There is some confusion here about which version of Metamorphosis has been released. Although the Amazon.com listing I have seen online shows 14 tracks, the version I received and all the versions I have seen in the stores have all 16 tracks. Here are the details on both versions, although I am quite sure the 16 track European version is what has been released, not the American 14 track version that was first released on vinyl.

With the release of the remastered super audio CDs (SACD) of the Stones ABCKO catalog (which includes all the early Decca/London material), it helps to clarify the confusion about the U.S. and U.K./European releases of the original vinyl Metamorphosis.

There are 2 Metamorphosis versions, both released on June 6, 1975:
U.S. ABKCO vinyl with 14 tracks
U.K. /European Decca vinyl with 16 tracks

This new remastered SACD is the 16 track U.K./European ABKCO vinyl release. It includes the two extra tracks that were included on the U.K./European vinyl release (Somethings Just Stick In Your Mind and We're Wastin' Time). There are several things worth noting about these tracks, for example several tracks are actually Mick backed by the Andrew Loog Oldham Orchestra, not the Stones themselves (I've marked these below with a #). Of special interest is this version of Memo From Turner is the only version ever released with the Stones backing Mick (The Performance soundtrack version has Mick backed by studio musicians, which included Jimmy Page). I have noted the specifics below.

Note: ABCKO acquired the Stones' catalog when Allen Klein was released as their manager in 1972. The resulting legal battles produced releases that the Stones opposed (they took out full page adds asking fans not to buy them), including both of these very controversial Metamorphosis releases (which are now available on CD for the 1st time ever). But the sad fact is that the Stones lost control of their great early material. With these remastered SACD releases, we at last have some idea of what they really sounded like in the studio. I guess if we had these 40 years ago they would have ended up Greatest Rock And Roll Band in the Universe instead of just the Greatest Rock And Roll Band in the World.

The tracks were recorded from 1964-70 as follows:
Jun 10-11, 1964 at Chess Studios in Chicago
.....Don't Lie To Me (a Chuck Berry song, STILL wrongly credited to Jagger & Richards)
Jun 29 - Jul 7, 1964 at Regent Sound and Decca Studios in London
.....#Try A Little Harder (with Jimmy Page)
.....#Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind (with Jimmy Page)
Jul, 1964 at Regent Sound in London
.....#Heart Of Stone (Metamorphosis has the only release of this version)
Aug 31 - Sep 1, 3, 4, 1964 at Pye and Decca Studios in London
.....#We're Wasting Time
.....#(Walking Thru the) Sleepy City
.....#Each And Every Day Of The Year
Feb late, 1965 at Decca Studios in London
.....#I'd Much Rather Be With The Boys (written for Bob Crewe commemorating his hit)
May 6, 1966 at Pye Studios in London
.....#Out Of Time (Mick backed by studio musicians)
Nov 9-26, 1966 at Olympic and Pye Studios in London
.....If You Let Me
May 13-21, 1968 at Olympic Studios in London
.....Downtown Suzie
Jun 28, 1968 at Olympic Studios in London
.....Family
Nov 17, 1968 at Olympic Studios in London
.....Memo From Turner
Jun 10 - Jul 2, 1969 at Olympic Studios in London
.....Jiving Sister Fanny
.....I Don't Know Why
Ju1 14-15, 1970 at Olympic Studios in London
.....I'm Going Down (with Stephen Stills)

This information comes from "It's Only Rock And Roll: The Ultimate Guide To The Rolling Stones" by Karnbach and Bernson and from my own
collection.

With the release of the remastered super audio CDs (SACD) of the Stones ABCKO catalog (which includes all the early Decca/London material), there is now mass confusion about the Out Of Our Heads releases. Allow me to clarify for you:

There are 3 Out Of Our Heads Releases (all were released with lower case titles):
July 30, 1965 - U.S. London Records vinyl out of our heads
(the heads cover with Keith at center)
September 24, 1965 - U.K. Decca Records vinyl out of our heads
(the hallway cover with Brain at front)
December 3, 1965 - U.S. London Records vinyl december's children (and everybody's)
(the hallway cover with Brain at front)

This new remastered SACD is the July 30, 1965 - U.S. London Records vinyl out of our heads release. This version of included include the following tracks that were not to be on the U.K. release: The Last Time, I'm All Right, Satisfaction, Play With Fire, Spider And The Fly, and One More Try. The U.K. version added She Said Yeah, Talkin' Bout You, Oh Baby, Heart Of Stone, and I'm Free.

