The Rolling Stones’ Album ‘Out of Our Heads’ Celebrates 60th Anniversary

The 60th anniversary of The Rolling Stones’ groundbreaking album ‘Out of Our Heads’ is being celebrated this week. Initially released in the US on July 30, 1965, followed by a UK release on September 24 of the same year, the album solidified the band’s international success.

During this period, The Rolling Stones were often compared to The Beatles, who had already reimagined the British rock and pop scene. While the Stones’ early albums drew heavily from American R&B and blues, ‘Out of Our Heads’ marked a significant departure as it blended respect for their musical influences with a bold step towards establishing their unique sound.

The album’s release was peculiar due to the customary practice of UK and US record labels modifying albums for different markets in the 1960s. The US version, released by London Records in July 1965, was the band’s fourth American album, while the UK version, issued by Decca two months later, was their third. Both editions featured distinct track listings and album covers, ensuring that importing both versions did not result in purchasing duplicates.

The US release of ‘Out of Our Heads’ stood out due to the inclusion of the game-changing track “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” Not only did this single reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but it also achieved global success, showcasing the songwriting prowess of Jagger and Richards. This moment marked a significant shift, proving that The Rolling Stones could create hits that rivaled the American artists they had admired and covered.

While ‘Out of Our Heads’ continued to feature covers of American rhythm and blues, soul, and early rock and roll tracks, the Stones approached them with a fresh perspective. By infusing songs like Marvin Gaye’s “Hitch Hike,” Solomon Burke’s “Cry to Me,” and Sam Cooke’s “Good Times” with a raw, guitar-driven energy, the band transformed these classics into edgier, urgent interpretations that were unmistakably their own.

In the UK version, the album kicked off with the frenetic proto-punk anthem “She Said Yeah,” hinting at the band’s evolution towards a harder rock sound. Conversely, their rendition of “That’s How Strong My Love Is” showcased a vulnerable and multifaceted side of the group not commonly associated with their early rebellious image. Critics of that era lauded the album’s balance of heartfelt tributes to soul music alongside assertive original compositions.

‘The Last Time,’ the Stones’ first UK single credited solely to Jagger and Richards, signaled a newfound independence in their songwriting. Tracks like “Play With Fire,” featuring Phil Spector on guitar, hinted at the band’s inclination towards darker, experimental music, foreshadowing the creative directions they would later explore. And of course, the explosive impact of “Satisfaction” with its gritty guitar riff solidified its status as a timeless rock classic.

In the United States, ‘Out of Our Heads’ became The Rolling Stones’ maiden number-one album, propelled by the success of “Satisfaction” and eventually achieving platinum status. In contrast, the album peaked at number two in the UK, trailing The Beatles’ ‘Help!’ on the charts, fueling the ongoing musical rivalry between the two iconic bands that was heavily sensationalized in the media.

While critics debate on which version flows better as a cohesive album, both the UK and US editions of ‘Out of Our Heads’ exemplify a transitional phase for The Rolling Stones. Half-rooted in the blues clubs of London and rapidly emerging as a major creative force in popular music, the album represents a pivotal moment where the band straddled their musical influences while venturing into uncharted territory.

‘Out of Our Heads’ served as the final Stones UK release heavily reliant on rhythm and blues covers. Their subsequent album, ‘Aftermath’ (1966), was entirely composed by Jagger and Richards, marking a permanent departure from their previous sound. However, ‘Out of Our Heads’ created the necessary bridge, demonstrating that while honoring their musical origins, The Rolling Stones were venturing towards forging their own distinct musical identity.