STACK #191 Sep 2020

FEATURE MUSIC

The Rolling Stones – Let It Bleed (1969) The brooding Let It Bleed was

the last Rolling Stones' record to feature Brian Jones, who, struggling with a spiralling drug and alcohol problem, contributed to

just two tracks and was sacked soon after. Opening with the foreboding Gimme Shelter , Let It Bleed is braced with iconic Stones’ numbers like the rock-infused Monkey Man and Live with Me , and live favourite Midnight Rambler , a song loosely based on the Boston Strangler. You Can’t Always Get What You Want concludes the album, succinctly drawing a curtain on the ‘60s flower generation and one of the most inspiring periods for the band. TOP TRACK: Gimme Shelter FAST FACT: Famous British TV cook Delia Smith baked the cake for the cover.

Nirvana – Nevermind (1991) The opening 30 seconds of Breed perfectly encapsulates the attitude

a catchy pop hook. On Nevermind, his songs lurch from the freneticism of the aforementioned Breed to the apocalyptic two-chord sway of Something in the Way

and spirit imbued in Nevermind. Kurt Cobain’s dirty riff collides with Dave Grohl’s charging roll and Krist Novoselic’s tuned-down bass drops in like an artillery barrage – three young energised musicians; three minutes and three seconds of controlled chaos. The band had rehearsed consistently ahead of the sessions, tightening 13 songs for producer Butch Vig to shape into a point at LA’s Sound City Studios in just 16 days. Cobain’s exceptional skills as a songwriter harnessed the power of Black Sabbath’s guitar riffs, the shifting pitch of Pixies, and The Beatles’ ear for

with total coherence; there is no filler. When Vig and the band stumbled on the final sound, the finished album was mixed by Andy Wallace, resulting in a rock record overlaid with a pop veneer, colossal power chords, and contagious melodies. The influential Nevermind opened doors and redefined worlds in a once-in-a-generation moment. TOP TRACK: Lithium FAST FACT: According to Butch Vig, most of the takes for Nevermind were captured in two or three takes.

Incoming! Out 9/10/20 Black Sabbath’s second album, Paranoid , turns 50 this year. How are you going to celebrate? Well you can start with this excellent Super Deluxe Edition. It includes the original album, a rare 1974 Quad Mix of the album folded down to stereo, plus two concerts from 1970 – from Montreux and Brussels – that are pressed on vinyl for the first time. The five-LP set comes with a hardbound book

The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (1966)

Brian Wilson had quit touring with the Beach Boys to spend more time in the studio. Inspired by The Beatles’ Rubber Soul , Wilson laid down most of the tracks to what would become Pet Sounds with accomplished LA session musicians while the band was on tour. Like Lennon and McCartney, Wilson became obsessed with working in the

with extensive liner notes featuring interviews with all four band members, rare photos and memorabilia, a poster, as well as a replica of the tour book sold during the Paranoid tour.

studio, crafting an experimental record layered with lush vocals and orchestration. A prototype concept album, the seminal Pet Sounds – despite being a commercial failure for the Beach Boys – captures the genius of Wilson at the high tide of his creativity. TOP TRACK: God Only Knows FAST FACT: Brian Wilson was only 23 years old when he recorded Pet Sounds.

Quick Tip While record crates certainly look the part, the ubiquitous cube storage units provide the safest solution for keeping your vinyl in top shape.

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