Customer Reviews

12 X 5

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First, in response to those of us who couldn't figure out why the early British and American albums by the Stones and Beatles differed: sure, American greed had something to do with it. But there was also a British law in force limiting each recording artist to only TWO album releases per calendar year. Hence the Beatles crammed 14 songs on their British LP's and augmented these with 4-song EP's and singles not included on the albums (pretty much the Stones' strategy as well), while over here Capitol parceled out 11 songs per album, 12 in the case of Decca Records with the Stones recordings. Sometimes the Brits benefited from this practice, sometimes we did. In this particular case, the American version is superior by far. In England a puny little EP was issued (looks like a 45 rpm record, but usually with 2 songs on each side). The EP was called 5 x 5 (pronounced "Five by Five" since there were 5 Stones) with only five cuts from this LP, including 2120 as a bonus track. And this remastered version finally includes the long version of that instrumental, originally not even available in England; I had to buy a French LP called Around and Around back in '65 (for a whopping $7!) just to get that long version. The flashy ripping guitar work by Keith in that extra minute or so is worth the price of this CD alone. And now we get half of the songs in stereo! Rather than go through a track-by-track discription here, let me just say that this LP admirably displays the boys' gifts. For me, it ranks up there with their first album and the Now! LP. Together, these first 3 works by the group showcase them at their early, anarchic best. Buy them all and bask in their greatness!
Feb 16, 2003 addition: It doesn't play on my home DVD/CD player! In the car, yes. In my computer, yes. On a home JVC model XV-501 unit (about 3 years old), no way. The CD's liner notes say the new format is compatible with all players. NOT TRUE! Be wary of SACD's!

GROWN UP WRONG and CONGRATULATIONS are two of the Stones' very best songs. Check lyrics websites.

SUZIE Q and EMPTY HEART, both a little raucous at first, grow on you with time.

The studio version of SOUTH MICHIGAN AVE. is better and more amusing than the BBC radio version/performance.

... with mellower songs like BOARDWALK, GOODS TIMES BAD TIMES, and IF YOU NEED ME, this easier-listening Stones album helps to break up a louder-than-average afternoon of the 'rockin' early Stones listening one might do.

... add the TIME IS ON MY SIDE and IT'S ALL OVER NOW hits to lure in fans of the HOT ROCKS and similar collections, and you've got a pretty good package. The rest of the numbers are all good, too.

... the new remastered sounds fine. It seems to augment the simplicity and freshness of their studio version of Chuck Berrys' AROUND AND AROUND ... and CONFESSIN' THE BLUES has been quite well praised all over the place, so I needn't add anything ...

.. but see my recent Amazon.com reviews for LONDON YEARS(entitled "The Healing Power of Decadence"), FLOWERS ("An Overlooked Weapon"), and the HOT ROCKS collections ("Reliable Standby")... these should help clarify issues about sound quality, stereo vs. mono, informative liner notes, and Digipak vs. plastic 'jewel' cases, etc., for many readers/customers, with regard to the new remastered Stones series...

... in the meantime, get some plastic jewel cases for your remastered, and put your collectible Digipaks/covers in a safe place, and check the lyrics websites, rather than worry too much about sound quality ... rely on it: the remastered series is quite crisp enough to be worth it, even on most regular CD players ... and get a $10 CD player cleaner while your at it, to magically and dramatically improve your machines' quality...

...and remember what Keith Richards said: "Everyone knows how to Rock ... but sometimes they forget to Roll."

-moosbrugger

GROWN UP WRONG and CONGRATULATIONS are two of the Stones' very best songs. Check lyrics websites.

SUZIE Q and EMPTY HEART, both a little raucous at first, grow on you with time.

The studio version of SOUTH MICHIGAN AVE. is better and more amusing than the BBC radio version/performance.

... with mellower songs like BOARDWALK, GOODS TIMES BAD TIMES, and IF YOU NEED ME, this easier-listening Stones album helps to break up a louder-than-average afternoon of the 'rockin' early Stones listening one might do.

... add the TIME IS ON MY SIDE and IT'S ALL OVER NOW hits to lure in fans of the HOT ROCKS and similar collections, and you've got a pretty good package. The rest of the numbers are all good, too.

... the new remastered sounds fine. It seems to augment the simplicity and freshness of their studio version of Chuck Berrys' AROUND AND AROUND... and CONFESSIN' THE BLUES has been quite well praised all over the place, so I needn't add anything...

...and remember what Keith Richards said: "Everyone knows how to Rock... but sometimes they forget to Roll."

-moosbrugger

12 x 5 is the second album the ROLLING STONES released back in the early 60's. Once again we are treated to their interpretations of some classic rock and blues songs, mixed in with a few originals. The band is showing off their blues influences on this one and they pull it off well. The songs on this album that deserve a listen to are: AROUND AND AROUND, CONFESSIN' THE BLUES, EMPTY HEART, TIME IS ON MY SIDE, GOOD TIMES, BAD TIMES, IT'S ALL OVER NOW. These songs are the standouts on this album. After this, I think the album loses some steam, but not all that much. I think on UNDER THE BOARDWALK, the band seems alittle out of place, I alson think this is true on SUSIE Q. Those two songs aside, I think that this is good album and shows off the early STONES in fine form.

A nice batch this second release by the Stones. Much more than three chord rock and the blues. Time Is On My Side is a soulful gem and I do appreciate the organ driven intro here. Confessin' The Blues is a hidden gem as the blues rarely has sounded so good. The cover of Around and Around is another winner with a raunchy fast paced tempo. Its All Over Now, Empty Heart, and If You Need Me are all other noteworthy tunes.

