Their Satanic Majesties Request - 50th Anniversary

Wow. Re-doing a wild Stones album from all those years ago? Their Satanic Majesties Request—a powerful name for a recording back then. Another major anniversary encouraged them to reproduce this in 2017. Carry me back to the psychedelic years. This one-off trippy disc from the Stones has been bashed and trashed from most fans. I’ve always loved it.The original 3-dimensional cover, here recreated in great detail in this new package, was a real expensive tour de force from Mick and the boys. Most original copies of that fancy cover have not weathered well. So here you can get it again, all new. It features The Beatles images hidden in the flowers.How do the vinyl discs and CDs (actually SACD hybrid discs) stand up in these new versions? The original vinyl didn’t have much depth to it, lots of muffled instruments, the entire recording didn’t breathe—but we didn’t know better back then. The CD was reissued as an SACD in 2002, and it was good, just not good enough. So what could you really do with the Stones using today’s audio technology?I love the sound of these 2017 remastered discs. You can absolutely hear the difference, and there was a lot going on in those recordings. A lot of it sounds like you’re right there with them now, in the studio while they’re performing. Listen to "Sing This All Together," which starts the disc, you can clearly hear the spread of voices, much clearer than before. The percussion throughout previously had no definition, but now listen to cymbals, bells and all sound likes it’s in your room. Charlie’s cymbals were muffled, completely lacking their attack before. They fixed it. Remember that until recently, most Stones discs easily were some of the muddiest recordings known to man, especially considering that the Stones are the kings and deserve much better. Recent releases on SACD over the last decade or so have vastly improved the Stones sound on their classics.These Satanic discs, to me, are a great improvement over the past available vinyl and SACD from 2002. Bass has greater roundness and punch to it. Mick’s voice and his position in the soundstage is way more lifelike. Hear Keith's acoustic guitar like never before. The previous vinyl and SACD were horrendous messes. Here, echo, spread of instruments or voices bleeding from speaker to speaker—hell, you can hear what it must have truly sounded like in the control room back then.What happened to the Stones, many asked when this was first released. The raucous bluesy guitars, were replaced by spacey effects. To this day, many folks hate this stuff. I enjoyed it back then, and still do. It produced songs that regularly show up in Stones shows. And you have to admit that "2000 Light Years from Home," "She’s a Rainbow" and "Sing This Altogether" are terrific tunes.The comparison then or now to Sergeant Peppers is just ludicrous. Even if the Stones had inhaled some of the same fairy dust, they never tried to be The Beatles, just making a somewhat competitive attempt. It’s not the same. The Beatles 2017 remixed Pepper sounds incredible.If you don’t try to typecast the Stones, this disc stands well on its own. Yes, it was produced during a time of great turmoil in the band, lots of egos and forces at play. So, don’t judge it as a Mick & Keef disc, but it is a quality disc. Very, very different, extremely imaginative. Yeah, ok, some of it is a little wild and out of control: The jam on "Sing this All Together See What Happens" is easily as crazy as The Beatles "Revolution #9." Bill Wyman’s song, which I do like, is not the top track. But, whatever….This disc, from the outrageous packaging, front cover, maze, and the outer space song rave ups, c’mon, this is a stellar achievement and very different from anything they’ve ever done. And they redid it all for you this year. And it truly sounds wonderful. Way cool.

I have only played the mono vinyl, so far, not the stereo. . The vinyls have Decca Labels, not exact repro's of the originals, but close. This is a big, fold out box, not individual albums. Correct inner sleeves, but they're just paper so I replaced them with MoFi rice paper sleeves. The CD's are hybrid SACD/CD's. I played the mono on my SACD/CD player; it defaulted to the SACD layer, which is normal function on my player, but I was able to switch to the CD layer, but they have no SACD logo on the disc. . The mono vinyl is the actual mono mix, not the 'T2' foldover. It has the three bells at the beginning of Gomper. I know there's some digital element to these vinyls, but the sound if great. I've had London and Decca mono copies (and stereo copies) of this album most of my life, so I didn't have to do a direct comparison. The lenticular seems slightly different from the originals, but it's still very nice. The vinyl feels like a 180, and seems to be a very good pressing. I haven't listened to the stereo yet,. If I find any defect, I will update. I can also answer any questions. I've been collecting copies of this album most of my life, here and there, not like some obsession. If you hear, on the vinyl, a thumping sound during the intro to 'On With the Show', it's actually in the recording, it's not a vinyl defect.

