The Rolling Stones – 12 X 5

These songs are culled from the Stones' second american album, "12 X 5". Includes two very early Stones' classics. Their rock re-working of "It's All Over Now" still kicks, but their version of "Around and Around" is perfect. Ian Stewart's barrelhouse piano and Keith's energetic guitar leads successfully steal this song from Chuck Berry himself. It's doubtful that the song would be as good without the sixth Rolling Stone, Ian Stewart on keyboards. "2120 South Michigan Avenue" refers to the address of Chess Records and is a quaint rock/blues romp. "Grown Up Wrong" is a minor early Jagger-Richard composition, although the quirky lead guitar is interesting. "Time Is On My Side", with its off-key backing vocals, sounds as amateurish and awkward as it always did. Easily one of their lesser hits. "Confessin' the Blues" is unremarkable blues, especially compared to their later "Little Red Rooster".

These early Stones' London EPs are very difficult to find. I don't recall ever seeing them in record stores. Fortunately, all the songs are still readily available on CD.