Decca Records
Forget The Changes In Style, The Stones Insist On Rolling
The Rolling Stones have been recording since the dawn of the 1960s. And nearly since they launched, their records have topped the charts. That’s probably due in large part to the dynamic songwriting team of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, two founding members of the English band. Blues and rock ‘n’ roll still influence all of the Stones’ music, as they have all along. Even as the rock music landscape has changed over the years, the Stones have remained a permanent force.
Several newer players have been added to fill vacancies. Drummer Charlie Watts, along with Jagger and Richards, is a founding member of the band. Guitarist Brian Jones quit the Stones in 1969, and bassist Bill Wyman retired in the ’90s. The lineup now features guitarist Ronnie Wood and bass player Darryl Jones, who is not a full member of the band.
The Stones first became popular in the United States during the early 1960s “British Invasion,” which was spearheaded by musicians such as the Beatles, the Dave Clark Five and Jerry and the Pacemakers. With their deep appreciation for American blues, the Stones proffered a unique pop music blend. Blues icons propelled the Stones, including Mississippi Fred McDowell, Albert King and Booker T. Jones.
Differentiating themselves from the Beatles, the Stones presented a starkly different image. Apart from their hair and loud music, the Beatles were friendly and not so rebellious. Offering a slightly rebellious image, the Stones were the antidote to the Beatles’ smiling presence on record jackets and magazine covers.
Because Decca Records had not signed the Beatles and severely regretted it, the Stones were able to negotiate an outstanding contract. The band was paid three times the usual royalties bands received in those days, had full artistic control of their recording and owned the master tapes that they recorded. Rolling Stones vinyl LPs soon went gold, and then platinum, and Decca was richly paid back for its generous contract offering.
The Stones’ contract also gave them the right to pick their recording studio. While visiting the United States for the first time, the Stones taped tracks at Chess studios, where many of their blues idols made records.
If vinyl records are your passion, you can hear the Stones on Rega turntables. And that’s not only due to the fact that, like the Stones, Rega is English in origin. You’ll pick out all of the group’s subtleties on a Rega.
For many, an important part of listening to the Stones is raising the volume to a high level. Listeners should be forewarned that the music they play isn’t blasting to the point that it causes hearing injury. Be careful of ringing in your ears, which probably is a sign of hearing damage, and a signal that you need to turn down the volume.
The Decca Auditions – Besame Mucho
