Silvertone Records / Sony Music
It's often hard to believe that's it's been twenty years since these singles were first unleashed on a somewhat unsuspecting public, sure there'd been a buzz but there was no magical foresight that could predict just how import these releases were going to be and just how much of a legacy they would leave for a band that reached their peak as soon as they begun only leaving them with one way to go afterwards.
The Stone Roses came along at a time when music was dipping. It was either Stock, Aitken, and Waterman or the rave culture that was sweeping the country, there didn't seem to be the room for 'proper' music any more but the 'Roses changed all that with their 1989 landmark debut eponymous album, now so often cited as one of, if not THE greatest album of our time.
The new releases set to mark the anniversary of the debut come in various shapes, sizes, and formats but here we have the singles collection, a lavish box set that contains five 7" singles, one released per week leading up to the album re-release. The box will come with 5 John Squire 7" art prints one for each of the following singles that you will collect. It's a neat and compact little collection and is reasonably priced when compared to other releases of it's kind. I got the whole thing for £25.99 but lets not talk money, lets talk music, lets talk The Stone Roses.
ELEPHANT STONE - Released 6th July
Side One - Elephant Stone (03.04)
Side Two - The Hardest Thing In The World (02.41)
iTunes Exclusive - Untitled 1 (Previously Unreleased)
Originally released in October 1988 'Elephant Stone' is quintessential 'Roses with it's immediately recognisable squalling intro that gives way to those oft imitated, yet seemingly simplistic Reni pounded drums and John Squire's shimmering but scything guitar hooks. Ian Brown sings in his usual drawl that in this instance shows his youthful exuberance. He sings "Down through the heavens" whilst we all sit transfixed on this spiralling track that just takes off whilst at around two minutes we find it slowing allowing Brown to almost whisper to us before those thunderclap drums return to be sprinkled with the sparkle from Squire's entrancing fretwork.
The Stone Roses seemed to have mastered the art (since claimed by Oasis) of releasing b-sides that are the equal if not better than the lead track before anyone else and here we get a prime example. 'The Hardest Thing In The World' is again built around the incessant thumping of Reni whose rhythm was so key to the success of the 'Roses, the track just seems so effortless and is just embarrassing really in it's deft execution. With this track you get a sense of it really just being four local lads singing about their everyday existence and the clamour for something more out of life as if the hardest thing in the world is just living life.
MADE OF STONE - Released 13th July
Side One - Made Of Stone (04.18)
Side Two - Going Down (02.48)
iTunes Exclusive - Untitled 2 (Previously Unreleased)
'Made Of Stone' released in March '89 is perhaps more famous for it's aborted appearance on BBC's The Late Show that led to Ian Brown regaling in a chorus of "Amateurs!". The track is a more mellow affair before the chorus which is a fine piece of 'Roses lyrics something that maybe gets overlooked. "Sometimes I fantasise / When the streets are cold and lonely / And the cars they burn below me / Don’t these times fill your eyes / When the streets are cold and lonely / And the cars they burn below me / Are you all alone / Is anybody home?" paints a fine picture of Manchester or anywhere for that matter circa the eighties. Again it's filled with Squire's intricate guitar that here stands tall like a skyscraper and is complimented with propelled effects.
With 'Going Down' there is a much more genteel approach in order to create something akin to a sixties pop ditty with it's Mersey-beat guitar and talk of Squire idol Jackson Pollack. "Passion looks like a painting, Jackson Pollock's No. 5" an influence on all 'Roses artwork. It's a simplistic track but is a sign of the dynamic of The Stone Roses.
Live Blackpool Empress Ballroom '89
SHE BANGS THE DRUMS - Released 20th July
Side One - She Bangs The Drums (03.53)
Side Two - Standing Here (05.09)
iTunes Exclusive - Untitled 3 (Previously Unreleased)
Released in July '89 'She Bangs The Drums' gave The Stone Roses their first Top 40 hit and again shows the necessity of both Reni and Mani in the drive behind The Stone Roses songs. With the bass much more prominent here along with a heavier, grittier Squire guitar that still manages to maintain some of it's summery exuberance. The lyrics almost make it seem like The Stone Roses first love song it's ballad-esque though obviously not in Brown's delivery which is still much sweeter and soulful than usual as he delivers lines like "Have you seen her have you heard / The way she plays there are no words / To describe the way I feel / How could it ever come to pass / She’ll be the first she’ll be the last / To describe the way I feel / The way I feel".
'Standing Here' really grunts into existence with a riff almost like a dirty Clapton rip-off that soon segues into a march and again another track that is almost a paean to the opposite sex "I'm standing here / I really don't think you know that I'm in heaven when you smile" is a beautiful little lyric. I think that it's only it's length and repetition that possibly kept it off the album as it's a great track especially so with it's two minute outro that's actually quite delicate despite it's lyrics "I could park a juggernaut / In your mouth / And I can feel a hurricane / When you shout".