In spite of still doing so many covers, the Stones really developed their sound on this record. It still stands as a premiere recording. Pick it up for sure.

12x5: In which The Stones' U.S. record company (taking Capitol's then-current hatchet job of The Beatles' discography as some sort of twisted, greed-inspired cue) milks Mick & Co. for all they were worth (striking while the iron was hot, and all that) by chopping up their UK albums into little red, white, and blue pieces for optimum profitabilty, artistic integrity be damned. Whatever -- it was the early-sixties, after all, and no one thought these long-haired hooligans would turn into Icons. But my question today is this: why not release the original UK sources ("Five by Five", "Rolling Stones no.2") as part of the new remaster series, thereby settling a score of sorts with history? Just a thought....

This is the remastered super audio CDs (SACD) of the Stones ABCKO catalog (which includes all the early Decca/London material. ABCKO acquired the Stones' catalog after Allen Klein became their manager in 1965. The legal battles during the 70s 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.

This is the Stones 2nd US album, released Oct 23, 1964. It cemented the early blues band legend with tracks from their famous Chess Studios session in Chicago during the 1st American tour (Muddy Waters helped carry their gear into the studio) and tracks recorded at Regent Sound in London. Essentially, this is the album that finalized their status as champions of Chicago blues.

The album starts with Check Berry's Around And Around, which the Stones had been doing as a show stopper in the UK, the big hits Time Is On My Side and It's All Over Now, and the great slow blues numbers Confessin' The Blues & Good Times Bad Times. Although they used to do a lot of instrumentals, 2120 S. Michigan seems to have survived as the only memory of this part of the early Stones familiar to most fans. Personally I always liked Congratulations, but never cared for their version of Susie Q, although it was very popular at the time.

The tracks recorded June 10-11, 1964 at Chess Studios in Chicago were:
.....Around And Around
.....Confessin' The Blues
.....Empty Heart
.....Good Times Bad Times
.....It's All Over Now
.....2120 S. Michigan version 2
.....If You Need Me)
Tracks recorded at Regent Sound in London were done on Feb 25, 1964
.....Susie Q
June 24-26, 1964
.....Time Is On My Side version 1
.....Congratulations
Sep 28-29, 1964
.....Under The Boardwalk
.....Grown Up Wrong

This album was never released in the UK, however the tracks on it were released in the UK as follows:

6-26-64 It's All Over Now, Good Times Bad Times

8-14-64 Five by Five EP - If You Need Me, Empty Heart, 2120 S. Michigan version 1, Confessin' the Blues, Around and Around

1-16-65 The Rolling Stones No. 2 - Time Is On My Side version 1, Grown Up Wrong, Under The Boardwalk, Susie Q

Congratulations was not released in the UK until 10-5-73 on the album No Stone Unturned

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.

12x5 is the first great Rolling Stones record. Their first two releases showed the band's potential, but they realized it on this manic collection that finds them perfecting the Chess Records, Chicago R&B sound that so heavily influenced. From the opening riff of their ripping version of Chuck Berry's "Around & Around" to their magnificent version of "Susie Q", the band is on top of their game. Their versions of "Time Is On My Side", originally done by the great Irma Thomas, and Bobby Womack's "It's All Over Now" have become Stones classics, while lesser known tracks like "Empty Heart", which has some ripping guitar riffs, "Confessin' The Blues" and "Good Times, Bad Times" stand right up next to them. The band pays tribute to Chess Records with the instrumental "2120 South Michigan Avenue". 12x5 solidified the foundation for their now almost 40 year career.

The Stones second U.S. album, 12x5, was filled with some great covers and some early original material. Besides being one of their best early albums, the sound has been improved greatly. The album now contains STEREO versions of songs that have never been heard, let alone released, in the U.S. before. This version is superior to the old ABKCO version. This is definitely one album worth buying in the current SACD collection. You will not be disappointed in the upgraded sound. Highly recommended.

12 X 5 is the first Rolling Stones album I ever bought as a young teenager. It was so blues and gusty, with the appropriate amount of nasty. God, I loved this album. I wore the grooves out, literally. What made it great was the almost absence of original Rolling Stones material, and the total inclusion of terrific black American classics - Chuck Berry's "Around & Around", Jerry Ragovoy's "Time Is On My Side", Bobby Womack's "It's All Over Now", and Resnick and Young's "Under the Boardwalk". As a novel idea, soul and R & B hits were transformed into rock songs on this recording. Enter into a new era of interpretation as these wild horses were let loose on an unsuspecting, naive world. The Stones just blew the doors off conformity. Jump forward some thirty years later and again I'm at the threshold of a first - my only Rolling Stones CD and appropriately enough, it's 12 X 5. Loving remastered by ABKCO, they have developed a new system for recreating the original analog sounds from the "we were there" vaults. Lucky us. The resulting deeds take you back to a perfect, simplistic clarity. "Empty Heart" and "2120 S. Michigan Ave", penned under the Nanker Phelge alias, revel in soulful harmonica, pithy guitars, and trains arriving on time. The album 12 X 5 is like the soundtrack to a black and white Americana with ole' English subtitles. All delivered in a ruffian, juvenile style. Even the packaging resembles the authentic original. Class and quality makes for a perfect combination. No apologies, no excuses, no explanation. In a singular tongue, 12 X 5 speaks volumes.