Today: The Rolling Stones released The Rolling Stones No 2 in 1965


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“The album’s great, but I don’t like five-minute numbers.”
– John Lennon

The Rolling Stones No. 2 is the second UK album by the Rolling Stones released in 1965 after the massive success of 1964’s debut The Rolling Stones. Not surprisingly, The Rolling Stones No. 2 followed its predecessor’s tendency to largely feature R&B covers.

However, it does contain three compositions from the still-developing Mick Jagger/Keith Richards songwriting team. On Dutch and German pressings of the album, the title is listed as The Rolling Stones Vol. 2 on the front cover, although the back of the album cover lists the title as The Rolling Stones No. 2.

“…plus one of the group’s best blues covers, their version of Muddy Waters’ “I Can’t Be Satisfied,” which wasn’t released in America until 1973 and features some killer slide playing by Brian Jones. ”
Bruce Eder (allmusic)

On this great live version from Milan in 2006, Mick does some fine guitar playing and we get a fine intro by Charlie.

The Rolling Stones – I Can’t Be Satisfied:

It huge hit in the UK upon release, The Rolling Stones No. 2 spent 10 weeks at No. 1 in early 1965, becoming one of the year’s biggest sellers in the UK.

Young rolling stones

The Rolling Stones – The Rolling Stones No. 2 (Spotify):

– Hallgeir

Today: The late Ronnie Van Zant was born in 1948, 66 years ago

ronnie van zant  To me, there’s nothing freer than a bird, you know, just flying wherever he wants to go. And, I don’t know, that’s what this country is all about, being free. I think everyone wants to be a free bird.
~Ronnie Van Zant

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Today: Paul Simon released the album Paul Simon in 1972

PaulSimon-Front

Paul Simon is the second studio album by Paul Simon as a solo artist. It was released  14th of January 1972, nearly two years after he split up with longtime musical partner Art Garfunkel. The album represented the definitive announcement of the breakup of Simon & Garfunkel. Originally released on Columbia Records, it was then issued under the Warner Bros. label and is now back with Columbia through Sony. It was ranked No. 266 on the list of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.  It is packed with classic songs.

 “…It was miles removed from the big, stately ballad style of Bridge Over Troubled Water and signaled that Simon was a versatile songwriter as well as an expressive singer with a much broader range of musical interests than he had previously demonstrated. You didn’t miss Art Garfunkel on Paul Simon, not only because Simon didn’t write Garfunkel-like showcases for himself, but because the songs he did write showed off his own, more varied musical strengths.”
– William Ruhlmann (allmusic)

Paul Simon – Me and Julio down by the schoolyard (live, 1992):

Paul Simon – Paul Simon (album, 1972):

– Hallgeir

Today: David Bowie released “Low” in 1977, 37 years ago

david-bowie-low The record company begged Bowie not to release Low, but it became a surprise hit and holds up today as one of his most intense and influential albums, inspiring two excellent Berlin trilogy sequels, Heroes (1977) and the insanely underrated Lodger (1979).
~Rob Sheffield (rollingstone.com)

Following through with the avant-garde inclinations of Station to Station, yet explicitly breaking with David Bowie’s past, Low is a dense, challenging album that confirmed his place at rock’s cutting edge. Driven by dissonant synthesizers and electronics, Low is divided between brief, angular songs and atmospheric instrumentals.
~Stephen Thomas Erlewine (allmusic.com)

Continue reading Today: David Bowie released “Low” in 1977, 37 years ago

Bob Dylan: The Times They Are a-Changin’, released 50 years ago today

Dylan_The_Times_They_Are_A_Changin_front “The message isn’t in the words, …. I don’t do anything with a sort of message.
I’m just transferring my thoughts into music. Nobody can give you a message like that.”
~Bob Dylan (to Ray Coleman, May 1965)—-

Dylan’s third album reflects his mood in August-October 1963. It is also a product for his need to live up to and expand on the role he found himself in, topical poet, the restless young man with something to say, singing to and for a new generation.
~Paul Williams (BD performing artist 1960-73)

Continue reading Bob Dylan: The Times They Are a-Changin’, released 50 years ago today

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