December 1965 - June 1966: A Bloody Novelty Record

Pictured above: The Beatles' Rubber Soul, 1965.

The release of Rubber Soul on December 3rd, 1965 resulted in hailing by critics who saw it as a growth in maturity and complexion of The Beatles' sound. Taking elements of pop, soul and rock alike, it truly was a step forward for the band after merely two years since their first record.

Among the many people who listened to the album, was none other than primary songwriter and keyboardist of The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson.

"Oh... when I first heard it [Rubber Soul], I said 'I wanna make an album like that', where all the songs seem to be like a collection of full songs. And uh, we did Pet Sounds."

- Brian Wilson, 1998.

While The Beatles saw major success and musical maturity with the release of Rubber Soul, and Brain Wilson started work on Pet Sounds, one of their contemporaries, The Rolling Stones, was occupied recording new material they composed at Hollywood's RCA Studios.

Pictured above: The Rolling Stones in studio, early 1966.

At least nine songs came out of these sessions, almost enough to make an entire album. Not only were there multiple songs, but these songs had multiple exotic additions by guitarist Brian Jones. Being bored of simply playing guitar, he picked up mutliple unusual instruments, giving the songs a proto-psychedelic vibe.

Being impressed with the songs, the band's manager Andrew Loog Oldham wanted to release these songs as soon as possible, along with a tenth song, an outtake of the Out of Our Heads sessions, called Looking Tired, in March as Could You Walk on The Water?.

"When they heard the name of the record, 'Could You Walk on The Water?', the people at Decca thought we were insane for wanting to release an album called that in the US, thinking it was almost blasphemous. I don't get it myself, but each to their own really."

- Brian Jones, 1968

 By a Riverside

Side A

- 01. 19th Nervous Breakdown (3:58) [1]

- 02. Sad Day (3:02) [2]

- 03. Take It or Leave It (2:47) [3]

- 04. Think (3:16) [3]

- 05. Mother's Little Helper (2:46) [3]

Side B

- 06. Goin' Home (11:19) [3]

- 07. Sittin' on a Fence (3:02) [4]

- 08. Doncha Bother Me (2:41) [3]

- 09. Ride On, Baby (3:00) [4]

- 10. Looking Tired (2:15) [5]

Released: April 3rd, 1966 (US)

Track sources:

[1] - Singles 1965-1967

[2] - Stray Cats - In Mono Boxset

[3] - Aftermath, 1966

[4] - Flowers, 1967

[5] - More Stoned Than You'll Ever Be - Bootleg, 2009

"Instead of the album title we suggested, 'Could You Walk on The Water?', they took a look at the photos we did in that reservoir in California and then suggested 'By a Riverside'. I then said 'By a Riverside? Sounds like a bloody novelty record!'. Eventually though Andrew [Oldham] convinced us to cave in and just release it with that name. I'm not happy about it, but hey after The Beatles' whole bigger than Jesus fiasco, I'm glad we didn't call it that."

- Mick Jagger, 1966

One day before releasing By a Riverside, the band returned to RCA Studios and recorded a new batch of songs. These were later included in the American version of The Rolling Stones' second 1966 album released a month after the previous one, called Aftermath. Despite having less songs, it is generally considered the better American 1966 release. In the UK, the album was essentially a combination of the songs recorded during the second RCA sessions (sans Paint It Black, which was released as a single), and the best songs from the first sessions (with the leftover songs being released as singles and B-sides).

 Aftermath (UK)

Side A

- 01. Mother's Little Helper (2:45) [1]

- 02. Stupid Girl (2:56) [1]

- 03. Lady Jane (3:08) [1]

- 04. Under My Thumb (3:42) [1]

- 05. Doncha Bother Me (2:41) [1]

- 06. Goin' Home (11:14) [1]

Side B

- 07. Flight 505 (3:27) [1]

- 08. High and Dry (3:08) [1]

- 09. Out of Time (5:37) [1]

- 10. It's Not Easy (2:56) [1]

- 11. I Am Waiting (3:11) [1]

- 12. Take It or Leave It (2:47) [1]

- 13. Think (3:09) [1]

- 14. What to Do (2:32) [1] 

Released: April 15th, 1966 (UK)

Track sources:

[1] - Aftermath, 1966

Aftermath (US)

Side A

- 01. Paint It Black (3:22) [1]

- 02. Stupid Girl (2:56) [1/2]

- 03. Lady Jane (3:08) [1/2]

- 04. Under My Thumb (3:42) [1/2]

- 05. What To Do (2:32) [2]

- 06. Long, Long While (3:00) [3]

Side B

- 07. Flight 505 (3:27) [1/2]

- 08. High and Dry (3:08) [1/2]

- 09. It's Not Easy (2:56) [1/2]

- 10. I Am Waiting (3:11) [1/2]

- 11. If You Let Me (3:18) [4]

- 12. Out of Time (5:37) [2]

Released: June 20th, 1996

Track sources:

[1] - Aftermath, 1966 (US Version)

[2] - Aftermath, 1966 (UK Version)

[3] - No Stone Unturned, 1973

[4] - Metamorphosis, 1975