Note: ABCKO acquired the Stones' catalog when Allen Klein became their manager in the 70s. The resulting legal battles produced releases that the Stones opposed (they took out full page adds asking fans not to buy them), including the controversial Metamorphosis releases (which are now available on CD for the 1st time ever). But the sad fact is that the Stones lost control of their great early material. With these remastered SACD releases, we at last have some idea of what they really sounded like in the studio. I guess if we had these 40 years ago they would have ended up Greatest Rock And Roll Band in the Universe instead of just our tiny little World.

You must buy all 3 releases to get all the tracks, although if you bought the 2 U.S. releases + the earlier U.S. release The Rolling Stones, Now! you would get everything on this U.K. Out Of Our Heads release.

Here is a listing of which tracks are on which release:
U.S. Out Of Our Heads tracks
.....The Last Time
.....I'm All Right
.....Satisfaction
.....Play With Fire
.....The Spider And The Fly
.....One More Try
U.S. Out Of Our Heads & U.K. Out Of Our Heads tracks
.....Mercy Mercy
.....Hitch Hike
.....That's How Strong My Love Is
.....Good Times
.....Cry To Me
.....The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man
U.K. Out Of Our Heads tracks
.....Oh, Baby (we got a good thing going)
.....Heart Of Stone
U.K. Out Of Our Heads & U.S. December's Children tracks
.....She Said Yeah
.....Gotta Get Away
.....Talkin' 'Bout You
U.S. December's Children tracks
.....I'm Free
.....You Better Move On
.....Look What You've Done
.....The Singer Not The Song
.....Route 66
.....Get Off Of My Cloud
.....As Tears Go By
.....Blue Turns To Grey
.....I'm Moving On

The album includes the most famous of all Stones tracks (Satisfaction) as well as The Last Time (one of their most enduring compositions). The U.S. Out Of Our Heads tracks were recorded during 1964-5 as follows:

1964: Oct 27 - Nov 2 at RCA Studios in Hollywood
.....Hitch Hike
1965: Jan 17-18 & Feb 17 at RCA Studios in Hollywood
.....The Last Time
.....Play With Fire
Live in the UK on March 6 (Empire in Liverpool), 7 (Palace in Manchester), or 16 (Granada in Greenford)
.....I'm All Right
May 10, 1965 at Chess Studios in Chicago
.....That's How Strong My Love Is
.....Mercy, Mercy
.....Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man
May 11-12, 1965 at RCA Studios in Hollywood
.....Satisfaction
.....Good Times
.....Cry To Me
.....The Spider And The Fly
.....One More Try

This information comes from "It's Only Rock And Roll: The Ultimate Guide To The Rolling Stones" by Karnbach and Bernson and from my own collection.

With the release of the remastered super audio CDs (SACD) of the Stones ABCKO catalog (which includes all the early Decca/London material), there is now mass confusion about the Out Of Our Heads releases, which includes the December's Children release. Allow me to clarify for you:

There are 3 Out Of Our Heads Releases (all were released with lower case titles):
July 30, 1965 - U.S. London Records vinyl out of our heads
(the heads cover with Keith at center)
September 24, 1965 - U.K. Decca Records vinyl out of our heads
(the hallway cover with Brain at front)
December 3, 1965 - U.S. London Records vinyl december's children (and everybody's)
(the hallway cover with Brain at front)

This new remastered SACD is the December 3, 1965 U.S. London Records vinyl december's children (and everybody's) release.

Note: ABCKO acquired the Stones' catalog when Allen Klein became their manager in the 70s. The resulting legal battles produced releases that the Stones opposed (they took out full page adds asking fans not to buy them), including the controversial Metamorphosis releases (which are now available on CD for the 1st time ever). But the sad fact is that the Stones lost control of their great early material. With these remastered SACD releases, we at last have some idea of what they really sounded like in the studio. I guess if we had these 40 years ago they would have ended up Greatest Rock And Roll Band in the Universe instead of just our tiny little World.

You must buy all 3 releases to get all the tracks, although if you bought the 2 U.S. releases + the earlier U.S. release The Rolling Stones, Now! you would get everything that is included on the U.K. Out Of Our Heads release.