One day I was listening to TSMR in my office. A co-worker popped in."What are you listening to?" she said with a look on her face like she just stepped in dog crap.I replied, "The Rolling Stones on drugs."The Rolling Stones attempt to revise history with this deluxe edition of one of their most polarizing albums. Recorded under the most trying circumstances that included drug busts, jail time, and the beginning of the unraveling of Brian Jones' relationship with his band mates, Their Satanic Majesties Request is at it's best an experiment that doesn't live up to its potential. If the band had been able to give the music their full attention, could it have been a brilliant masterpiece of psychedelic blues and R&B? At times, it does rise to that challenge, other times, its just meanders.Instead of yet another review of TSMR musically, I'll focus on the new packaging. As described, the package includes both mono and stereo versions in both vinyl and SACD dual-sided CD. Both feature reproductions of the original Decca LP labels, although the stereo LP doesn't have the "front side" and "back side" designations for sides A and B respectively. That is a collector's detail that should have been included. The vinyl is heavyweight audiophile pressings. The album has been released in SACD format in stereo, and this is the first time the mono version has been released in SACD. (The mono version has been released in 2016 as part of The Rolling Stones In Mono (Remastered 2016).) I can't review the SACD version without an SACD player, but I have heard the mono mix and there is a difference in the bass levels. Mick Jagger has been quoted as saying that he prefers TSMR's mono mix. But the stereo mix is just a good, especially listening with headphones. I like this new remaster, both the stereo and mono mixes. The music pops out much more than any other CD remastering I've heard.The packaging is beautiful. As shown in the photos, the package includes the original lenticular 3D cover photo. The vinyl LPs are accessible from the package without opening up the gatefold, as in a regular double LP package. Opening the gatefold reveals the same spread as the original gatefold sleeve. There is another opening that flips up to reveal the two CDs and a booklet. The booklet contains an essay that tries really really hard to reposition TSMR as a complete masterpiece. It does reveal some insight in to the recordings and the instrumentation, but trying to rescue a song like Gomper from the dustbin of psychedelia is too large a task. While the author lauds the band for its experimentation, unfortunately a lot of TSMR is experimentation for its own sake. The package certainly has some heft to it and is about a half inch thick. Each album is hand-numbered.I give this release five stars for the excellent packaging and the reasonable price. Musically, well..... I still think this is one of the worse albums in the band's catalog, an effort that could have been so much better if it had received the right attention. Yes, there is She's A Rainbow, Citadel, 2000 Man, 2000 Light Years From Home, and even Bill Wyman's In Another Land is interesting. But there is no amount of shine you can put on a turd like Gomper.

