Metamorphosis (Rolling Stones album) explained

Metamorphosis
Type:compilation
Artist:the Rolling Stones
Cover:Metamorphosis75.jpg
Released:6 June 1975
Recorded:February 1964 – July 1970
Genre:Rock
Length:48:03
Label:ABKCO
Prev Title:Made in the Shade
Prev Year:1975
Next Year:1975

Metamorphosis is the third compilation album of the Rolling Stones music released by former manager Allen Klein's ABKCO Records (who usurped control of the band's Decca/London material in 1970) after the band's departure from Decca and Klein. Released in 1975, Metamorphosis centres on outtakes and alternate versions of well-known songs recorded from 1964 to 1970.

History

After the release of Hot Rocks 1964–1971 in 1971, an album titled Necrophilia was compiled with the aid of Andrew Loog Oldham for release as a follow-up compilation, featuring many previously unreleased (or, more accurately, discarded) outtakes from the Rolling Stones' Decca/London period. While that project failed to materialise—with More Hot Rocks (Big Hits & Fazed Cookies) being released in its place—most of the unreleased songs were held over for a future project.

In February 1974, to give it an air of authority, Bill Wyman involved himself in compiling an album he entitled Black Box. However, Allen Klein wanted more Mick Jagger/Keith Richards songs in the project for monetary reasons, and Wyman's version remained unreleased. Metamorphosis was issued in its place.

Wyman's original picks for the record were as follows:

"Godzi" and "Panama Powder Room" were instrumentals from the Between the Buttons sessions and have never been released. They were recorded at RCA Studios, Hollywood on August 4–12, 1966.

Most tracks that appear on side one of the vinyl album are demos, written by Jagger and Richards for other artists to perform. Some were recorded with session musicians like Big Jim Sullivan on guitar, Clem Cattini on drums, and Jimmy Page on guitar, and were not intended for release by the Rolling Stones. Indeed, on most of these tracks the only Rolling Stone who appears is Jagger. "Out of Time" and "Heart of Stone" were well-known Stones songs that appear here in drastically different renditions, with session players providing the backing. Side two includes unreleased band recordings up until the Sticky Fingers sessions of 1970.

With some speculation that "I'd Much Rather Be With the Boys" had a homosexual subtext,[1] The Toggery Five version changed the lyric to "I'd rather be out with the boys." An alternate version of "Memo from Turner" includes Brian Jones on guitar and has a looser vibe than the Mick Jagger solo single from the soundtrack album of the 1970 film Performance.

Released in June 1975, Metamorphosis came out the same day as the band's authorised hits collection Made in the Shade and was also seen to be cashing in on the Rolling Stones' summer Tour of the Americas. While the critical reception was lukewarm, Metamorphosis still managed to reach No. 8 in the US, though it only made No. 45 in the UK. Two singles, "Out of Time" (featuring Jagger singing over the same backing track (with strings) used for Chris Farlowe's 1966 version) and a cover of Stevie Wonder's "I Don't Know Why" briefly made the singles charts.

Upon its initial release, Metamorphosis was released with 16 songs in the UK, while the American edition had only 14 — omitting "Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind" and "We're Wastin' Time".

The album's cover art plays off the title with a human/insect motif alluding to Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis, and includes images of both Brian Jones and his replacement Mick Taylor.

In August 2002, the full UK edition of Metamorphosis was issued in a new remastered CD, vinyl, and SACD digipak by ABKCO Records.

Track listing

All songs by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, except where noted.

Side one

  1. "Out of Time" – 3:22
  2. "Don't Lie to Me" (Hudson Whittaker) – 2:00
  3. "Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind" – 2:25
  4. "Each and Everyday of the Year" – 2:48
  5. "Heart of Stone" – 3:47
  6. "I'd Much Rather Be with the Boys" (Andrew Loog Oldham, Keith Richards) – 2:11
  7. "(Walkin' Thru The) Sleepy City" – 2:51
  8. "We're Wastin' Time" – 2:42
  9. "Try a Little Harder" – 2:17

Side two

  2. "I Don't Know Why" (Stevie Wonder, Paul Riser, Don Hunter, Lula Hardaway) – 3:01
  3. "If You Let Me" – 3:17
  4. "Jiving Sister Fanny" – 2:45
  5. "Downtown Suzie" (Bill Wyman) – 3:52
  6. "Family" – 4:05
  7. "Memo from Turner" – 2:45
  8. "I'm Going Down" – 2:52

Recording details

"Out of Time" – 3:22

"Don't Lie to Me" – 2:00

"Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind" – 2:25

"Each and Everyday of the Year" – 2:48

"Heart of Stone" – 3:47

"I'd Much Rather Be With the Boys" – 2:11

"(Walkin' Thru The) Sleepy City" – 2:51

"We're Wastin' Time" – 2:42

"Try a Little Harder" – 2:17

"I Don't Know Why" – 3:01

"If You Let Me" – 3:17

"Jiving Sister Fanny"  – 2:45

"Downtown Suzie" – 3:52

"Family" – 4:05

"Memo from Turner" – 2:45

"I'm Going Down" – 2:52

Charts

Chart (1975)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[5] 51
Swedish Albums (Kvällstoppen)[6] 11

Notes and References

  1. Web site: I'd Much Rather Be with the Boys – The Rolling Stones | Song Info | AllMusic. 19 May 2021. AllMusic.
  2. News: Dee Dee Interview. Leigh. Spencer. BBC Radio. January 31, 2011.
  3. Web site: Jon Tiven's American Beat.... Musicrepublicmagazine.com. 20 February 2018. 19 May 2021.
  4. Web site: Rolling Stones database 1969. Nzentgraf.de. 19 May 2021.
  5. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6.
  6. Book: Hallberg, Eric. Eric Hallberg presenterar Kvällstoppen i P 3: Sveriges radios topplista över veckans 20 mest sålda skivor 10. 7. 1962 - 19. 8. 1975. Drift Musik. 1993. 243. 9163021404.

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