Live Blackpool Empress Ballroom '89
FOOLS GOLD - Released 27th July
Side One - Fools Gold (04.18 edit)
Side Two - What The World Is Waiting For (03.55)
iTunes Exclusive - Untitled 4 (Previously Unreleased)
"The gold road’s sure a long road
Winds on through the hills for fifteen days"
What can you possibly say about 'Fools Gold' that hasn't already been said? It was a benchmark moment for The Stone Roses and was released as the B-side only to quickly be shifted to A-side status after garnering rave reviews and constant airplay as such resulting in The Stone Roses first Top Ten hit in November '89.
Focusing on more of a dance rhythm that again showcased Mani and Reni who deliver one of the most instantly recognisable rhythm sections ever with it's funk groove and almost African beat. John Squire also unleashed his wah-wah to aid the groove nature of the track whilst Ian Brown just whispered his vocals in an almost lackadaisical fashion that just complimented the blissed out feel of the track delivering lines like "These boots were made for walking / The Marquis de Sade don’t wear no boots like these" that are ridiculous yet you pay no heed as you are just gently "bezzing" out to the tune.
Not even featured on the debut album 'Fools Gold' can still lay claim to being probably the most recognisable Stone Roses track of all time and to think they originally only deemed it a B-side.
ONE LOVE - Released 3rd August
Side One - One Love (03.31)
Side Two - Something's Burning (03.39)
iTunes Exclusive - Untitled 5 (Previously Unreleased)
Another non-album single 'One Love' saw the light of day in July 1990 and became The Stone Roses biggest hit reaching no.4 in the UK and it continued the 'Fools Gold' route of going for more of a dance groove with it's shuffling rhythm. This time however, it's Squire that leads the way with his razor-like guitar cutting through the track with it's juddering riffs and a more insistent delivery. Ian Brown on the other hand throws down lyrics that are seemingly from some sort of sixties hippy commune "I'm no dog I'm a dolphin" and the shout it loud happiness of the chorus "One love we don’t need another love / One love one heart and one soul / We can have it all / Easy peasy".
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses : 20th Anniversary
The Stone Roses came along at a time when music was dipping. It was either Stock, Aitken, and Waterman or the rave culture that was sweeping the country, there didn't seem to be the room for 'proper' music any more but the 'Roses changed all that with their 1989 landmark debut eponymous album, now so often cited as one of, if not THE greatest album of our time.
The new releases set to mark the anniversary of the debut come in various shapes, sizes, and formats but here we have the singles collection, a lavish box set that contains five 7" singles, one released per week leading up to the album re-release. The box will come with 5 John Squire 7" art prints one for each of the following singles that you will collect. It's a neat and compact little collection and is reasonably priced when compared to other releases of it's kind. I got the whole thing for £25.99 but lets not talk money, lets talk music, lets talk The Stone Roses.
ELEPHANT STONE - Released 6th July
Side One - Elephant Stone (03.04)
Side Two - The Hardest Thing In The World (02.41)
iTunes Exclusive - Untitled 1 (Previously Unreleased)
Originally released in October 1988 'Elephant Stone' is quintessential 'Roses with it's immediately recognisable squalling intro that gives way to those oft imitated, yet seemingly simplistic Reni pounded drums and John Squire's shimmering but scything guitar hooks. Ian Brown sings in his usual drawl that in this instance shows his youthful exuberance. He sings "Down through the heavens" whilst we all sit transfixed on this spiralling track that just takes off whilst at around two minutes we find it slowing allowing Brown to almost whisper to us before those thunderclap drums return to be sprinkled with the sparkle from Squire's entrancing fretwork.
The Stone Roses seemed to have mastered the art (since claimed by Oasis) of releasing b-sides that are the equal if not better than the lead track before anyone else and here we get a prime example. 'The Hardest Thing In The World' is again built around the incessant thumping of Reni whose rhythm was so key to the success of the 'Roses, the track just seems so effortless and is just embarrassing really in it's deft execution. With this track you get a sense of it really just being four local lads singing about their everyday existence and the clamour for something more out of life as if the hardest thing in the world is just living life.
MADE OF STONE - Released 13th July
Side One - Made Of Stone (04.18)
Side Two - Going Down (02.48)
iTunes Exclusive - Untitled 2 (Previously Unreleased)
'Made Of Stone' released in March '89 is perhaps more famous for it's aborted appearance on BBC's The Late Show that led to Ian Brown regaling in a chorus of "Amateurs!". The track is a more mellow affair before the chorus which is a fine piece of 'Roses lyrics something that maybe gets overlooked. "Sometimes I fantasise / When the streets are cold and lonely / And the cars they burn below me / Don’t these times fill your eyes / When the streets are cold and lonely / And the cars they burn below me / Are you all alone / Is anybody home?" paints a fine picture of Manchester or anywhere for that matter circa the eighties. Again it's filled with Squire's intricate guitar that here stands tall like a skyscraper and is complimented with propelled effects.
