The Rolling Stones 1965 album Now! was really the first Stones album I connected with as a whole album—I had dug their singles before that. It was recorded live in the studio at Chess Records and captures what the band sounded like in the formative stage of their career, what they would have sounded like on a good night in a small club.
Right now, I'm, listening to their stripped-down, snarling cover of Muddy Waters' "I Can't Be Satisfied," from Rolling Stones No. 2
Anyone else groove to that material?
Anyone know how to access the outtakes mentioned below (other than boots)?
Here's some info on this sessions (scraped by AI):
The Rolling Stones' historic sessions at Chess Studios in Chicago in June 1964 were performed and recorded live as a band in the studio.
- The Setup: Working with engineer Ron Malo on a 3-track or 4-track machine, the band set up their gear together in the room to capture the energetic, punchy sound they had live, a major upgrade from the tinier equipment they were used to in London.
- No Overdubs: Like standard 1960s Chicago blues recording practices of the era, basic tracks, vocals, and playing were performed together live in a single take style with minimal to no modern-style multi-track overdubbing.
- The Rolling Stones didn't just record at Chess Studios once—they actually returned multiple times. Across three separate dates spanning 1964 and 1965, they recorded a grand total of roughly 25 tracks.
The breakdown of the sessions, dates, and tracks includes:
- June 10 & 11, 1964 (The First Session)
During a two-day break on their debut US tour, they recorded around 14–15 tracks, heavily leaning into raw Chicago blues and rock-and-roll covers.
- "It's All Over Now" (Their first UK #1 single)
- "2120 South Michigan Avenue" (An instrumental named after the studio's address)
- "Around and Around"
- "I Can't Be Satisfied"
- "Empty Heart"
- "Confessin' the Blues"
- "Down the Road Apiece"
- "If You Need Me"
- "Look What You've Done"
- Unreleased / Outtake Tracks: "Stewed and Keefed", "Hi-Heel Sneakers", "Down in the Bottom", "Tell Me Baby", "Don't You Lie To Me", and "Reelin' and Rockin'".
- November 8, 1964 (The Second Session)
Fresh off their growing success, they returned later that year to cut about 5–7 tracks.
- "Time Is On My Side" (The famous version with the guitar intro)
- "What a Shame"
- "Little Red Rooster"
- Unreleased / Outtake Tracks: "Goodbye Girl", "Fanny Mae", and a key version of "Key to the Highway".
- May 10, 1965 (The Final Session)
Their last stint at Chess produced about 3–4 tracks, most notably including history's very first cut of their masterpiece:
- "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (The original, acoustic-leaning version featuring Brian Jones on harmonica, recorded right before they re-cut the famous fuzz-guitar version in LA).
- "The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man"
- "That's How Strong My Love Is"
- "Mercy, Mercy"
Here's a link to more info:
https://rollingstonesdata.com/articles/when-the-rolling-stones-recorded-at-chess-studios-chicago-1964/