Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Rolling Stones - Some Girls (1978)

“Some Girls” by The Rolling Stones (1978)

Release date: June 8, 1978
Produced by The Glimmer Twins (aka Mick Jagger and Keith Richards)
Chart Positions: #1 (US, Canada), #2 France, New Zealand, UK), #3 (Australia, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden), #4 (Austria), #5 (Spain), #6 (Italy, Germany), #11 (Japan), #83 (Belgium) #48 (Switzerland in 2011 reissue)
Certifications: 6xPlatinum (US), Platinum (New Zealand), Gold (France, Netherlands, UK)


During the mid 1970s the Rolling Stones went from releasing an album or two per year to one every two years. “Some Girls, their 14th studio album, was released 26 months after “Black and Blue.” Including the mega-hits “Miss You,” “Beast of Burden” and “Shattered,” “Some Girls” was Rolling Stones’ biggest selling album of their entire career.

Mick Jagger took a lead role on the album, mainly because Keith Richards had been arrested for drug possession in Toronto the previous year, and it was unclear what his sentence would be. Facing a maximum of life in prison, Keith had other things to worry about besides making an album. After this was released, the Canadian judge sentenced Richards to continue his addiction treatment and play a benefit concert for the blind.

The album cover for Some Girls was conceived and designed by Peter Corriston, who would design the next three album covers. An elaborate die-cut design, with the colours on the sleeves varying in different markets, it featured the Rolling Stones' faces alongside those of select female celebrities inserted into a copy of an old Valmor Products Corporation advertisement. The cover design was challenged legally when Lucille Ball, Farrah Fawcett, Liza Minnelli (representing her mother Judy Garland), Raquel Welch, and the estate of Marilyn Monroe threatened to sue for the use of their likenesses without permission. Similarly, Valmor did take legal action and were given a monetary award for the use of their design.

The album was quickly re-issued with a redesigned cover that removed all the celebrities, whether they had complained or not. The celebrity images were replaced with black and punk style garish colours with the phrase Pardon our appearance - cover under re-construction. Jagger later apologised to Minnelli when he encountered her during a party at the famous discothèque Studio 54. The only celebrity whose face was not removed was ex-Beatle George Harrison. As with the original design, the colour schemes on the redesigned sleeves varied in different markets.
A third version of the album cover with hand-drawn women was found on the 1986 CD reissue.

The album received a Grammy Award nomination for “Album of the Year,” the award that year went to the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack.

In May 1978, the first single from the album, "Miss You", a prowling, moody number built on a stripped-down disco beat and bluesy pop harmonies, was released to very strong response, garnering the Rolling Stones their last US #1 hit and reaching #3 in the UK. The bass line, horns and drums gave this a disco sound. It alienated many of their fans, but also propelled it to the top of the charts. The Stones thought of it as more R&B than disco. "Miss You" was written by Mick Jagger jamming with keyboardist Billy Preston during rehearsals for the March 1977 El Mocambo club gigs, recordings from which appeared on side three of double live album Love You Live (1977). Keith Richards is credited as co-writer as was the case for all Rolling Stones originals written by either partner or in tandem. “Miss You” was an international hit reaching #1 (US, Canada), #2 (Netherlands), #3 (Belgium, Ireland, UK), #4 (France), #6 (Sweden), #8 (Australia, New Zealand) #11 (Norway, Switzerland) #12 (Germany), #13 (Austria),#18 (Italy) #19 (Finland). The single was certified Gold in the US and Silver in the UK.

"Miss You"

The second single “Beast Of Burden” only charted at #8 in the US but failed to chart elsewhere. “Respectable” was released as a single in Europe where it charted much better than “Burden.” The song made it to #23 (UK), #16 (Ireland, Netherlands) #91 (Australia). The fourth and final single “Shattered” reached #31 (US).

Other album highlights include a great remake of the Temptations 1971 classic “Just My Imagination (Running Away From Me)” and the country-blues tune “Far Away Eyes,” the Stones, longtime country music fans, incorporated many aspects of Bakersfield-style country music into this song. “Far Away Eyes” was used as the b-side to the single “Miss You.”

Rolling Stones (1978)



ROLLING STONES

Lene Lovich - Stateless (1978)

“Stateless” by Lene Lovich (1978)

Lene remained mostly unknown in the US, while with in the UK, the mysterious singer/songwriter/musician managed to score three top 40 hits. In her early years Lovich held a variety of jobs including go-go dancer, recorded screams for horror films and sang in a mass choir in the Royal Albert Hall. She was also one of thousands of audience members invited to sing along at the 1972 Lanchester Arts Festival at the Locarno Ballroom in Coventry when Chuck Berry recorded "My Ding-a-Ling" for Chess Records. Finally in 1977 Lovich received her big break when she was invited to write the sci-fi influenced lyrics to Cerrone’s dance club hit “Supernature.” “Supernature” reached #8 in the UK and #70 in the US and was a #1 US Dance club hit. One year later she released her debut album “Stateless.”


“Stateless” was a solid hit throughout Europe and down under in 1978 reaching #35 in the UK, #17 Netherlands,  #13 Australia, #19 New Zealand and with little fanfare the album managed to make it to #137 in the US.

Lene’s quirky danceable new wave sound caught on in underground dance clubs throughout the US. While in other parts of the world her songs were being played in mainstream clubs and pop music radio. The song “Lucky Number” was somewhat a novelty that caught on in Europe much as did M’s “Pop Muzik” in the US. “Lucky Number” was a worldwide smash and reached Australia #2, UK and New Zealand #3, Netherlands #4, Belgium #5, Ireland #7 and Australia #18. The song is composed in D major at 120 beats per minute. The chorus, perhaps unpredictably, consists of four dissonant chords sung in rapid succession. “Lucky Number” is considered by many to be a defining song of the new wave era. Lene was off to a very strong start. This could have been the beginning of a long career of worldwide mega-hits. But for some reason she never caught on in the US, other than the occasional dance-club hit.

The album includes a deliciously propulsive remake of Tommy James and the Shondells “I Think We’re Along Now” ( Lene also recorded a Japanese version of the song). The darkly sinister "Home" played off the rumors concerning Lovich's exotic Eastern European background (she was actually from Detroit, but she could fake a great accent). “Say When,” the fast moving second single, was a Top 20 hit in the UK, Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland.

"Lucky Number"

Lene Lovich (1978)





LENE LOVICH