35. The Rolling Stones- Now!
The last offering in our trio of Rolling Stones albums is Now! Overall, the album is very similar to "Out of Our Heads"; it is comprised of R&B covers and some original tunes written by Jagger and Richards. It has many of the same tracks as the second album released by the band in the UK, which makes it just as confusing as any of these other albums popular on both sides of the ocean in those days. I assume it would be far easier to release one album and sell it as is, and if you need other songs, make another album. But I am not a 1960's record exec, so what the hell do I know?
I know that I like this album, for the same reasons that I like the two previous Rolling Stones offerings. They feature strong songwriting for the original tunes, and the covers are very well done. The album starts off with "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love". The song is originally by Solomon Burke, but the version I am most familiar with is from the Blues Brothers. The next track, "Down Home Girl", reminds me of a sound I would identify with the later sixties, and features some hilarious lyrics. For example: "every time I kiss you girl/ it tastes like pork and beans". The guitar sound at the beginning is reminiscent of the beginning of "Mercy Mercy" of off "Out of Our Heads". I keep thinking of a Mamas and Papas vibe while listening to this.
Next up is a Chuck Berry tune, "You Can't Catch Me" that features the line "Here come ol flattop". Allegedly, this led to some legal action between Mr. Berry's people and John Lennon because of the similarities to the Beatles "Come Together". I guess I can hear some similarities in the Stones' version, but since everyone seems to be playing everyone else's music at this time, what difference does it make? None to me, because no one is cutting me a royalty check.
My favourite track on the album is an original, "Heart of Stone". It is a slower tune, that features nice guitar work, and Jagger's vocals are a little warmer than on some of the bluesier numbers. There are some clever drum shots that give the tune a little more flavour. Lyrically, you get the idea that behind the bravado, maybe she actually has a chance of breaking his heart of stone. The singer doth protest too much, methinks. However, having just read the Rolling Stone magazine blurb on this album, I note that this track is credited with the introduction of "menace" to the Stones' music. So maybe he is not bluffing. You decide what you think.
Another original blues tune, "What A Shame" follows, leading into a tune called "Mona (I Need You Baby). This is unmistakably a Bo Diddley cover. You can tell from the beat in the first two bars of the song. In fact, I believe I said out loud, " That sounds just like Bo Diddley." I checked, and sure enough, I was right. Yay for me! Perhaps I have learned something along the way, and this endeavour is not just idle entertainment. I reinforced this concept when I correctly identified the next song as "Boogie-Woogie". "Down the Road Apiece" cooks along and I assume that the boogie-woogie piano parts were played by Ian Stewart, a founding member of the band who wound up being the road manager, and contributor during recording sessions. The other members of the band seemed to hold him in very high esteem. He is also known for a track that he played on with Led Zeppelin called "Boogie with Stu". Check out the link, it is an interesting read.
"Off the Hook" is an original track that has that same later sixties feel to it. "Pain In My Heart" is a cover of an Alain Toussaint song. They manage to get across a sense of New Orleans in the recording, with a baritone sound anchoring this slow blues tune. The next tune is "Oh Baby (We Got A Good Thing Goin')" credited to Barbara Lynn Ozen. This is more upbeat and very interesting, I had never heard of her before, but may check out some more of her music when I get a chance. Blues continues with "Little Red Rooster", a song that was written by none other than our friend Willie Dixon. He hasn't been mentioned for a few posts now, but I figure we will hear from him again. This tune was recorded previously by both Howlin' Wolf and Sam Cooke.
The final track is "Surprise, Surprise", an original with a modified Bo Diddley beat and souped up blues changes. You get the feeling they are adding their own touches to the R&B music they love listening to. The album is an excellent listen, and it wraps quickly with a held note and cymbal crash. With that, we are finished with the Stones for the moment! I'm looking forward to whatever is next. These three albums have all sounded pretty much the same, and each had it's own special moments, but they remained in the same vein. Time to move on. Future Rolling Stones albums will likely sound quite a bit different as they move more into their own music. I was amazed that some of the songs on these albums were as old as they are. Anyway the rank of Now! was number 181 on the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
I know that I like this album, for the same reasons that I like the two previous Rolling Stones offerings. They feature strong songwriting for the original tunes, and the covers are very well done. The album starts off with "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love". The song is originally by Solomon Burke, but the version I am most familiar with is from the Blues Brothers. The next track, "Down Home Girl", reminds me of a sound I would identify with the later sixties, and features some hilarious lyrics. For example: "every time I kiss you girl/ it tastes like pork and beans". The guitar sound at the beginning is reminiscent of the beginning of "Mercy Mercy" of off "Out of Our Heads". I keep thinking of a Mamas and Papas vibe while listening to this.
Next up is a Chuck Berry tune, "You Can't Catch Me" that features the line "Here come ol flattop". Allegedly, this led to some legal action between Mr. Berry's people and John Lennon because of the similarities to the Beatles "Come Together". I guess I can hear some similarities in the Stones' version, but since everyone seems to be playing everyone else's music at this time, what difference does it make? None to me, because no one is cutting me a royalty check.
My favourite track on the album is an original, "Heart of Stone". It is a slower tune, that features nice guitar work, and Jagger's vocals are a little warmer than on some of the bluesier numbers. There are some clever drum shots that give the tune a little more flavour. Lyrically, you get the idea that behind the bravado, maybe she actually has a chance of breaking his heart of stone. The singer doth protest too much, methinks. However, having just read the Rolling Stone magazine blurb on this album, I note that this track is credited with the introduction of "menace" to the Stones' music. So maybe he is not bluffing. You decide what you think.
Another original blues tune, "What A Shame" follows, leading into a tune called "Mona (I Need You Baby). This is unmistakably a Bo Diddley cover. You can tell from the beat in the first two bars of the song. In fact, I believe I said out loud, " That sounds just like Bo Diddley." I checked, and sure enough, I was right. Yay for me! Perhaps I have learned something along the way, and this endeavour is not just idle entertainment. I reinforced this concept when I correctly identified the next song as "Boogie-Woogie". "Down the Road Apiece" cooks along and I assume that the boogie-woogie piano parts were played by Ian Stewart, a founding member of the band who wound up being the road manager, and contributor during recording sessions. The other members of the band seemed to hold him in very high esteem. He is also known for a track that he played on with Led Zeppelin called "Boogie with Stu". Check out the link, it is an interesting read.
"Off the Hook" is an original track that has that same later sixties feel to it. "Pain In My Heart" is a cover of an Alain Toussaint song. They manage to get across a sense of New Orleans in the recording, with a baritone sound anchoring this slow blues tune. The next tune is "Oh Baby (We Got A Good Thing Goin')" credited to Barbara Lynn Ozen. This is more upbeat and very interesting, I had never heard of her before, but may check out some more of her music when I get a chance. Blues continues with "Little Red Rooster", a song that was written by none other than our friend Willie Dixon. He hasn't been mentioned for a few posts now, but I figure we will hear from him again. This tune was recorded previously by both Howlin' Wolf and Sam Cooke.
The final track is "Surprise, Surprise", an original with a modified Bo Diddley beat and souped up blues changes. You get the feeling they are adding their own touches to the R&B music they love listening to. The album is an excellent listen, and it wraps quickly with a held note and cymbal crash. With that, we are finished with the Stones for the moment! I'm looking forward to whatever is next. These three albums have all sounded pretty much the same, and each had it's own special moments, but they remained in the same vein. Time to move on. Future Rolling Stones albums will likely sound quite a bit different as they move more into their own music. I was amazed that some of the songs on these albums were as old as they are. Anyway the rank of Now! was number 181 on the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Buy it here.
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