The Rolling Stones (album)
The Rolling Stones is the debut studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released by Decca Records in the UK on 16 April 1964. The American edition of the LP, with a slightly different track list, came out on London Records on 30 May 1964, subtitled England’s Newest Hit Makers, which later became its official title.
Recorded at Regent Sound Studios in London over the course of five days in January and February 1964, The Rolling Stones was produced by then-managers Andrew Loog Oldham and Eric Easton. The album was originally released by Decca Records in the UK, while the US version appeared on the London Records label.
The majority of the tracks reflect the band’s love for R&B. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (whose professional name until 1978 omitted the “s” in his surname) were fledgling songwriters during early 1964, contributing only one original composition to the album: “Tell Me (You’re Coming Back)”. Two songs are credited to “Nanker Phelge” – a pseudonym the band used for group compositions from 1963 to 1965. Phil Spector and Gene Pitney both contributed to the recording sessions, and are referred to as “Uncle Phil and Uncle Gene” in the subtitle of the Phelge instrumental “Now I’ve Got a Witness”.
First pressings of the album, with matrix numbers ending in 1A, 2A, 1B, and 2B, have a 2:52 version of “Tell Me (You’re Coming Back)”, which was pressed from the wrong master tape. Subsequent pressings include the 4:06 version. Early labels and covers also have misprints with the fourth track on side 1 listed as “Mona”, which was later changed to “I Need You Baby””, the subtitle of “Now I’ve Got a Witness” written “Like Uncle Gene and Uncle Phil”, the word ‘If’ omitted from “You Can Make It If You Try”, and ‘Dozier’ spelt ‘Bozier’. “Route 66” is listed as “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66” on some versions of the album, and some later versions of the album have “I Need You Baby” listed as “Mona (I Need You Baby)” and the subtitles of “Now I’ve Got a Witness” and “Tell Me (You’re Coming Back)” removed entirely.
The album cover photo was taken by Nicholas Wright. The cover bears no title or identifying information other than the photo and the Decca logo – an “unheard of” design concept originated by manager Andrew Oldham.
Track listing
UK edition
Side one
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. “Route 66” Bobby Troup 2:20
2. “I Just Want to Make Love to You” Willie Dixon 2:17
3. “Honest I Do” Jimmy Reed 2:09
4. “Mona (I Need You Baby)” Ellas McDaniel 3:33
5. “Now I’ve Got a Witness” Nanker Phelge 2:29
6. “Little by Little” Nanker Phelge, Phil Spector 2:39
Total length: 15:27
Side two
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. “I’m a King Bee” James Moore 2:35
2. “Carol” Chuck Berry 2:33
3. “Tell Me (You’re Coming Back)” Mick Jagger, Keith Richards 4:05
4. “Can I Get a Witness” Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland 2:55
5. “You Can Make It If You Try” Ted Jarrett 2:01
6. “Walking the Dog” Rufus Thomas