Aftermath UK [Remaster] by Rolling Stones (The) (CD, Aug-2002, ABKCO Records)

This is the UK version, so there are a few differences from the US version. For one, Paint It Black is missing, replaced with Mother's Little Helper. It has Out Of Time, Take It Or Leave It, and What To Do; which are all missing from the US version. So if you're going to try to complete the Stones collection (unless you want both UK and US versions), make sure you read the description before you buy, because they put songs on different albums with regard to whether it's the UK or US version. No big deal because they're pretty much all there just in different spots, but you have to chose one way or the other (UK or US). What I mean by this is if you buy the UK version of this one and the US version of another of their early albums, you'll probably overlap on some songs and miss out on some. So unless you're a serious collector and want both versions, choose one or the other for all your Stones albums (UK or US), and you'll be fine.

OK, hope that made sense. Anyway, this is as good as it gets for early albums from the Stones. Mother's Little Helper, Think, and Stupid Girl are all excellent tracks from this album, and Under My Thumb is one of their top 10 songs of all time, which says a lot considering the grandeur of the Rolling Stones. The rest of the album is very good as well, Flight 505 is a knock-off of Route 66 on one of their early albums, same goes for High and Dry. They're just nice songs that are kind of bluesy folksy, kind of like Route 66, but not quite. Doncha Bother Me is an excellent slower blues song, with some cool slide guitar and Mick does a nice job singing on this one as well. The whole album is kind of like this, which isn't a bad thing. They take blues and rock it up a little, and play and sing it perfectly.

This is an excellent album to add to your collection. Again, just make sure you go the right way buying them (contact the seller for track listing just to make sure). If you buy the UK version of this one and US version of another, you might miss out on Paint It Black. Vice versa and you could miss out on Mother's Little Helper among others. These are two songs that I don't think you want missing from your collection if you're a Stones fan.

The early Stones work has always been great music, but it wasn't really good sound, at least on CD. This ABKCO Remaster fixes that. Taken from the original studio master tapes (not worn-out production tapes), and converted to full 24-bit digital files that actually take advantage of all the CD has to offer. Unlike the first CDs of the Stones (or Zeppelin for that matter) which were sloppily rushed out, using bad vinyl masters. Those with high-end equipment will get a rich, nearly live sound. Not surprising, considering mastering ace Bob Ludwig did the remastering for CD. Plus this is the UK release, so it has all the tracks originally released, and in the right order. My only nit is the lacking liner booklet. A little history, etc. would have been nice. Still, if like the early Stones, this is really worth getting.