Here is a listing of which tracks are on which release:
U.S. Out Of Our Heads tracks
.....The Last Time
.....I'm All Right
.....Satisfaction
.....Play With Fire
.....The Spider And The Fly
.....One More Try
U.S. Out Of Our Heads & U.K. Out Of Our Heads tracks
.....Mercy Mercy
.....Hitch Hike
.....That's How Strong My Love Is
.....Good Times
.....Cry To Me
.....The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man
U.K. Out Of Our Heads tracks
.....Oh, Baby (we got a good thing going)
.....Heart Of Stone
U.K. Out Of Our Heads & U.S. December's Children tracks
.....She Said Yeah
.....Gotta Get Away
.....Talkin' 'Bout You
U.S. December's Children tracks
.....I'm Free
.....You Better Move On
.....Look What You've Done
.....The Singer Not The Song
.....Route 66
.....Get Off Of My Cloud
.....As Tears Go By
.....Blue Turns To Grey
.....I'm Moving On

U.S. London Records vinyl December's Children (And Everybody's) (the hallway cover with Brain at front) was released December 3, 1965. It used the U.K. Out Of Our Heads cover. This is an odd one for the Stones, released only in the U.S. on Dec 3, 1965 (their 3rd album release that year). It was a compilation of 2 hit singles (Get Off Of My Cloud released 7-24-65 and As Tears Go By released 12-17-65) along with other tracks that had not been released in
the States.

This was the last album where the record execs had total control. After this one, the Stones got into the studio enough and produced new tracks so that they were able to exert at least some influence on their releases from here on out. Keith has been quoted in several sources as saying
their fans in the UK would not have accepted an album like this. He was later proven right when the UK market failed to pick up on the many greatest hits releases by Klein and Decca after the Stones formed their own label in the 1970s.

The album does mark the advent of Jagger and Richards as ballad writers with I'm Free, As Tears Go By, Blue Turns To Grey, and The Singer Not The Song. They also did Gotta Get Away and Get Off Of My Cloud. The rest of the album includes the premature rocker She Said Yeah,
Chuck Berry's Talkin' 'Bout You, and Look What You've Done from the Chess Studio sessions in Chicago when Muddy himself was present. I'm Movin' On is a live track from their live UK EP and You Better Move On and Route 66 were from the earlier UK EP "The Rolling Stones."

Now a bit about the hits: Get Off Of My Cloud was the follow up to Satisfaction and was their 2nd #1 single in the States. As Tears Go By was first done as a demo on March 11 or 12, 1964 but was finally finished on Oct 26, 1965 and was also released by Mick's girlfriend at the time,
Marianne Faithful.

The tracks were recorded from 1963-5 as follows:
Nov 14, 1963 at De Lane Lea Studios in Kingsway, London
.....You Better Move On (originally released on the UK EP The Rolling Stones)
June 10-11, 1964 at Chess Studios in Chicago
.....Look What You've Done
Live in the UK on March 5 (Regal Theatre in Edmonton), March 6 (Empire in Liverpool), 7 (Palace in Manchester), or 16 (Granada in Greenford)
.....I'm Moving On
.....Route 66
Sep 6-7, 1965 at RCA Studios in Hollywood
.....I'm Free
.....Get Off Of My Cloud
.....The Singer Not The Song
.....She Said Yeah
.....Gotta Get Away
.....Blue Turns To Grey
Oct 26, 1965 at IBC Portland Place Studios, London
.....As Tears Go By

Also of interest, the UK Out Of Our Heads used the same artwork as the US release of December's Children.

This information comes from "It's Only Rock And Roll: The Ultimate Guide To The Rolling Stones" by Karnbach and Bernson and from my own
collection.

With the release of the remastered super audio CDs (SACD) of the Stones ABCKO catalog (which includes all the early Decca/London material), there is now mass confusion about the Out Of Our Heads releases. Allow me to clarify for you:

There are 3 Out Of Our Heads Releases (all were released with lower case titles):
July 30, 1965 - U.S. London Records vinyl out of our heads
(the heads cover with Keith at center)
September 24, 1965 - U.K. Decca Records vinyl out of our heads
(the hallway cover with Brain at front)
December 3, 1965 - U.S. London Records vinyl december's children (and everybody's)
(the hallway cover with Brain at front)

This new remastered SACD is the September 24, 1965 U.K. Decca Records vinyl Out Of Our Heads release. This version of Out Of Our Heads added She Said Yeah, Talkin' Bout You, Oh Baby, Heart Of Stone, and I'm Free. The UK release did not include the following tracks that were on the U.S. release: The Last Time, I'm All Right, Satisfaction, Play With Fire, Spider And The Fly, and One More Try. It was the first UK stereo release - actually reprocessed simulated stereo - and used the same cover that would be used for the U.S. December's Children cover.

