Rolling Stones play The Roundhouse, London, UK in 1971. © Pete Smith
Next month sees the 50th anniversary reissue of the Rolling Stones psych record Their Satanic Majesties Request—it’s being released by record label Abkco. Originally released in December 1967, following the Summer of Love, it saw the band branch out into psychedelia, tapping into the lysergic sound and vibe of the time. The album’s unusual title was a pun on a line that featured on the inside of British passports at the time which stated, “Her Britannic Majesties Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Requests and Requires”
The experimental album was somewhat controversial when released though, not only did it see the band move away from their bluesy roots that had made them stars, it was thought of as uneven. Something that the fraught recording process couldn’t have helped.
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones were all having personal issues at the time (Anita Pallenberg, Jones’ girlfriend left him for Richards), and all were fighting drug charges. During the recording their manager and producer Andrew Loog Oldham quit too, after the band members continually turned up at the Olympic recording Studios in Barnes, West London with an entourage of hangers on and freeloaders who hindered the creative and recording processes.
Standing on the Thames during the first photo shoot, a very young looking Rolling Stones in 1963. © Philip Townsend
Speaking about recording the album Bill Wyman wrote in 2002’s Rolling with the Stones, “The making of this album was THE rock 'n' roll circus, well before we had the idea of a real one. Every day at the studio it was a lottery as to who would turn up and what - if any - positive contribution they would make when they did. Keith would arrive with anything up to ten people, Brian with another half-a-dozen and it was the same for Mick. They were assorted girlfriends and friends. I hated it! Then again, so did Andrew (Oldham) and just gave up on it. There were times when I wish I could have done, too.”
It still remains a controversial record even now, but perhaps not the catastrophe it was once thought of. It was also released not long after The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, so obviously parallels were drawn and they weren’t good for the Rolling Stones. It’s an album that even the band members have distanced themselves from too, Keith Richards has called Their Satanic Majesties Request “a load of crap.” But some songs received praise, one of which was “2000 Light Years From Home.”
Rolling Stones 'Their Satanic Majesties Request'' 50th anniversary special edition vinyl. Image courtesy of Rolling Stones / Abkco Records.
The Abkco reissue, which will be released on 22 September and will come as a double vinyl or double CD with a fully restored 3D lenticular of Michael Cooper’s iconic cover art, comes at a time with many now reappraising the album.
Gene Simmons has called it an “underrated Stones record” and even the recording sessions, although shambolic, are seen as having been a good time at least. “The sessions were a lot of fun because you could do anything. It was so druggy—acid and all that.” notes Charlie Watts in the reissue’s press release. The press release also notes that The Damned, Bad Brains, KISS and Arcade Fire have all covered songs from the album.
Mick Jagger onstage in Hyde Park, London with The Rolling Stones at the 'Stones in the Park' Festival in July 1969. © Peter Sanders
Uncut have called it “a neglected psychedelic masterpiece” and in the liner notes Grammy award-winning music historian Rob Bowman writes, “Their Satanic Majesties Request should be recognised as an important stepping stone in the Rolling Stones’ development from an r&b-inspired band to the inventors of modern rock for the 1970s.”
Check out the new music video for “2000 Light Years From Home” below.
Rockarchive is delighted to be able to offer these iconic Rolling Stones images as limited edition photographic prints which you can buy here.
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band who were in the vanguard of the British music Invasion that became popular in the US in 1964–65.
Mick Jagger making a guest appearance with Billy Preston at the Rainbow Theatre. He wore blue eye-shadow and a white suit
Beautiful Bob Gruen photograph of Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones playing guitar in New York in 1972.
The Stones having a quick smoke before their appearance on 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' at ATV studios in Birmingham.
Keith Richards performing at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 1989 during The Rolling Stones Steel Wheel Tour
I concentrated on getting a good picture of Kieth and this is it. His assistant bought one so I must have caught something special!
Does she still like The Stones?. Outside 113 Cheyne Walk. Later Mick, Charlie and Bill all got houses in the area.
Don’t try this now as you would probably drown. Standing on the Thames during the first photo shoot.
One of the shots from the very first photo shoot in early 1963. Taken five days after Andrew Loog Oldham signed the band.
This was the second and last time that the Stones wore these check jackets.
The Rolling Stones shooting the video for 'I Go Wild' in Mexico City in January 1995
Keith Richards and Mick Jagger performing onstage with The Rollihg Stones at Foro Sol, Mexico City in February 1998
Charlie Wats, drummer with The Rolling Stones, captured in his room in the Halcyon Hotel, London in March 1991
Mick Jagger & Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones performing live at the legendary Madison Square Gardens, New York in July 1972
Hyde Park, July 1969 Mick Jagger performs onstage at 'Stones in the Park' just two days after the death of former band member Brian Jones
Glastonbury Festival June 2013, Mick Jagger headlining with the Rolling Stones on the Pyramid Stage
Los Angeles October 1989, Keith Richards performs onstage on The Rolling Stones Steel Wheels Tour
Keith Richards performing with The Rolling Stones onstage at the Feyenoordstadion Rotterdam, Holland in August 2003
I heard The Rolling Stones were doing a gig at the Roundhouse. I didn’t have ticket or pass. Waving my camera I blagged my way in
I heard The Rolling Stones were doing a gig at the Roundhouse. I didn’t have ticket or pass. Waving my camera I blagged my way in
I heard The Rolling Stones were doing a gig at the Roundhouse. I didn’t have ticket or pass. Waving my camera I blagged my way in
I heard The Rolling Stones were doing a gig at the Roundhouse. I didn’t have ticket or pass. Waving my camera I blagged my way in
Charlie Watts onstage with the Rolling Stones in LA 1989 during their highly regarded Steel Wheels Tour
Rolling Stones onstage on their celebrated Steel Wheels Tour in Los Angeles in October 1989
Pete Smith was a roady with Alexis Korner when friend John Mayall asked, “Pete, you’ve got a camera, come & shoot our record sleeve".
As the 60' swung & Britain subverted the old order, Philip Townsend (known as ‘Mr Sixties’) captured many of the stars of the decade.
Peter Sanders' professional career in photography began in the sixties where he photographed most of the major stars in the music business.