With 'Going Down' there is a much more genteel approach in order to create something akin to a sixties pop ditty with it's Mersey-beat guitar and talk of Squire idol Jackson Pollack. "Passion looks like a painting, Jackson Pollock's No. 5" an influence on all 'Roses artwork. It's a simplistic track but is a sign of the dynamic of The Stone Roses.
SHE BANGS THE DRUMS - Released 20th July
Side One - She Bangs The Drums (03.53)
Side Two - Standing Here (05.09)
iTunes Exclusive - Untitled 3 (Previously Unreleased)
Released in July '89 'She Bangs The Drums' gave The Stone Roses their first Top 40 hit and again shows the necessity of both Reni and Mani in the drive behind The Stone Roses songs. With the bass much more prominent here along with a heavier, grittier Squire guitar that still manages to maintain some of it's summery exuberance. The lyrics almost make it seem like The Stone Roses first love song it's ballad-esque though obviously not in Brown's delivery which is still much sweeter and soulful than usual as he delivers lines like "Have you seen her have you heard / The way she plays there are no words / To describe the way I feel / How could it ever come to pass / She’ll be the first she’ll be the last / To describe the way I feel / The way I feel".
'Standing Here' really grunts into existence with a riff almost like a dirty Clapton rip-off that soon segues into a march and again another track that is almost a paean to the opposite sex "I'm standing here / I really don't think you know that I'm in heaven when you smile" is a beautiful little lyric. I think that it's only it's length and repetition that possibly kept it off the album as it's a great track especially so with it's two minute outro that's actually quite delicate despite it's lyrics "I could park a juggernaut / In your mouth / And I can feel a hurricane / When you shout".
FOOLS GOLD - Released 27th July
Side One - Fools Gold (04.18 edit)
Side Two - What The World Is Waiting For (03.55)
iTunes Exclusive - Untitled 4 (Previously Unreleased)
"The gold road’s sure a long road
Winds on through the hills for fifteen days"
What can you possibly say about 'Fools Gold' that hasn't already been said? It was a benchmark moment for The Stone Roses and was released as the B-side only to quickly be shifted to A-side status after garnering rave reviews and constant airplay as such resulting in The Stone Roses first Top Ten hit in November '89.
Focusing on more of a dance rhythm that again showcased Mani and Reni who deliver one of the most instantly recognisable rhythm sections ever with it's funk groove and almost African beat. John Squire also unleashed his wah-wah to aid the groove nature of the track whilst Ian Brown just whispered his vocals in an almost lackadaisical fashion that just complimented the blissed out feel of the track delivering lines like "These boots were made for walking / The Marquis de Sade don’t wear no boots like these" that are ridiculous yet you pay no heed as you are just gently "bezzing" out to the tune.
Not even featured on the debut album 'Fools Gold' can still lay claim to being probably the most recognisable Stone Roses track of all time and to think they originally only deemed it a B-side.
ONE LOVE - Released 3rd August
Side One - One Love (03.31)
Side Two - Something's Burning (03.39)
iTunes Exclusive - Untitled 5 (Previously Unreleased)
Another non-album single 'One Love' saw the light of day in July 1990 and became The Stone Roses biggest hit reaching no.4 in the UK and it continued the 'Fools Gold' route of going for more of a dance groove with it's shuffling rhythm. This time however, it's Squire that leads the way with his razor-like guitar cutting through the track with it's juddering riffs and a more insistent delivery. Ian Brown on the other hand throws down lyrics that are seemingly from some sort of sixties hippy commune "I'm no dog I'm a dolphin" and the shout it loud happiness of the chorus "One love we don’t need another love / One love one heart and one soul / We can have it all / Easy peasy".
The Stone Roses mean a lot of things to a lot of people and came along at a time where they were needed, without them there would be no Britpop (sometimes not a bad thing), no La's (so no Cast thankfully), and the list goes on. It's a shame that they left the shameful legacy of that Reading performance before bowing out but when you put these records on and take them all one at a time it becomes clear just how special The Stone Roses truly where. There's just an effortlessness that's to be found in the likes of 'Elephant Stone' and 'She Bangs The Drums' whilst 'Fools Gold' showed that they had taken notice of the Hacienda and delivered the crossover track that the masses wanted to hear.
This singles collection is a stark reminder of The Stone Roses brilliance and I can't wait for the 20th anniversary album re-issue so I can delve back into my past and relive some of the good times that The Stone Roses sound tracked for me.
This singles collection is a stark reminder of The Stone Roses brilliance and I can't wait for the 20th anniversary album re-issue so I can delve back into my past and relive some of the good times that The Stone Roses sound tracked for me.
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses : 20th Anniversary
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