England's Newest Hitmakers, Rolling Stones, 1964, :31
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The American edition of the originally eponymous debut of the Rolling Stones. The World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band is here, inchoate, a rather inessential blues cover band. "Route 66" and "I Just Want To Make Love To You" are fine, but not exactly remade in new blazing glory. The remake of Berry's "Carol" is pretty good, though the handclaps are bit distracting. People fall all over themselves praising this album in retrospect, but to me it's a pub band covering and imitating great songs, and adding very little of value. Favorite tracks: "Not Fade Away," "Can I Get a Witness."
