In the early days of The Rolling Stones, there was no organized effort to record songs for albums. Instead, the band was furiously tearing out songs during day-long studio sessions and releasing them in whatever format seemed right at the time.
From late 1964 through early 1965, the band put out a UK EP titled 5 X 5, an expanded U.S. version titled 12 X 5, a UK album titled The Rolling Stones No. 2, and a U.S. album titled The Rolling Stones, Now! They also released ten singles.
My friends, the time has come for another deep dive, wherein I work chronologically through an artist’s career by featuring songs from each of their studio albums. To date, I have covered the work of Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, Madonna and Bob Marley.
That list got me thinking it was time I covered a band, and the band I’ve chosen to explore is The Rolling Stones. In terms of success, influence, longevity, and iconic output, I can’t think of an act more deserving of the honor.
And my timing couldn’t be better, as The Stones just last week announced the upcoming release of their first album of original material in 18 years, Hackney Diamonds.
Today’s post wraps up my deep dive on Lana Del Rey but I hope my readers are ready for more. Next week I’m moving on to her newest release, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, which dropped today.
For both logistical reasons and because I’m very excited about the album, I will be giving the record the ‘full tracklist’ treatment, dissecting its songs in order on the blog over the next few weeks.
After a steady diet of an album every other year, Lana Del Rey surprised everyone by dropping a second record just six months after Chemtrails over the Country Club. The pair of folk rock releases drew a neat parallel to Taylor Swift’s folklore/evermore duo the previous year.
Blue Bannisters came out in October of 2021 with very little fanfare and almost no promotion by Del Rey herself. She says she designed the album as a response to criticism aimed at her over the years, and as a glimpse at the troubled human being behind the pop star.
The result is the most gorgeous therapy session you’ll ever hear.
Lana Del Rey had a tough act to follow after the orgasmic reception to Norman Fucking Rockwell and she responded to the challenge by delivering her quietest and most personal record yet. 2021’s Chemtrails Over the Country Club strips away any hints of modern pop present in its predecessor and doubles down on the atmospheric folk.
Some fans decried the continued move away from the trip-hop trappings of her early work, somehow unsatisfied with the bounty of beautiful songs Del Rey was delivering. I’ll take gorgeous acoustic melancholy any day over just about anything else, so this album is right in my sweet spot.
Meet Me In Montauk 