For those not in the know, ABKCO Records has just released the second Rolling Stones Singles 1966-1971 seven inch single box-set, which follows up the 1963-1966 collection from last year, and thus contains 18 vinyl singles and extended play records as originally released by Decca, London Records and ABKCO Records.

This features original packaging, original mono and stereo single mixes and all the hits from this classic era including five number ones. Tracks include ‘Paint It Black’, ‘Have You Seen Your Mother Baby Standing In The Shadow?’, ‘Let’s Spend The Night Together’, ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’, ‘Street Fighting Man’, ‘Honky Tonk Women’, ‘Brown Sugar’, and many other classics.

It also features songs that while recorded between ’66 and ’71 where sometimes issued as singles after that, an example being ‘I Don’t Know Why’, which wasn’t issued until 1975 to promote the Stones rarities album Metamorphosis. A bit more dubiously, the Neptunes and Fat Boy Slim remixes of ‘Sympathy For The Devil’ (issued on SACD in 2003) now get their own seven-inch, although at least the original version is still on disc 17.

All the tracks in this box were remastered by Bob Ludwig, and the discs are manufactured by Third Man Pressing in Detroit. The set also comes with a 32-page book containing extensive liner notes by Nigel Williamson.

Disc 1: “Paint It, Black” US version (originally released May 1966)
A. Paint It, Black
B. Stupid Girl

Disc 2: “Paint It, Black” UK version (originally released May 1966)
A. Paint It, Black
B. Long Long While

Disc 3: “Mother’s Little Helper” (originally released June 1966)
A. Mother’s Little Helper
B. Lady Jane

Disc 4: “Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow?” (originally released September 1966)
A. Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow?
B. Who’s Driving Your Plane

Disc 5: “Let’s Spend The Night Together” (originally released January 1967)
A. Let’s Spend The Night Together
B. Ruby Tuesday

Disc 6: “We Love You” (originally released August 1967)
A. We Love You
B. Dandelion

Disc 7: “She’s A Rainbow” (originally released November 1967)
A. She’s A Rainbow
B. 2000 Light Years From Home

Disc 8: “In Another Land” (originally released December 1967)
A. In Another Land
B. The Lantern

Disc 9: “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” (originally released May 1968)
A. Jumpin’ Jack Flash
B. Child Of The Moon

Disc 10: “Street Fighting Man” US version (originally released August 1968)
A. Street Fighting Man
B. No Expectations

Disc 11: “Honky Tonk Women” (originally released July 1969)
A. Honky Tonk Women (mono mix)
B. You Can’t Always Get What You Want

Disc 12: “Memo From Turner” (originally released November 1970)
A. Memo From Turner (Mick Jagger)
B. Natural Magic (Ry Cooder) from the film Performance

Disc 13: “Street Fighting Man” UK maxi-single (originally released June 1971)
A. Street Fighting Man
B1. Surprise Surprise
B2. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love

Disc 14: “Brown Sugar” (A-side originally released April 1971; B-side originally released June 1971)
A. Brown Sugar
B. Wild Horses

Disc 15: “I Don’t Know Why” (originally released May 1975)
A. I Don’t Know Why (aka Don’t Know Why I Love You)
B. Try A Little Harder

Disc 16: “Out Of Time” (originally released September 1975)
A. Out Of Time
B. Jiving Sister Fanny

Disc 17: “Honky Tonk Women” (originally released April 1976)
A. Honky Tonk Women (stereo mix)
B. Sympathy For The Devil

Disc 18: “Sympathy For The Devil” Remix (originally released as part of SACD E.P. & CD single September 2003)
A. Sympathy For The Devil (The Neptunes Remix)
B. Sympathy For The Devil (Fat Boy Slim Remix)

Having grown up in a 7” single, vinyl-buying household in both the UK and the US, and with parents both devoted fans of bands such as The Rolling Stones, the Beatles, The Kinks, The Who and oh-so many more, I myself grew up listening to all these wondrous songs (A-Sides and B-Sides, I am glad to report) and so not only feel very blessed that this quite stunning new box-set has been kindly sent to us for review by ABKCO, but honestly feel well positioned to bring to you my collective thoughts on the contents here today.

Firstly, once you remove the factory-seal and open the box, that new car smell (so to speak) generously, and gorgeously wafts up to your nose and makes you immediately smile (knowing that, unlike second hand garage sales and old timey record shops), the vinyl you remove from this box will not be raggedy-sleeved, or feature vinyl scratches and blemishes of any kind.

With, save for one, each single lovingly housed within its own color picture sleeve - as opposed to some other box-sets that shall remain nameless, where each single came out housed in plain white sleeves - it is not only the quality of the vinyl itself when played, but the look of the replica flashback picture sleeves that just make you nostalgically crumble inside.

If I had to pick a favorite from amongst this plethora of musical wonderment, it would be the opener Paint It Black, a cut that neither matched the intensity of its forebears, nor the oppressive themes which its lyrics suggested, and yet the Wyman-suggested Hammond organ pedals lay a luxurious bed from which the tune rises from.

It’s B-Side, the simply magnificent Stupid Girl, itself possesses an endearing and energetic snottiness that might have won the Stones a good amount of sexually frustrated young men fans back then, one assumes.

Another would be Mother’s Little Helper - which peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 - and is driven by its lyrics being about an indictment of middle class prescription drug abuse as an antidote to the drudgery of everyday life. It’s B-Side is Lady Jane, a song that showcases Brian Jones’ instrumental incorporation of baroque rock (as it would since come to be known).

Moving a little further into the wondrous box-set - and away from the worldwide known hits that punctuate this collection - and another stand out is the Memo From Turner. A solo single by Jagger, it features some beautifully alluring slide guitar by Ry Cooder and is from the soundtrack of Performance; in which Jagger played the role of Turner, a reclusive rock star.

The B-Side to the single is Natural Magic by Ry Cooder, also from the film Performance, and is itself a guitar virtuoso performance of the highest caliber.

Along next would be the Stevie Wonder-penned I Don’t Know Why (aka Don’t Know Why I Love You), which was a hit for the Stones in February of 1969. The B-Side is Try A Little Harder, which is itself built around a basic low twangy soul-rock guitar riff and backup harmony chant.

One more personal choice would be Out Of Time, which brought together the wonderful studio sounds of electric dulcimers, marimbas, and auto harps, all brought vividly to the fore to create a much under-rated track. It’s B-Side is Jiving Sister Fanny, which may well be chock full of incomprehensible vocalizations and filler phrases, is still a coherent tale about a man in Philadelphia who has the brain of a dinosaur!

The lovely, large color book is magnificent also, featuring lots and lots of wondrous old black and white/color photographs of the band, along with adjacent single release information. And the posed/caught live, five various art cards (photos) and luscious horizontal black and white poster make for lovely viewing also.

ABKCO Records is home to the entire catalog of The Rolling Stones from 1963 to early 1971. This includes the albums The Rolling Stones, England’s Newest Hit Makers, 12 X 5, The Rolling Stones No. 2, The Rolling Stones, Now!, Out of Our Heads, December’s Children (And Everybody’s), Aftermath, Got Live If You Want It!, Between the Buttons, Their Satanic Majesties Request, Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed and Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! The Rolling Stones in Concert. ABKCO Films is home to Charlie Is My Darling - Ireland 1965 and The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus.

Official Unboxing | The Rolling Stones 7" Singles 1966 - 1971 (Vinyl Box Set)

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