Just in time for that Rolling Stones fan on your holiday shopping list, here’s a 2-CD set that will thrill them. Many of these songs have never been released. And many of these songs show the influence of American blues artists on the early Rolling Stones sound. Also, remember, these songs were recorded with 1960s technology so the sound is primitive on some tracks. But, for a true Rolling Stones fan, On Air is like a Time Machine taking you back to the origins of one of the great rock & roll bands. Do you remember any of these songs? GRADE: B+
TRACK LIST:
Standard edition
No. Title Writer(s) Radio show Date Length
1. “Come On” Chuck Berry Saturday Club 26 October 1963 2:03
2. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” Mick Jagger, Keith Richards Saturday Club 18 September 1965 3:46
3. “Roll Over Beethoven” Chuck Berry Saturday Club 26 October 1963 2:19
4. “The Spider and the Fly” Mick Jagger, Keith Richards Yeah Yeah 30 August 1965 3:14
5. “Cops and Robbers” Kent Harris Blues in Rhythm 9 May 1964 3:44
6. “It’s All Over Now” Bobby Womack, Shirley Womack The Joe Loss Pop Show 17 July 1964 3:18
7. “Route 66” Bobby Troup Blues in Rhythm 9 May 1964 2:32
8. “Memphis, Tennessee” Chuck Berry Saturday Club 26 October 1963 2:22
9. “Down the Road a Piece” Don Raye Top Gear 6 March 1965 2:01
10. “The Last Time” Mick Jagger, Keith Richards Top Gear 6 March 1965 3:10
11. “Cry to Me” Bert Berns Saturday Club 18 September 1965 3:07
12. “Mercy, Mercy” Don Covay, Ronald Miller Yeah Yeah 30 August 1965 2:54
13. “Oh! Baby (We Got a Good Thing Goin’)” Barbara Lynn Saturday Club 18 September 1965 1:49
14. “Around and Around” Chuck Berry Top Gear 23 July 1964 2:45
15. “Hi-Heel Sneakers” Tommy Tucker Saturday Club 18 April 1964 1:56
16. “Fannie Mae” Buster Brown, Clarence L. Lewis, Bobby Robinson Saturday Club 18 September 1965 2:11
17. “You Better Move On” Arthur Alexander Blues in Rhythm 9 May 1964 2:46
18. “Mona” Bo Diddley Blues in Rhythm 9 May 1964 2:58
Deluxe bonus tracks
No. Title Writer(s) Radio show Date Length
1. “I Wanna Be Your Man” John Lennon, Paul McCartney Saturday Club 8 February 1964 1:52
2. “Carol” Chuck Berry Saturday Club 18 April 1964 2:31
3. “I’m Moving On” Hank Snow The Joe Loss Pop Show 10 April 1964 2:06
4. “If You Need Me” Wilson Pickett, Sonny Sanders, Robert Bateman The Joe Loss Pop Show 17 July 1964 2:01
5. “Walking the Dog” Rufus Thomas Saturday Club 8 February 1964 2:59
6. “Confessin’ the Blues” Jay McShann, Walter Brown The Joe Loss Pop Show 17 July 1964 2:26
7. “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” Solomon Burke, Bert Berns, Jerry Wexler Top Gear 6 March 1965 3:34
8. “Little by Little” Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Phil Spector The Joe Loss Pop Show 10 April 1964 2:30
9. “Ain’t That Lovin’ You, Baby” Jimmy Reed Rhythm and Blues 31 October 1964 1:56
10. “Beautiful Delilah” Chuck Berry Saturday Club 18 April 1964 2:10
11. “Crackin’ Up” Bo Diddley Top Gear 23 July 1964 2:16
12. “I Can’t Be Satisfied” Muddy Waters Top Gear 23 July 1964 2:30
13. “I Just Want to Make Love to You” Willie Dixon Saturday Club 18 April 1964 2:16
14. “2120 South Michigan Avenue” Nanker Phelge Rhythm and Blues 31 October 1964 3:47
A number of them are familiar, of course—but I have to hear their version of “Route 66@. I wonder if it rivals my favorite cover version—Depeche Mode’s.
Deb, I’m sure you’re on Santa’s Good List so ON AIR might show up under your Christmas tree!
I see a lot of Chuck Berry covers there. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Jeff, it’s clear that Chuck Berry had a huge influence on the Stones.
If I remember correctly Chuck Berry did a tour (or several?) in Britain with young British musicians accompanying him – for cost reasons they did send him (and other Blues singers) over alone and got local musicians to play!
So some young ones played with him who became famous later and I’m sure the Stones saw and heard him in his concerts.
Btw wiki has a lot of info on Chuck and his records – here e g:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Berry_Is_on_Top
Wolf, thanks for the link! Clearly, the early Stones were very influenced by Chuck Berry’s music.
Sad how few of them are familiar. Where was I during those years?
Patti, the Sixties are a fog for a lot of people.
I have this. With a couple exceptions they stayed away from their own songs although a lot of them were recorded for BBC broadcasts. Good cd for Stones fans.
Steve, I’ll bet we may see another BBC music CD from the Stones around this time next year!
How young they look!!!
BTW, I saw the Donna Summer musical recently, and loved it. Saw it will be going to Broadway
Also saw and loved Spamilton. I highly recommend it. Just wish I’d seen it after Hamilton, not before
Maggie, I love Donna Summer and her music. I’ll go see the musical if it comes to Buffalo. Hamilton arrives here in 2018. I’d like to see SPAMILTON, too!
I didn’t know they had done any Beatles songs. Might be fun, but I’ll stick with the Gorilla double CD.
Rick, these BBC songs are really for completists and hard-core Stones fans.
When I was in a band we did Chuck Berry and a lot of English Invasion groups–limited by my poor vocal abilities, of course! I remember a lot of these songs!
Bob, you would love ON AIR! Ask Santa to bring you a copy!