Note: ABCKO acquired the Stones' catalog when Allen Klein became their manager in the 70s. The resulting legal battles produced releases that the Stones opposed (they took out full page adds asking fans not to buy them), including the controversial Metamorphosis releases (which are now available on CD for the 1st time ever). But the sad fact is that the Stones lost control of their great early material. With these remastered SACD releases, we at last have some idea of what they really sounded like in the studio. I guess if we had these 40 years ago they would have ended up Greatest Rock And Roll Band in the Universe instead of just our tiny little World.

You must buy all 3 releases to get all the tracks, although if you bought the 2 U.S. releases + the earlier U.S. release The Rolling Stones, Now! you would get everything on this U.K. Out Of Our Heads release.

Here is a listing of which tracks are on which release:
U.S. Out Of Our Heads tracks
.....The Last Time
.....I'm All Right
.....Satisfaction
.....Play With Fire
.....The Spider And The Fly
.....One More Try
U.S. Out Of Our Heads & U.K. Out Of Our Heads tracks
.....Mercy Mercy
.....Hitch Hike
.....That's How Strong My Love Is
.....Good Times
.....Cry To Me
.....The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man
U.K. Out Of Our Heads tracks
.....Oh, Baby (we got a good thing going)
.....Heart Of Stone
U.K. Out Of Our Heads & U.S. December's Children tracks
.....She Said Yeah
.....Gotta Get Away
.....Talkin' 'Bout You
U.S. December's Children tracks
.....I'm Free
.....You Better Move On
.....Look What You've Done
.....The Singer Not The Song
.....Route 66
.....Get Off Of My Cloud
.....As Tears Go By
.....Blue Turns To Grey
.....I'm Moving On

The U.K. Out Of Our Heads tracks were recorded during 1964-5 as follows:

1964: Oct 27 - Nov 2 at RCA Studios in Hollywood
.....Hitch Hike
.....Oh Baby (we got a good thing going)
.....Heart Of Stone
May 10, 1965 at Chess Studios in Chicago
.....That's How Strong My Love Is
.....Mercy, Mercy
.....Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man
May 11-12, 1965 at RCA Studios in Hollywood
.....Good Times
.....Cry To Me
Sep 6-7, 1965 at RCA Studios in Hollywood
.....I'm Free
.....She Said Yeah
.....Gotta Get Away

This information comes from "It's Only Rock And Roll: The Ultimate Guide To The Rolling Stones" by Karnbach and Bernson and from my own collection.

Another great film from Mel Gibson.....it would have been so easy to blow the characters on this one, but Gibson pulls it off in what is one of his greatest acting demonstrations ever.

The River wins on all fronts......acting, plot, historical and cultural significance......it's great to see reviews from social commentators and farmers alike......the film has the ability to stir controversy as well as inspire to more human interaction among us all.

Regardless of your personal perspective this one is worth the time and effort to enjoy, then watch again to analyze, and then.....(important last step)....watch again to make sure you remember how much you enjoyed it.

Love it or hate it, it doesn't matter, this is still a great blues film. Sure this sequel has a silly plot, but so was the original....it's a joke, get it? I found myself laughing repeatedly as the plot continued to satirize the entire concept of a sequel.....if it was too subtle for you, watch it again....it's right there, brazen as can be.

But who on earth would watch this film for the plot? True to the original, 2000 is a great blues MUSIC sequel. You've got to admire the script writing that has Elwood earnestly trying to convince his band they can compete in a battle of the bands against Clapton backing B.B. with Clarence on sax, or Aretha actually delivering a better take on Respect than on the original film, or John Goodman doing James Browns' cape.....this is great stuff.....and what really matters is that the musicians are having a ball.....and it comes through loud and clear, with soul to spare.

Buy this one for the music, the charisma that jumps off the screen and realize that Belushi would have loved it no matter what.....after all, it still celebrates the blues!

No matter what anyone else says, this one will remain one of the best films for a long time to come. Crowe's reputation will rest on it for
the rest of his life (a couple more like this and he can join the great ones - it would help if he can keep his home in Coff's Harbour
though!)

This DVD version belongs in every serious film collector's library. It also belongs in every teacher's collection because of the message it
brings and the way it touches our humanity.....why we have achieved what we have and what the hope is for our survival. And finally
(and most importantly) because it makes an academic a hero....and we need so much more of that in our lives.

