Them Bloomin' Stones

Overall Album Score: 9.1 out of 10

This album cover proves one thing I had been suspecting of the Rolling Stones for a long time: they are pod people. ('Ay, whicha youse guys is the poppy?)

Ughhhhhhh... YES! What I like especially about this album is that it is more of classic Rolling Stones the way I like 'em! (They're growing out of the dirt!) And, just to convince me that I really like "Ruby Tuesday," "Let's Spend the Night Together," and "Lady Jane," the kind record company decided to include these tracks (which were already included on previous Stones albums) just in case if I wanted to listen to them more than once. That was certainly thoughtful of them. The general purpose of this album's existence was to provide an album-home for the songs that weren't included in the American releases of Aftermath and Between the Buttons (which, almost alarmingly, are exceptionally strong material), as well as a few quality outtakes. Technically this was a good idea. (Yeah ... including three tracks that we already have was a bit of a rip-off.) Afterall, wouldn't you just assume to buy Flowers instead of buying the Brit versions of those albums? You'd save yourself a good $15.

Oh. And there's a cover on here. (BLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAGH!) At least it's a fairly decent cover. (It's that ultra-famous Temptations song, "My Girl.")

So let's not really consider this a truly legit Stones album. It was probably compiled by the record company ... and it was released so that it could roll in some more dough. However, it's of high quality, and it's a necessary listening experience!

So Long live The Rolling Stones! (Even longer than they have lived already!)

Overall Album Score: 9.1 out of 10 (This isn't even a legitimate album so much, and the Stones still manage to come out on top! How cool is that?)

Average Song Score: 9.4 (More great Stones songs! There's NOTHING I can complain about here! Some of 'em were so great that they were even done twice.)

Album Tilt: 9.0 (I'm not sure if the fact that I knew from the start that this was a compilation album is affecting this score or not but ... it doesn't work too wonderfully as an album all by itself. That's just my feeling, dagnabit. And if you don't like it then, by george, you can move out!)

Artist Rating: 9.0 (Yeah ... we've heard some of this before ... even though I've been fairly optimistic about the matter, I'm not really thrilled that they repeated three tracks that we (or some of us) had already bought. Oh well. However, I can't argue with these songs' very high quality!)

Track Reviews

Ruby Tuesday 10/10

I liked this song before and, dagnabit, I like it again! It's both wonderful and beautiful. The melody is great and I enjoy it ... even the second time around.

Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow? 9/10

Nope. I don't believe I have. This quick, catchy and muddled rocker was a top-selling single, but the All Music Guide insists that it was relatively ignored. Nevertheless, while it doesn't flow beautifully with the spirit of the album (and I'm not really expecting it to), it was a welcome addition!

Let's Spend the Night Together 10/10

Hey! I recognize this song, too. It's that ditty I keep on singing and then promptly after, like clockwork, I get slapped. Hmm. Well, I guess when the Stones sang it the last time, it didn't work. So they're trying it again. Yep.

Lady Jane 10/10

This song is still gorgeous! And it hasn't changed one bit! Hooray! (I really don't mind listening to it again.)

Out of Time 10/10

Well this one's new! And I'm, like, wondering why the heck they took this one out of the original Aftermath. I mean ... if yer going to remove tracks out of an album to make room for a better track ... why did it have to be this good? Oh well. (They also, for some reason, cut the track by a minute.) This is a great song with a super melody ... great instrumentation ... perfectly memorable! Another Stones classic! (I'm glad that it didn't turn into a lost classic.)

My Girl 9/10

Yeah ... this is that ultra-overplayed cover of that classic Temptations song. Yet, the Stones, oddly enough, turn it into something that is slightly more sentimental than the Temptations did it themselves. However, I do insist that the Temptation's own version is better. I'm wondering exactly why the Stones decided to do this ... unless it was some sort of outtake. (In that case, it was a skilled outtake!)

Backstreet Girl 10/10

Had a baby and named him (it) Nick Carter. Ewwwww! This one was originally included on the UK version of Between the Buttons. Utilizing the accordion, this song exuberates some of the most beautiful, quiet passion that I don't believe the Stones did all that often! (And ... strangely enough ... the lyrics don't really sound like they ought to be sincere. It's a plea to a woman from a stupid, stupid man who wants her just to be a detached mistress.) Craaaaaaazy!

Please Go Home 8/10

This one was also originally included on Between the Buttons. I could actually understand completely why this one was removed. It's so weird! (It's weirder, really, than much of the other weird stuff on that album! It's also, if I may say so, a little bit sloppy. The oscillator-noises and the threatening bouts of echoey voices are a bit too much. (However, this is psychedelia at its heights, eh? ... and it's quite skilled!)

Mother's Little Helper 10/10

This is a highly memorable (and satirical) song that utilizes a sort of quick sintar. (It was originally included on Aftermath and, not surprisingly, it was replaced with "Paint it Black.") I actually like "Mother's Little Helper" slightly better. I think the melody and all the somewhat unusual arranging here was very well done. Quirky, edgy, and exquisite.

Take it or Leave It 8.5/10

This one was also on Aftermath. It's not the world's greatest Stones song, but ya know ... I'm still wondering why this one was originally removed in favor of some of the other songs on that album. Holy cow! Well, it's certainly welcome here! It's catchy ... the quirkiness of it fits perfectly with both of these albums ... it's not the world's best song, but I like it!

Ride On, Baby 9/10

This song was written for Chris Farlowe, who came out with a top 10 hit with it. (Unfortunately, I haven't been able to listen to Farlowe's version.) Well, the Stones at least prove that they might just have well made it a top 10 hit for themselves! (...Eh ... they might have just been busy penning more worthy top 10 hits, so they just didn't have any time!)

Sittin' on a Fence 9.5/10

I'm counting on all you big Stones fans to correct me or affirm this ... but this song appears to have been written for a now obscure band called "Twice as Much." At any rate, it didn't appear on any of the Stones's previous records. This is an utterly beautiful song (*another one!*) that is signatured by a gorgeously-used acoustic guitar. (It's a little bit depressing, but that pretty much fits with everything else that's been on this album.) I loooove this song! In my book, nothing on this album would have been acceptable to close with! NOTHIN!

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