Customer Reviews

Out of Our Heads (UK Version)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With the release of the remastered super audio CDs (SACD) of the Stones ABCKO catalog (which includes all the early Decca/London material), there is now mass confusion about the Out Of Our Heads releases. Allow me to clarify for you:

There are 3 Out Of Our Heads Releases (all were released with lower case titles):
July 30, 1965 - U.S. London Records vinyl out of our heads
(the heads cover with Keith at center)
September 24, 1965 - U.K. Decca Records vinyl out of our heads
(the hallway cover with Brain at front)
December 3, 1965 - U.S. London Records vinyl december's children (and everybody's)
(the hallway cover with Brain at front)

This new remastered SACD is the September 24, 1965 U.K. Decca Records vinyl Out Of Our Heads release. This version of Out Of Our Heads added She Said Yeah, Talkin' Bout You, Oh Baby, Heart Of Stone, and I'm Free. The UK release did not include the following tracks that were on the U.S. release: The Last Time, I'm All Right, Satisfaction, Play With Fire, Spider And The Fly, and One More Try. It was the first UK stereo release - actually reprocessed simulated stereo - and used the same cover that would be used for the U.S. December's Children cover.

Note: ABCKO acquired the Stones' catalog when Allen Klein became their manager in the 70s. The resulting legal battles produced releases that the Stones opposed (they took out full page adds asking fans not to buy them), including the controversial Metamorphosis releases (which are now available on CD for the 1st time ever). But the sad fact is that the Stones lost control of their great early material. With these remastered SACD releases, we at last have some idea of what they really sounded like in the studio. I guess if we had these 40 years ago they would have ended up Greatest Rock And Roll Band in the Universe instead of just our tiny little World.

You must buy all 3 releases to get all the tracks, although if you bought the 2 U.S. releases + the earlier U.S. release The Rolling Stones, Now! you would get everything on this U.K. Out Of Our Heads release.

Here is a listing of which tracks are on which release:
U.S. Out Of Our Heads tracks
.....The Last Time
.....I'm All Right
.....Satisfaction
.....Play With Fire
.....The Spider And The Fly
.....One More Try
U.S. Out Of Our Heads & U.K. Out Of Our Heads tracks
.....Mercy Mercy
.....Hitch Hike
.....That's How Strong My Love Is
.....Good Times
.....Cry To Me
.....The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man
U.K. Out Of Our Heads tracks
.....Oh, Baby (we got a good thing going)
.....Heart Of Stone
U.K. Out Of Our Heads & U.S. December's Children tracks
.....She Said Yeah
.....Gotta Get Away
.....Talkin' `Bout You
U.S. December's Children tracks
.....I'm Free
.....You Better Move On
.....Look What You've Done
.....The Singer Not The Song
.....Route 66
.....Get Off Of My Cloud
.....As Tears Go By
.....Blue Turns To Grey
.....I'm Moving On

The U.K. Out Of Our Heads tracks were recorded during 1964-5 as follows:

1964: Oct 27 - Nov 2 at RCA Studios in Hollywood
.....Hitch Hike
.....Oh Baby (we got a good thing going)
.....Heart Of Stone
May 10, 1965 at Chess Studios in Chicago
.....That's How Strong My Love Is
.....Mercy, Mercy
.....Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man
May 11-12, 1965 at RCA Studios in Hollywood
.....Good Times
.....Cry To Me
Sep 6-7, 1965 at RCA Studios in Hollywood
.....I'm Free
.....She Said Yeah
.....Gotta Get Away

This information comes from "It's Only Rock And Roll: The Ultimate Guide To The Rolling Stones" by Karnbach and Bernson and from my own collection.

Granted, this version doesn't have the group's biggest hits, but it flows together nicely, with the soul covers and "She Said Yeah" brought together on the same CD, plus such fine originals as "Gotta Get Away" and "I'm Free." While he is no Otis Redding, the young Mick Jagger brings passion and personality to the proceedings here, and the other members can more than hold their own with Booker T and the MGs, even without horns. (And with them, they went on to give us _Sticky Fingers_ and _Exile on Main St._.) The consistent excellence of this early album arguably makes it better realized than either _Aftermath_, even if the latter (which relies exclusively on original material) is generally seen as the turning point for the group as albums artists.

