Rolling Stones

The Satanic Sessions, Volumes 1 & 2 - 1967
As time has worked to dull the pain of witnessing a band so desperately nipping at the heels of Sgt. Pepper, it has also allowed for a long overdue re-examination of the Rolling Stones' most misunderstood album. Aside from containing founding member Brian Jones' last worthwhile contributions as a Stone, Their Satanic Majesties Request also marked the last, and arguably the most significant shift for a band that would morph into the world's greatest over the course of its next three albums.
Far from the cohesive, back to basics Beggars Banquet that would follow, Satanic Majesties was wildly unfocused and plagued by general period-specific themes of outer space, togetherness and mind expansion. And through use of unconventional instruments, it has been extremely difficult to determine which member(s) of the band led the sessions. Thankfully, this 2-volume box alleviates these major flaws - the entirety of this 8-disc set is comprised of the basic instrumental tracks (not a drop of hippy drippy vocals), and the multiple takes and studio chatter illustrate the specific contributions of each member.

So what's revealed here? 1) Keith Richard's guitar riffs form the structure of the majority of the album, 2) Nicky Hopkins' virtuosic keyboards make him virtually a 6th member of the band, 3) Brian Jones' Mellotron is its main psychedelic ingredient, and 4) "Jigsaw Puzzle" was originally recorded during these sessions. But that's just scratching the surface. If you're unfamiliar with the album, this set will be like entering a conversation halfway through, so get your hands on the original first. If it's already on your list of favorites, take a listen. The results are fascinating, but not for everyone. Full track list in comments.

Ron Wood

I've Got My Own Album To Do - 1974

Ranking right up there with Harry Nilsson's Pussy Cats LP in terms of the greatest "buddy" album of all time, Ron Wood's first solo effort was one that simultaneously showcased his immense talent as a guitarist and songwriter, as well as his seemingly endless pool of kick ass rock star friends that were willing to lend him a hand. Considering his reputation as one of the all around nicest guys in rock music, it's no surprise that the list of guest musicians here includes not only the majority of the Rolling Stones, half of the the Faces and George Harrison but a wealth of contributors that remain uncredited (although I swear I hear the voice and drums of The Band's Levon Helm on a couple of tracks). Such an immense pool of musicians and the egos that they carry could have easily overwhelmed the proceedings here, but the sense of camaraderie and unabashed joy rules over this album, and the result is a tight collection of tunes that sounds exactly as you'd expect it to when considering the participants. Equal parts Stones and Faces, the LP features duets galore, most notably Jagger and Wood on the opening track, Keith Richards is all over the place here, obviously enjoying the brief step away from the spotlight, and the Faces' Ian McLagan is an absolute monster on the Wurlitzer piano. Hell, even Rod Stewart took a break from chasing supermodels to join in on the action. Easily one of the finest off-the-radar albums of the decade.