It might not be quite as well appointed, in terms of extras, as some other 50th Anniversary box sets that have been showing up these last few years, but this release left me with no complaints. The design of the package itself is a beautifully put-together extension of the original album's interior design, but instead of a maze it's like a Chinese puzzle box, opening in different directions for different features and functions. I wish a fuller, more handsome book (in hardcover) could have been included, but what's here reads beautifully (it's a superb historical essay on the music and the album), and the music . . . Actually, only the mono CD/SACD was really of concern to me, and even in its plain CD function it's a killer, like hearing the record for the first time, and revealing sounds that are "new" to me even 50 years later.As to the virtues of the music itself, that should be self-evident -- I've always felt that this was a more inventive and challenging record than most of SGT PEPPER (which is, let's face it, mostly an experiment in production), with the Stones successfully stepping outside of their natural comfort zone. And while "She's A Rainbow" might be the prettiest tune the Stones have ever worked with, and maybe the most self-consciously beautiful thing on the album, it's also the most predictable -- it's everything else here that takes flight higher and, in intent if not execution, further, and mostly with startling results. "Citadel," "2000 Man," "2000 Light Years From Home," "The Lantern," and "Gomper" are all endlessly fascinating, and "In Another Land" proved that someone in the group besides Mick and Keith could put together a proper song with some clever twists and catchy hooks. "Sing This All Together (See What Happens)" might've been edited more tightly, but then we might have missed little elements such as the quote from Handel's Messiah on electric guitar (was it Keith or Brian?) at around six minutes in, and besides, I'm happy to hear the band noodle around with a tune (THAT's how much I love Keith's and Brian's playing!). And I'll take it anyway I can get it. This release really begged for a CD (or two or three) of outtakes and rehearsals, but given how Keith Richards evidently feels about the record, and the fact that ABKCO and the Rolling Stones are apparently trying to cooperate with each other these days, that probably wasn't in the cards. Hearing this latest mastering, incidentally, Charlie Watts ought to be proud of his work on SATANIC MAJESTIES -- they say that as the Beatles moved into psychedelia, Ringo Starr had less and less to do on any of their records and at their recording sessions (where he wasn't asked to sing), but Charlie had plenty to do on the Stones' records of this era, as is evident by the array of percussion devices he brings to bear. He's almost like Keith Moon got to be in the Who around this time, like a symphony orchestra in the range of sounds he lays on.I'll get to the stereo disc sometime later, but the set has already justified itself in my mind.

I was 15 years old when this album was released. I vividly remember the lenticular cover and the songs “She’s A Rainbow” and “2,000 Light Years From Home”. I must have been too young to remember the critics arguing over the album as to whether it was a worthy Rolling Stones release. I don’t know how much I remember about the Stones starting off as an R&B/Blues band. Regardless of what the critics said in 1967, this album is quite worthy of being commemorated on its 50th Anniversary.The Amazon Prime really works. Today (September 22nd) is the release date and the box from Amazon was on my porch early in the morning.The album is exceptionally packaged. I've read part of the included 20 page booklet. I wasn't aware of Mick and Keith being in and out of jail several times for drug busts..I wasn't aware of Anita Pallenberg causing a rift between Keith and Brian that never healed. I wasn't aware of Brian's numerous drug, liquor, and mental problems which led to him being found in the bottom of a swimming pool in 1969. I guess the Stones were in fact more of rock's bad boys than the Beatles. Yet the Beatles also went through their share of drug problems in the '60'sThe cover has several fold-outs and lots to discover. There are snippets of interviews of each band member spanning the decades. There is one big fold out to house the mono and stereo versions of the LP's. There is another big fold out to house the mono and stereo versions of the hybrid SACD's. If I have a complaint about the set, I wish there was a hybrid SACD version only without the vinyl versions. I realize vinyl is "in". But only providing the CD's would cut down the cost of the set and I do have a turntable but I rarely use it. There's a Japanese version with just two CD's and no LP's. But this SACD gets very confusing. A disc which is solely SACD can only play on a SACD player. The Hybrid SACD's can be played in both an SACD and a regular player. I looked at several ads for the Japanese version and read several reviews and it was never totally clear if the Japanese version is hybrid so I played it safe and bought the U.S. version.Again, I highly recommended the album and the music. Maybe the Stones were trying to copy Sargent Pepper or Pink Floyd. At the age of 15, I loved both the Beatles and the Stones. My first LP purchase was "A Hard Day's Night". I guess at that age I didn't know that Sargent Pepper was a big turning point stylistically for the Beatles or that"Satanic Mysteries" was a turning point for the Stones. I just remember liking both albums 50 years ago and I still like them 50 years later.

This review concerns the disappointing packaging...the sound is amazing!...but. Both CD's came with scratches...??? This happens when a cd is placed directly on a cardboard surface which is what they did, or somebody handled them carelessly. It's easy to eliminate this problem with a much safer method than bare cardboard. I've never had a new LP come with scratches already on it. The reproduction of the artwork is noticeably cropped, lacking in subtlety and darker than the original cover...a mystery considering the accuracy of printing these days. All the edges of the original front, back, inside and the 3-D image have been cropped. The original 3-D image has much more depth and movement compared to the new one.The beautiful blue wisps of smoke on the cover have been enlarged, contrast increased, subtlety lost and it shows much less of the whole effect the original has. The contrast of everything has been upped eliminating a lot of the subtlety, as if only the highs and lows of the sound were there, but missing the midrange frequencies. It's obvious if you put an original next to this one. The original is brilliant, bright, clear and very colorful. Get one.