Personally I found this film to achieve everything that Shine didn't. The DVD version is great because it gives you a crystalline
soundtrack without too many extras packed onto it. You won't regret adding this one to your collection, believe me!

Penman emerged long ago as one of the best historical novelists and continues to solidify her reputation with each new release. Her special genius lies in the bright and shining historical detail that she can weave into both plot and dialog (she's a very good student of history and at times is absolutely brilliant in conveying to us the workings of medieval minds).

Chronologically, this is the 2nd of her novels. It's also the 2nd in the Henry & Eleanor trilogy (the others are When Christ & His Saints Slept and Devil's Brood).

There is no doubt this trilogy will stand as a superior work for ages to come. There is certainly a very complex plot (because this era of English history was quite convoluted). Penman does an excellent job of keeping it all straight for us as she leads us through the maze of characters. Yes, it's complicated but if you read the history of these times you quickly come to see what a great job she did in her design of the story.

There are touching moments (the private verbal dueling between Henry & Eleanor are always memorable) and Penman is great at establishing dynamic moments for a wide range of events (the machinations of Becket, etc.). Although I suspected it was coming, I still found her negative characterization of Becket to be an amazing perspective (that I can easily imagine coming from the very mind of Henry himself - a remarkable piece of writing by Penman).

As always, Penman's true genius is the broad historical scope that is painted on top of the shimmering details of brief moments. It truly does feel as if you are living the story yourself, and it is this bringing us readers in as witnesses that stands as Penman's contribution to the art of the
historical novel.

If you prefer to read in chronological order:
1101-1154 When Christ And His Saints Slept (Vol 1 of the Henry & Eleanor Trilogy)
1156-1171 Time And Chance (Vol 2 of the Henry & Eleanor Trilogy)
12th Cent Devil's Brood (Vol 3 of the Henry & Eleanor Trilogy)- not yet released
1192-1193 The Queen's Man
1193 Cruel As The Grave
1183-1232 Here Be Dragons (Vol 1 of Welsh Trilogy)
1231-1267 Falls The Shadow (Vol 2 of Welsh Trilogy)
1271-1283 The Reckoning (Vol 3 of Welsh Trilogy)
1459-1492 The Sunne In Splendour

Here is the first effort of the next age in rock, Jack and Meg White (not brother and sister either - they used to be married) push off hard with this effort. You really need to see the progression of greatness in this band, so start here and then go on to De Stijl and Cells and know you are onto something incredible here.

One reviewer said "White Stripes' is completely unselfconscious-- it's just two kids honestly following their instincts and influences, yet creating an original." He's right, The Stripes don't sound like anybody else (no matter how hard you try to draw parallels). Legions of other bands will be compared to them, not the other way around.

In Jimmy you honestly think Jack's guitar is going to explode......there just isn't any room for bass and rhythm in this sound.....how can one guy sound like System Of A Down, Metallica, or Rush all by himself? Big Three, Cannon, Bricks, Screwdriver.....honestly, there is way too much sound here for two people.....it's the sound of an original rock lightning strike......it's rare......there hasn't been a band like this one in 10 years.

In De Stijl the Stripes arrive with thunder in the arena. Jack and Meg White (not brother and sister either - they used to be married) firmly plant themselves into rock history with this one. Somebody else said Jack sounds like some kind of Robert Plant novice on De Stijl (I agree), but when he gets to the next album (Cells) he becomes what Curt Cobain should have done eventually with Nirvanna or what Mick could have been if he had taken Jumpin' Jack Flash to the limit. So listen to this one knowing what is coming next is even better.

The Stripes don't sound like anybody else (no matter how hard we all try to draw parallels). Legions of other bands will be compared to them, not the other way around.

You're Pretty Good Looking let's Jack's guitar open throttle, not to mention setting his voice way back in your head where it won't go away. Sister, Truth, Pack It Up....all great tunes.....oh yeah, and what on earth possessed Meg for that rim solo on Hello Operator....that one won't go away either. There is way too much sound here for two people.....that other stuff you hear in the space in between is the sound of original rock lightning......and it's rare......there hasn't been a band like this one in 10 years. The only problem is somebody needs to help Jack with his lyrics.....house-couch-mouse......Jack....listen to some old Dylan or something, will ya?

Stripes make you realize that even if Green Day were the best of their era, this is how much better they could have been; this is how the Stones must have sounded at the Crawdaddy Club in 64; this is why all those hype-bands like the Hives & Vines will never last; this is nothing less than the start of the 3rd age of rock and roll. These guys have it.....the blinding future of rock may be in their hands.