Others might disagree, but I think that buying both the US and UK versions of this album, together with the weaker _December's Children, is completism run amok, too much redundancy for your money. Instead, I recommend simply supplementing the UK album with _Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass)_, which will give you the stereo version of "Heart of Stone," plus the famous hits from the US _Heads_ and _December's Children_ ("The Last Time," "Satisfaction," "Get Off of My Cloud"), featured with the rest of the group's American hits up through 1966's "19th Nervous Breakdown."

Let's put it this way, this is the end or culmination of the early Stones, the final album devoted to blues and R&B covers before the middle period of original Elizabethan/Victorian/Blues/Folk/Pop/Rock. Though there are always exceptions in every period.

If you like this period, you will love this album.

Yes, there are noticeable track differences between the USA and UK versions, and, these have already been noted. You may purchase several USA CDs ('The Rolling Stones Now!', 'Out Of Our Heads', 'December's Children...') and not need to purchase this CD. But I have always preferred this track order and if you are so inclined I highly recommend this CD.

Musically, the material is strong. The original compositions show that Mick and Keith have been paying attention. It almost makes you wonder how did they come up with something as strong as 'Heart Of Stone' as if it was really written by someone much older and experienced in songwriting and life.

Technically, I don't recall this album ever being released in stereo (other than electronically reprocessed). The fact that 'Heart Of Stone' does exist in stereo implies that a stereo version of this entire collection might be created. Barring that happening, the new remaster sounds great and I have enjoyed pumping up the volume at home and in the car.

My favorites:
Have Mercy
Hitch Hike
Gotta Get Away
Talkin' 'Bout You
Heart Of Stone
The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man (not a B-side in the UK)
I'm Free (I very much like what I call the George Harrison inspired guitar break)

So, yes, for an album without a big hit single (as was the case for many of their early UK albums), The Stones equalled the material they showcased on another of my favorite early Stones album from the UK, 'The Rolling Stones No. 2'.

I loved it that ABKCO released several of the classic Rolling Stones catalog from the 60's in the British versions as well as the more familiar American albums. In the case of Aftermath in particular, the buyer gets a much better album than the American version. I also bought the UK versions of Between the Buttons and Out of Our Heads. The latter purchase was a big disappointment however. In general, the sound quality has been extraordinary on the ABKCO releases on hybrid SACD. Out of Our Heads UK is the exception. The sound quality is muddy and extremely low fi. I am assuming that the original masters must be in poor condition, because other albums from the same period, like Big Hits, High Tide Green Grass sound fine. I applaud the idea of releasing the British Out of Our Heads album, because it is a cool selection of cover tunes and Jagger/Richards originals, but the atrocious sound quality makes it a bad purchase choice.

I've always been a big fan of the US releases of Out Of Our Heads and December's Children. What I didn't know is that the UK version of Out Of Our Heads is actually a composite of songs featured on both of the above mentioned US album releases. What you don't get are the hit singles from those albums; Get Off My Cloud, Last Time & Satisfaction. But, the songs included in the UK album feature the Stones, in their prime, covering some classic Motown; Mercy Mercy & Hitch Hike, (Marvin Gaye), Stax Volt; That's How Strong My Love Is, (Otis Redding) and Sam Cooke's timeless classic Good Times.

The songs seague beautifully and hold together more cohesively than on the US albums and the digital remastering is far superior to the US releases that were originaly released on CD in the mid '80's. If you like the Stones, in their early British Blues period circia 1965-67, then you'll love this one. It ranks right up there with Aftermath and 12x5 and Rolling Stones Now as their blusey and raunchiest best!

