The Metal Files

It’s no secret that my older brother, Robert, was a big influence on my musical development, especially between 1975 and about 1981/82.  One of the bands that he introduced me to is The Rolling Stones.  To date they are still my 2nd favorite band of all time behind Iron Maiden.  He loved the Stones and subsequently so did I.  He played them a lot and they became ingrained into my musical repertoire.  After Wyman left I was done with them, but I love just about every album they did with him save one or 2 in the 80s.

I can remember coming home from school and listening to Tattoo You on vinyl.  Typically mom and dad were at work and who knows where my brothers were.   I seemed to have time to spin records before they all came home.  Very influential and time well spent.  Homework?  Pfffft!

This album was always special to me though.  It’s one of those albums that brings me back to a certain time in my life, actually to 2 different times in my life.  I guess I have a lot of those types of albums and I am glad for it.  Without music I don’t know how I would have ended up.

Tattoo You wasn’t a perfect album for the Stones although it had one of their biggest gits on it…Start Me Up.  Sure it’s a fun tune but not one of their finest moments in my opinion.  I really loved their slower tunes and this one has some great ones on it, pretty much all of side 2.  Worried About You, Tops, Heaven, No Use In Crying and Waiting On A Friend.  Such a smooth album side.

Side one’s highlight for me is Little T&A.  When I was 19 I briefly dated a girl that this song seemed to fit so well.  Typically when we went out I would play it sometime during the evening.  Hang Fire is pretty good too.  Pretty cool cover art as well.  But all in all, side 2 rules this album.

There are many other Stones album that I like better, but this one does have that special place.

“Ain’t no use…”