The Rolling Stones are reissuing the mono recordings from the first part of their career, from in a massive box set titled The Rolling Stones In Mono. As most rock and pop was recorded in mono back in those days, this is a good chance to hear these classic albums in their original form (but with, you know, updated sound quality). From ABKCO, who is overseeing the box:
Spanning the era between 1963 and 1969, The Rolling Stones in Mono covers the formative years of “The Greatest Rock & Roll Band in the World.” During this era, most rock and pop recordings were originally recorded in mono, with stereo often an afterthought, dealt with only following the completion of the original (mono) version of a given track. In short, mono reigned and this was, indeed, the case for the Rolling Stones during the period. While typical playback systems of the time were less than sophisticated, the original mono recordings, especially as heard through quality components, were of the highest audio quality and had a powerful and very direct impact. “You felt you were in the room . . . listening to exactly what went down in the studio, no frills, no nothing,” Keith Richards wrote in his autobiography, Life.
The Rolling Stones In Mono will be available as a 16 vinyl LP or 15 CD box. (It’ll also be available digitally.) The vinyl will set you back $391, with the CD version being about half that. Pre-orders are available here, with the collection set to drop on September 30.
Check out the full list of stuff that will be in the box set, and listen to mono versions of “Paint it Black” and “Satisfaction” below.
The Rolling Stones In Mono [16 LP vinyl box set; 15 CD box set] (all tracks also available digitally)
1) The Rolling Stones (UK, 1964)
2) 12 X 5 (1964)
3) The Rolling Stones No. 2 (UK, 1965)
4) The Rolling Stones Now! (1965)
5) Out of Our Heads (US, 1965)
6) Out of Our Heads (UK, 1965)
7) December’s Children (And Everybody’s) (1965)
8) Aftermath (UK, 1966)
9) Aftermath (US, 1966)
10) Between the Buttons (UK, 1967)
11) Flowers (1967)
12) Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967)
13) Beggar’s Banquet (1968)
14) Let it Bleed (1969)
15) Stray Cats (a new collection of single A & B sides plus E.P. tracks)