IN YOUR FACE > Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards takes centre stage, surrounded by (from left) bass man Bill Wyman, singer Mick Jagger, drummer Charlie Watts and guitarist Brian Jones [American album cover]
- Songs
AMERICAN VERSION
1. Mercy Mercy
2. Hitch Hike
3. The Last Time
4. That’s How Strong My Love Is
5. Good Times
6. I’m Alright7. (I Can’t get No) Satisfaction
8. Cry To Me
9. The Under Assistant West Coast Promo Man
10. Play With Fire
11. The Spider and The Fly
12. One More Try
Out of Our Heads
Plenty of satisfaction with a youth anthem, songs of sultry seduction and a shot of rhythm and soul.
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- September, 1965
- Rock On Rock Recommends:
The Spider and The Fly; Play With Fire; (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction; The Under Assistant West Coast Promo Man; The Last Time; That’s How Strong My Love Is; Hitch Hike
The Rolling Stones couldn’t forever play cover versions of the black blues and soul men of America > no matter how much they liked them > and had to come up with their own songs.
There’s seven Stones originals on the American version of Out of Our Heads > but only four on the British release album.
“We didn’t grow our hair like this as a gimmick > but we see no reason why we should cut it off to conform”
> guitarist Brian Jones“After a show you get back to your hotel to find girls hiding in the corridors > and even in the rooms”
> Mick Jagger (1964)
THE SONGS (AMERICAN ALBUM)
Out Our Heads hit No.1 in America > driven by the success of youth anthem (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.
Keith Richards came up with the memorable Satisfaction riff in his sleep > or should that be unconsciousness. He somehow had the ability to wake up, grab his guitar and put the riff down on a cassette recorder in his hotel bedroom. And quickly went back to slumber.
One of the defining songs of the 60s, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction vents teen frustration and would propel the band > Mick Jagger in particular > to teetering on becoming spokesmen for their generation.
THE UNDER ASSISTANT
WEST COAST PROMO MAN
I promo groups when
They come into town
Well, they laugh at my toupee
They sure do put me down
I sure do earn my pay
Sitting on the beach every day
> Jagger-Richards
HEART OF STONE
Better listen little girl,
You go walking down the street
I ain’t got no love
I ain’t the kind to meet
> Jagger-Richards
The Under Assistant West Coast Promo Man is a sarcastic, mocking blues dig at the music industry and all who sail in her > specially the hangers-on. Has nice harmonica.
SONGS: She Said Yeah; Mercy Mercy; Hitch Hike; That’s How Strong My Love Is; Good Times; Gotta get Away; Talking’ Bout You; Cry To Me; Oh, Baby (We Got a Good Thing Going); Heart of Stone; The Under Assistant West Coast Promo Man; I’m Free
RATING: 5/10
Brooding Heart Of Stone tells the tale of a broken-hearted man with bad intent > warning the girls going by on a foggy London night to best be going quickly > lest they be wanting trouble.
Play with Fire and Spider and the Fly are blues ballads with bite. Play With Fire is a warning to the privilege positioned girlfriend that all her finery don’t count for nothing in this relationship [you got that, girlie!!]
Spider and the Fly is a song of seduction as menacing Mick moves in for the kill > ready to inject his semon [sorry venom] into his prey.
The Last Time is based on gospel song This May Be the Last Time by American group the Staples Singers. The Rolling Stones made it more rock oriented.
One More Try fails to excite despite a washboard beat and I’m Alright is a live concert chant > screaming female fans at hand.
The remaining songs are faithful renditions of rhythm and blues and soul songs > the best of which are Hitch Hike and That’s How Strong My Love Is > mainly for Jagger’s spirited vocal on this soul classic by Otis Redding.
PISSED OFF WITH BILL’S BIG BLADDER
Rolling Stones bass player Bill Wyman, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were each found guilty of “insulting behaviour” and fined the princely sum in 1965 of five British pounds after Wyman badly needed a pee while the Rolling Stones were driving back from a gig.
Such a long-haired lout was refused entry to a toilet at the East London service station. The Stones trio let rip and Jagger led them into a chant of “We will piss anywhere, man”. Wyman relieved himself against a nearby wall.
Keith Richards has in press interviews put the blame squarely at the feet of Bill’s big bladder > saying it takes him forever to piss. [But hey, when you’ve gotta go > you gotta go!!]
DOESN’T SOUND LIKE THE LIFE OF BRIAN
Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones > who drowned several years later while heavily affected by drugs and alcohol > told Melody Maker magazine about his supposedly clean-living lifestyle change in a 1966 interview: “I got quite a reputation a couple of years ago for being the youngest alcoholic in London. But I drink very little now.”
He went on to say that his favourite drink was milk. [YEAH RIGHT, SURE YOU DO!!]
> WORDS by MALCOLM LIVERMORE
