Metamorphosis (The Rolling Stones album)

History

After the release of Hot Rocks 1964–1971 in 1971, an album titled Necrophilia was compiled for release as the follow-up, with the aid of Andrew Loog Oldham, featuring many previously unreleased (or, more accurately, discarded) outtakes from the Rolling Stones' Decca/London period. While that project failed to materialise—with More Hot Rocks (Big Hits & Fazed Cookies) being released in its place—most of the unreleased songs were held over for a future project. In 1974, to give it an air of authority, Bill Wyman involved himself in compiling an album he entitled Black Box. However, Allen Klein wanted more Mick Jagger/Keith Richards songs in the project for monetary reasons, and Wyman's version remained unreleased. Metamorphosis was issued in its place.

Most tracks that appear on side one of the vinyl album (all tracks up until "Try a Little Harder", except for "Don't Lie to Me") are demo songs, written by Jagger and Richards for other artists to perform. They were mostly recorded with session musicians like Big Jim Sullivan on guitar, Clem Cattini on drums, and Jimmy Page on guitar, and were not intended for release by the Rolling Stones. Indeed, on most of these tracks the only Rolling Stones member who appears is Jagger. While "Out of Time" and "Heart of Stone" were already well known, they appear here in drastically different renditions, with session players providing the backing. Side two includes unreleased band recordings created up until the Sticky Fingers sessions of 1970. Some people found that the song "I'd Much Rather Be With the Boys" had a homosexual subtext, so The Toggery Five version changed the lyric to "I'd rather be out with the boys."

Released in June 1975, Metamorphosis came out the same day as the band's authorised hits collection Made in the Shade and was also seen to be cashing in on The Rolling Stones' summer Tour of the Americas. While the critical reception was lukewarm—many felt some of the songs were best left unreleased— Metamorphosis still managed to reach No. 8 in the US, though it only made No. 45 in the UK. Two singles, "Out of Time" (featuring Jagger singing over the same backing track used for Chris Farlowe's 1966 version) and a cover of Stevie Wonder's "I Don't Know Why" briefly made the singles charts.

Upon its initial release, Metamorphosis was released with 16 songs in the UK, while the American edition had only 14—omitting tracks "Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind" and "We're Wastin' Time".

The album's cover art alludes to Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis.

In August 2002, the full UK edition of Metamorphosis was issued in a new remastered Compact Disc, Vinyl, and SACD digipak by ABKCO Records.

Track listing

All songs by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, except where noted.

1. "Out of Time" – 3:22
2. "Don't Lie to Me" (Hudson Whittaker) – 2:00
3. "Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind" – 2:25
4. "Each and Everyday of the Year" – 2:48
5. "Heart of Stone" – 3:47
6. "I'd Much Rather Be with the Boys" (Andrew Loog Oldham, Keith Richards) – 2:11
7. "(Walkin' Thru The) Sleepy City" – 2:51
8. "We're Wastin' Time" – 2:42
9. "Try a Little Harder" – 2:17

10. "I Don't Know Why" (Stevie Wonder, Paul Riser, Don Hunter, Lula Hardaway) – 3:01
11. "If You Let Me" – 3:17
12. "Jiving Sister Fanny" – 2:45
13. "Downtown Suzie" (Bill Wyman) – 3:52
14. "Family" – 4:05
15. "Memo from Turner" – 2:45
16. "I'm Going Down" – 2:52

Recording details

"Out of Time" – 3:22

"Don't Lie to Me" – 2:00

"Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind" – 2:25

"Each and Everyday of the Year" – 2:48

"Heart of Stone" – 3:47

"I'd Much Rather Be With the Boys" – 2:11

"(Walkin' Thru The) Sleepy City" – 2:51

"We're Wastin' Time" – 2:42

"Try a Little Harder" – 2:17

"I Don't Know Why" – 3:01

"If You Let Me" – 3:17

"Jiving Sister Fanny"  – 2:45

"Downtown Suzie" – 3:52

"Family" – 4:05

"Memo from Turner" – 2:45

"I'm Going Down" – 2:52