The Rolling Stones - The Rolling Stones
- FaceOff - עימות חזיתי
- Apr 16
- 3 min read
Written By: Moti Kupfer
Release date - UK 16.04.1964 / US 29.5.1964
London in the early 1960s became fertile ground for new rock bands that gave voice to the baby boomer generation. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger had first met as classmates back in 1950, growing up together in Dartford, Kent. When Jagger’s family later moved to Wilmington, Kent, the two lost touch, and it would take another seven years before fate brought them back together.
That moment came on October 17, 1961, on platform two of Dartford railway station. After years apart, Richards and Jagger reunited, and this time their shared love for music led to a partnership that, within a year, would evolve into the formation of "The Rolling Stones".
The band’s name was born almost by accident. During a phone interview with Jazz News, Brian Jones was asked what the band was called. Looking around, he noticed a Muddy Waters record nearby. One of the tracks was titled "Rollin' Stone", and from that spontaneous moment, the band’s name was chosen.
In May 1963, the band signed 19-year-old manager Andrew Loog Oldham following a recommendation from The Beatles. Oldham envisioned the group as the direct opposite of the clean-cut image of "The Beatles". Where "The Beatles" were seen as the “good boys,” Oldham crafted The Rolling Stones into rebellious outsiders, with a raw, cheeky attitude inspired by the gang culture portrayed in "A Clockwork Orange".
Although Jagger and Richards would later become the defining forces of the band, in its early days the central musical figure was Brian Jones. A multi-instrumentalist with exceptional talent, Jones stood out not only within the band but arguably across Britain. His deep musical curiosity led him to shape the idea of a British blues band that would fully embrace the intensity of American blues.
Together with Richards, Jagger, Charlie Watts, and Bill Wyman, the band formed a unit that became one of the first in Britain to authentically capture the sound of Black rhythm and blues. At the center of it all stood Jones.
"The Stones" fused the gritty blues of Chicago with rock and roll energy. Jagger’s vocal style fit perfectly with Jones’ musical vision. Whether it was tambourine accents, powerful harmonica lines, or expressive slide guitar, Jones constantly expanded the band’s sonic palette.
On June 7, 1963, the band released their debut single, a cover of "Come On" by Chuck Berry. Despite the band’s reluctance to perform the song live and minimal promotional support, the track still reached number 21 on the UK singles chart.
Their debut album consisted mostly of rhythm and blues and blues covers, featuring songs by artists such as Willie Dixon, Jimmy Reed, Chuck Berry, and Rufus Thomas. Alongside these covers, the album included one original composition, "(Tell Me (You're Coming Back))", written by Jagger and Richards.
Two additional tracks were credited to “Nanker Phelge,” a pseudonym used between 1963 and 1965 to represent collective songwriting by the band members.
In a 1995 interview with Rolling Stone, Jagger reflected on the song, noting that it felt very different from their usual rhythm and blues covers and leaned more toward a pop-oriented direction. The lyrics explore a failing relationship and the singer’s attempt to win back his lover.
Among the musicians who participated in the recording sessions were Graham Nash on backing vocals, Phil Spector on percussion, and Gene Pitney on piano, humorously referred to as “Uncle Phil and Uncle Gene.”
The album cover, photographed by Nicholas Wright, followed Oldham’s unconventional vision. It featured no mention of the album title or even the band’s name, a bold and unusual concept for the time.
Oldham’s liner notes pushed the band’s image even further, describing them as more than just a group, portraying them as a lifestyle that had captured the imagination of youth and positioned them among the most sought-after acts of the moment.
Interestingly, the album was released in the United States on May 29, 1964, under the title "England’s Newest Hit Makers". This version replaced "Mona (I Need You Baby)" by Bo Diddley with "Not Fade Away", originally by Buddy Holly.
For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music
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