The Rolling Stones: 12 x 5 (US album) - 1964
This US release, from October 1964, as an amalgam of the UK EP 5 x 5 (five songs) and the UK album, The Rolling Stones #2 (four songs), plus three others. Often, as I am so familiar with the UK releases, I have never paid much attention to the US releases - such as with The Beatles - but this is actually a really good one.
🔉 Signifies songs that have a stereo version too.
5x5 - songs from the 5x5 EP.
#2 - songs that also appeared on the Rolling Stones #2 album.
Around And Around (Chuck Berry) 🔉 5x5
This storming, energetic cover of a Chuck Berry rocker makes for a really fine start to the album. It was actually the first song The Stones ever performed live (in Ealing in 1962) and it was a number popularly covered by many British Blues Explosion artists such as The Animals on their debut album and also by David Bowie during the sessions for his 1972 Ziggy Stardust album, on which it was originally intended to appear. There is a fine stereo cut of the song, although the mono one is excellent too. The song just does it for me, in whatever format. Check out the rollicking piano and Keith's early riffing. Superb.
Confessin' The Blues (McShann/Brown) 🔉 5x5
Another one with a really good stereo version, this has always been one of my favourite Stones blues covers. The song had also been covered by Chuck Berry. It dated from the 1940s originally and it just drips with slow, harmonica and guitar-driven blues power, chugging on relentlessly and beautifully. I love it. It is one of the best early Stones numbers. Classic early Stones blues, put it any relevant playlist.
Empty Heart (Nanker/Phelge) 🔉 5x5
An early Jagger/Richards song in their curious Nanker/Phelge guise. It was not a throwaway instrumental, like Stoned, but a "proper" song and not a bad one too. It has a really cool, almost funky little rhythmic guitar and drum intro, one that showcased Charlie Watt's drumming skills. Brian Jones's harmonica ain't half bad either. I think this is a genuinely underrated early Mick 'n' Keith song. Get a load of that Booker T-ish organ from the very talented Ian Stewart as it swirls and stabs too. It also has an absolute killer of a stereo version. Check it out.
Time Is On My Side (Norman Meade) #2
This is the gospelly, organ-introduced US single version of the song as opposed to the now more popular "guitar intro" one that appeared on the UK album The Rolling Stones #2. It has a sort of homely, soulful unadulterated and authentic appeal to it. It was recorded in Chicago and not in London, perhaps notably when considering the song's sound.
Good Times, Bad Times (Jagger/Richards)
An early Jagger-Richards number that sounds very much as if it were an authentic piece of Delta blues. It is pretty credible in its slow bluesy grind, and also its impressive harmonica solo. It reminds me a bit of a blues song that Queen recorded as a 'b' side in 1974 called See What A Fool I've Been.
It's All Over Now (Bobby Womack/Shirley Jean Womack) 🔉
A huge 1964 number one here. It was a Bobby Womack song that The Stones made their own, so much so that most people these days just think it was a Stones original. It was the first of five consecutive UK number ones. You can hear why - it has boundless youthful energy and helped in establishing just what The Stones were all about. Kudos to the stereo version too - there's a surprise!
2120 South Michigan Avenue (Nanker Phelge) 🔉📾5x5
From the 5x5 EP, this is an absolutely groovy as fuck little Ian Stewart-powered organ, bass and drums instrumental that I love to death, even more when Brian's harmonica comes in. This is a seriously quality instrumental cut, up there with those of Booker T. & The MGs if you ask me. The stereo version sounds absolutely bloomin' marvellous. Just listen to it - wow. 1964? Are you kidding me! Actually, the mono version is just as thumpingly deep, bassy and powerful. Good times to be had all round with this one.
Under The Boardwalk (Resnick/Young) #2
The cover of The Drifters' Under The Boardwalk sort of suits Jagger, but again, it sort of doesn't, and much of the innate summery, yearning soul of the wonderful original is completely lost. It is, for me, one of those songs whose original is just so damn good that there's no improving upon it. Unfortunately, therefore, it became one of The Stones' least convincing covers.
Congratulations (Jagger/Richards)
A very sixties - dare I say Beatles-ish - ballad from Jagger and Richards. It is not up there with their other compositions on this albums. It is not bluesy or rocking. It is maudlin sixties pop. That said, though, it is pretty good pop for 1964. It has a nice gentle melody to it.
Grown Up Wrong (Jagger/Richards) #2
More like it is this copper-bottomed deep cut. Grown Up Wrong is a Mick and Keith lively blues that carries within it a muscular bluesy, slurry glory. It is another really impressive early songwriting effort from the pair. They weren't half bad, were they? So many people presume (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction to be their first composition, so the "locked in a room by Andrew Oldham until they write me a hit song" myth goes. Not so.
If You Need Me (Bateman/Pickett) 🔉 5x5
This soulful ballad had an organ sound not dissimilar to that which was used on Time Is On My Side. Very churchy and gospel. The song had been a hit for Wilson Pickett in 1961. It appeared on the 5x5 EP. It is the one of the six stereo mixes where the difference is not that apparent.
Susie Q (Broadwater/Lewis/Hawkins) #2
Dale Hawkins' 1957 rocker Suzie Q, later covered impressively by Creedence Clearwater Revival, was also given a fine Stones makeover. It is another lively one, full of earthy atmosphere, despite its apparently short, throwaway feel. It's another that I can't help liking.
Overall, this was a mightily impressive album and not one spolit in any way by any questionable US track selections.
** Some non-album tracks from this general era were covers of Benny Spellman's Fortune Teller, The Coasters' Poison Ivy, Chuck Berry's Bye Bye Johnny and Barrett Strong's Money. These all date from 1964.
