Steve Knopper

Music Examiner
Steve Knopper [knopps.com] covers the music business for Rolling Stone. His next book, on the record business in the digital age, is due from Free Press/Simon & Schuster in January 2009.

  

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Stones, dude

April 9, 3:27 PM
by Steve Knopper, Music Examiner
 
 
So, Metamorphosis. How could I have missed this one? Amazon says it's the only Stones' rarities collection, rushed into print by ex-manager Allen Klein after a lawsuit. Of course I know "Heart of Stone," but the rest are new to me. I'm not sure what Klein's original intent was for the title, but about halfway through the disc it shifts abruptly from Phil Spector-like symphonic arrangements (with not nearly enough Keith or Charlie) to the sort of raw '70s sound we've come to love from Exile On Main St. and Sticky Fingers. The revelation is "I Don't Know Why," which starts with the spooky strummed guitar and blows up when Charlie and Bill come in. Had to listen to that one thrice or so.

The Stones really did have an amazing run from 1968 to 1972, didn't they? Check out that list of songs in the poll link. It's impossible to pick just one or two or 20. I voted "Rocks Off" -- for Charlie. Always for Charlie.
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