The Rolling Stones "Between The Buttons" (1967): facts, videos, photos

1967 was a very successful and productive year for The Rolling Stones, which began with the release of "Between The Buttons" and ended with the stylistic experiment "Their Satanic Majesties Reques". "Between The Buttons" was released in the UK on 20 January 1967, and the US edition followed on 11 February.

Recording the album. How we came up with the title

The title for the song "Between The Buttons" came about by accident, after a remark from producer Andrew Loog Oldham to drummer Charlie Watts, who was doing some sketches for the cover. Watts asked how they were going to name album, and Oldham used the euphemism "undecided".

"Andrew told me to do the drawings for the record and he told me the title was Between the Buttons ('between the buttons')," Melody Maker said on 4 February 1967. - "I thought he meant the title was 'Between The Buttons', so it stayed."

Part of the album was recorded in August 1966 with Dave Hassinger at RCA Studios in Hollywood, and the other part was created in London, at the newly opened studios Olympic Sound in November of the same year. The recording of some tracks was started in the US but finished in the capital of England. The Stones were fresher by the time they recorded at home, having taken a break from touring.

"Recording 'Between The Buttons' was the first time we took a breather and distanced ourselves a bit from the craziness of touring and everything else," recalled guitarist Keith Richards. - So in a way it was kind of like a new beginning for us... Plus, everyone was smoking a lot".

Between The Buttons: UK version

"Between the Buttons" was The Rolling Stones' first album since April 1966 ("Aftermath" was released then) and was their fifth studio record in the UK. Unfortunately, it is one of the least well known longplays The Stones, but it has some strong songs.

In addition to the five band members - vocalist Mick Jagger, who also played tambourine and harmonica, Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman and Watts - a number of musicians were invited, with Ian Stewart playing piano and organ and Nicky Hopkins playing piano, as did Jack Nitzsche. The track "Connection" was performed live at the London Palladium a week after the album's release and was featured in Martin Scorsese's 2008 documentary Shine a Light.

By the end of 1966, recording technology allowed for more experimentation, and although every track on Between The Buttons is credited to Jagger and Richards, you can hear very different ones on the album styles music and songwriting. "Yesterday's Papers" is notable for being the first song written solely by Jagger, with Nitzsche playing on the harpsichord. In the song "Something Happened to Me Yesterday," the versatile Jones plays saxophone, trombone and clarinet.

Two tracks were exclusive to the UK version of the album. The first was the tender waltz "Back Street Girl", written by Richards and Jagger. In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, the singer said it was his favourite song on the album. Jones showed off some of his jazz predilections on this track: a musician who was such a fan of jazz saxophonist Julian Cannonball Adderley that he named his son after him. The accordion was played by Nick De Caro.

The second song on the album, available only for the UK, was "Please Go Home," which was based on the rhythm in the style of Bo Diddley. It was later released in America on the compilation album "Flowers".

Between The Buttons: US version

The US version of Between The Buttons was the band's seventh studio release in the US, where they showed their individuality in their choice of a new opening song. The album began with "Let's Spend the Night Together", a song co-written by Jagger and Richards that became the favourite David Bowie composition. The song was released as a double single in the UK in January 1967, paired with "Ruby Tuesday", which was also added to the US song list.

The UK and US versions of Between The Buttons have both made their mark. songs "Yesterday's Papers," "Connection," "She Smiled Sweetly," "Cool, Calm And Collected," "My Obsession," "All Sold Out," "Who's Been Sleeping Here," "Complicated," "Miss Amanda Jones," and "Something Happened To Me Yesterday."

Cover art and album release

Billboard favourably echoed about an American album in February 1967:

"Every album by The Stones has been a chart hit, and this latest collection will be no exception," they wrote. - "Their energetic rhythm is evident throughout and their singles 'Ruby Tuesday' and 'Let's Spend the Night Together' have sales appeal." 'Miss Amanda Jones' and 'Cool, Calm And Collected' are outstanding pieces of work."

The album "Between The Buttons" reached number two on the US charts, which is one place higher than in the UK.

The album booklet is decorated with caricatures and drawings by Charlie Watts, and the cover features a photograph taken by Jered Mankowitz in mid-November 1966, after a night of recording at Olympic Sound Studios. The band travelled to Primrose Hill Park in north London just after dawn, having arrived in a Rolls-Royce. Mankowitz said the photo, which he made deliberately blurry by smearing Vaseline on the lens, captured the "ethereal, carefree feel of the time," adding:

"There was this well known London character called Maxi - a sort of hippy prototype - just standing by himself playing the flute. Mick went up to him and offered him a smoke, and his only response was, "Ah, breakfast!"