Enjoyable soul and R&B from the Stones

"The Rolling Stones Now!" is a very enjoyable album. It includes superb covers of "Down The Road Apiece", Bo Diddley's vibrating "Mona", Otis Redding's "Pain In My Heart", and one of the group's best early gems, "Little Red Rooster", a pure blues with wonderful slide guitar playing by Brian Jones (it gave the Stones a #1 single in Britain).



As songwriters, Jagger and Richards were still learning, but they did come up with an American Top 20 hit, the great, soulful "Heart of Stone", as well as the thumping, Chuck Berry-styled rocker "Off The Hook".

"The Rolling Stones Now!" is a muscular slice of blues, rock n' roll and soul music, and a treat for diehards and more casual listeners alike.

Number 2 (or 3)

As the title of my review says, depending on what side of the pond you lived on, in January 1965 the Stones released an album titled either "The Rolling Stones, Now!" (US) or "The Rolling Stones No. 2"(UK). The differences are not as subtle as they were for the first album. Both albums begin with the same three songs, however the US release was supposed to have a different recording of "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love". Thank goodness they kept the same version on both albums because I have the US version on bootleg and it pales in comparison. Other differences would be the exclusion of "Little Red Rooster", "Heart of Stone", "Mona" and "Surprise, Surprise" from the the UK lp and the presence of "Time Is on My Side" (UK version), "Under the Boardwalk", "Grown Up Wrong", and "Suzie Q" (all from the previous fall's "12x5" which was the second US album)and "I Can't Be Satisfied" (which didn't appear on album in the US until "More Hot Rocks" in 1972). At any rate whether you have the UK or US versions, you have a superior collection of British Rhythum and Blues, done by these young masters of the form. Standout cuts include "Everybody" (the long form version), "Down Home Girl", "Time", "Down the Road Appiece" (smoking guitar from my man Keith), "Satisfied" (great slide work from Brian, of course)and a excellently soulful rendition of Otis Redding's "Pain in My Heart". The years 1964-1965 were a whirlwind of activity and triumph for the Stones and they would only become greater as '65 moved along. Recorded in both Chicago and London, No. 2 proved to be another early success for the Stones as they made their way toward superstardom.



PS. The cover of No. 2 is also the same as 12x5's as well, just thought I'd add to the confusuion.

SACD version lacking, but still worthwhile

During the 2002 RUSH to re-release the Rolling Stones to SACD, abkco, london and DECCA failed on "NOW." The first track:"EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEBODY TO LOVE", was reduced to a 3 minute some seconds, rarely heard version, from the original abkco/London 420 in the plastic jewel case which offered a 5:04 'European'track,(from LK-4661, aka; Volume 2) vinyl Lp, as originally recorded by DECCA U.K., and SHOULD have been mono, to present The Rolling Stones 'their-way.' Suggest try to get the first release of NOW, in plastic jewel case. abkco could have done a much better release, in original mono, and a few Stereo tracks, mostly Stereo on After-Math, which seems to remain about "the Best" LP, CD, from the Fab-Five