I've been buying the Rolling Stones since the 60's in many formats. I have way too many 4 Tracks and 8 Tracks that will never be played again, but who knew that I needed a new Their Satanic Majesties Request set???This thing is beautiful, the best packaging that I've seen in quite some time, with a 20- page booklet and I can't decide which I prefer, the Mono or the Stereo SACD. All I know is Citadel sounds amazing!When I ordered this, I questioned shelling out the bucks for this, but with this set in my hands, I made the correct choice. This set is worth every cent.

Really great. Good pressing on thick vinyl. Plus all the extras, I'm very happy with this purchase.

"Thank You"

Recuerdo la impresión que me causó éste album cuando saliò a la venta en 1967.50 años después me vuelve a sorprender con su portada original y su foto 3D, pero ésta edición no se abre en dos sino en cuatro!Claro que lo mejor es cuando escuchas los LP’s o los CD’s remezclados y remasterizados, una experiencia auditiva excepcional.

中身はストーンズの歴史の中でもキワモノだが、妙なアクがあり、定期的に話題に上る1枚。レンチキュラーのジャケはまずまずの出来でしょう。オリジナルと比べるとプリントが少し暗めに仕上がっている気がします。音源的にはともかくモノラル盤のCD、アナログ盤の物体的な価値でコレクター欲をそそる一品。

J'achète souvent des vinyles et des disques sur Amazon.fr parce que le service est parfait. L'article est arrivé intact et à l'avance. Merveilleuse version deluxe de cet album historique Rolling Stones. Cinq étoiles pour le coffret et cinq étoiles pour amazon France. Meilleures salutations d'Italie.

Eines vorweg: hier zählt in erster Linie die Verpackung, erst dann der Inhalt. Jedem, der die Beschreibung aufmerksam durchliest wird wohl klar sein, dass er hier insgesamt 6 mal die selbe Musik bekommt (CD-layer, SACD-layer, Vinyl - jeweils Mono/Stereo) - warum das Anlass für Kritik bietet, ist mir nicht ganz klar - Kaufzwang gibt es hier glaube ich keinen. Dieses Teil richtet sich wohl auch kaum an die Laufkundschaft, sondern eben an die Sammler. Als solcher bin ich mit dieser Veröffentlichung bestens bedient. Liebevolle repros der originalen DECCA-labels am Vinyl, der LONDON-labels auf den SACDs, ein perfektes remake des 3D-Bildes am cover und alles in allem eine Aufmachung, wo ich jederzeit gerne wieder kaufen würde.Zum Klang: bislang habe ich die Mono-SACD und die Stereo-LP gehört. Vor allem die LP hat's mir angetan. Alleine schon auf Grund des Alters kommen meine Originalpressungen aus DE/UK/USA klanglich nicht (mehr) mit.Das dieses Werk allgemein nicht zu den Großtaten der Band zählt, ist auch bekannt und dazu braucht eigentlich weiter nichts geschrieben zu werden. Ich denke es hat keinen Sinn, 50 Jahre danach eine Plattenkritik zu verfassen - wer's kennt, der weiß Bescheid, wer's nicht kennt, den interessiert es sowieso nicht.Eine Bonus-CD mit outtakes wäre natürlich schön gewesen, aber da fallen mir mit "English Summer", "Can't Believe" und "Gold Painted Nails" gerade mal 3 songs ein, die gepasst hätten. Da bleibt nur die Hoffnung, dass es vielleicht nächstes Jahr mit Beggar's Banquet was dazu gibt, da ist schon mehr Material übrig geblieben.Fazit: wer gerne ein schönes, klangtechnisch perfektes Teil im Regal hat --> kaufenalle anderen sollten wohl die Finger davon lassen - so billig ist das Teil nun auch wieder nicht...