Chronologically, this would be the third LP by the band released in their homeland as opposed to the US where the albums were usually compilations of the UK single, EP and LP releases. Case in point, the UK "Out of Our Heads" consists of a combination of tracks from the US album of the same name and "December's Children"(also has the same cover as the latter.) Confused yet? That's how it usually was when lps by British groups were put out stateside. Anyway, this album is very much a no frills (hit singles) example of young band on the cusp of superstardom and evolving their sound by still incorporating blues, soul and R&B standards along with more originals. Examples of the former include Otis Redding ("That's How Strong My Love Is"), Marvin Gaye ("Hitch Hike"), Solomon Burke ("Cry to Me"), Don Covay ("Mercy, Mercy"), Chuck Berry ("Talkin' Bout You") and Sam Cooke ("Good Times"), all credible versions of legendary artists. Originals include "I'm Free", "Under Assistant West Coast Promo Man", and "Heart of Stone" (a US single the previous year). The all-time classics singles "Satisfaction", "Last Time" and "Get Off of My Cloud" were left off the British lp, but if you are a Rolling Stones fan you already own those songs on various compilations. I think it's great that this album became available in the US on CD just for the fact it was an original recording, the songs that were meant to be on a long -player and not a record company hodge-podge. This album proved to be the last of the early era Stones lps, where covers dominated the track listings. Next up would be "Aftermath", the first great Rolling Stones album. Still "Heads" is definitely a solid purchase for the Stones enthuisiast but maybe not the casual fan.

Who needs caffeine anymore - I wake up dancing to this shining display of mastery + hormones. From the raucous kicker "She Said Yeah" through the freaky-before-its-time "I'm Free", the Stones give us 12 powerful elucidations of how this music, in their intent hands, shook the world for good. A blend of brilliant covers on the one hand and forays into original songwriting on the other, the album shows off not only the Stones' splendid roots but also what those roots are inevitably flowering into: the greatest rock & roll band in the world, what else?!

A major remastering project of this scope for a group as big as the "Stones", should be done properly. Unfortunately,it was not. This is a great album, and I was going to give it 4 stars on that alone, this review will focus on the new remastering.
The disc is all in MONO. That would be OK, if at least they told us. The quality of the record varies a little from track to track, probably due to various sources. "Heart of Stone" is available in STEREO on Hot Rocks 1. "I'm Free" is on Hot Rocks 2, but still in MONO. This info should be noted somewhere, anywhere on the discs, but is not. There is no way for the serious collector to know what version it is, until you listen. This is inexcusable, as it will require buying extra cds with alot of overlapping of songs to get the whole collection.
I am told there is misleading info on ABCKO's website that with a Super Audio player, you can hear this in 5.1. None of the discs are in 5.1 format. The SACD sounds very good on a regular player, but is noticeably better on a Super Audio player.
They could have included release and recording dates and the times of the songs as well.
Its a good thing this is a great album with improved sound and nice digipak, because the lack of info is conspicuous in its absence.

This was the Rolling Stones' third UK album. A different version of the album was released as the group's fourth US album. This UK version features eight covers of R&B and R&R songs, plus four Stones originals. This is really great stuff. It should be noted that while the CD is labeled "Stereo", it is actually in mono.

After living with the US version for many years I thrilled when I found out that the original UK version would be released on SACD. Now with the sonic/proto punk onslaught of "She Said, Yeah" replacing "Mercy, Mercy" as that opening track we have a more complete sounding album than it's US counterpart. Also, taking out the hit singles like "Satisfaction" and "Last Time" keeps it flowing with any abrupt interruptions and allows other "filler" tracks like "Cry To Me" & "Hitch Hike" to be framed in a whole new context.

The sound is in glorious mono and is better for it. No off-putting, sparse mid-sixties mix with the drums on the left channel and guitars on the right, just a centred, tough sounding monophonic mix. The main different between the SACD layer and conventional CD is the bass. The bottom end on the SACD is much louder and fuller. Also the dynamics of the guitars have a bit detail in them, so they cut like switchblades on "She Said, Yeah" (like Richards would have wanted them too). Although most people may be put off by the tape hiss/distortion and occasional murkiness of the recording, this is the best we're going to hear these masters without being sabotaged by "modern" mastering techniques with older albums such as over compression and boosted top ends. Absolutely recommend.