makes relistening to this first work, particularly songs like Now I’ve Got a Witness or You Can Make It If You Try such a wonderful experience.  

Either the Bluetooth connection from headphones to computer is on the brink or the Mono recordings are truly this crackly, The Rolling Stones are in delicate but fine form here. Their debut is not the crash of influential, Americanised efforts which could be heard just a few years later but they had a heart within their debut, replicated time and again by earnest efforts. Rewarding efforts like Tell Me to feel for those prominent bands of the time. The Beach Boys and The Beatles certainly laid claim to small pockets of The Rolling Stones’ early sound but they would form their own wilder status, a well-deserved peak of their powers was just around the corner. The Rolling Stones is not the place to start, but it is where we learn lots about the band and their earliest ideas.