The year was 1967. The Summer of Love had painted a psychedelic rainbow across the cultural landscape, and pop music was in a state of ecstatic flux. But even amidst this kaleidoscopic frenzy, the Rolling Stones remained a gritty, grounded counterpoint. 'Between the Buttons,' their seventh British and ninth American studio album, served as a snapshot of a band navigating treacherous waters, caught between the pull of the past and the siren song of the future.
By 1967, the Stones were no strangers to controversy. Their bad-boy image had been carefully cultivated, fueled by drug busts, raucous live shows, and a defiant attitude towards authority. But 'Between the Buttons' marked a turning point. The album captured the band at their most musically adventurous, while also hinting at the internal tensions and personal demons that were beginning to tear them apart.
The album opens with the jangly, introspective "Yesterday's Papers," setting the tone for the rest of the record. Tracks like the bluesy "My Obsession" and the raucous "Connection" showcase the band's raw energy, while the psychedelic-tinged "She Smiled Sweetly" and the melancholic "Back Street Girl" reveal a more introspective side. The album's centerpiece, "Cool, Calm and Collected," is a swaggering anthem that perfectly captures the Stones' defiant spirit.
But beneath the surface, there was a sense of unease. Mick Jagger's lyrics were increasingly introspective, grappling with themes of alienation, disillusionment, and the dark side of fame. The album's production, overseen by Andrew Loog Oldham, was also a departure from the Stones' earlier, rawer sound. The use of horns, strings, and other orchestral flourishes added a layer of sophistication, but also hinted at a band struggling to find its footing in a rapidly changing musical landscape.
Brian Jones, the band's multi-instrumentalist and musical visionary, was at the peak of his creative powers, contributing sitar, dulcimer, and a host of other exotic instruments to the mix. His presence is particularly felt on tracks like the trippy "Something Happened to Me Yesterday" and the playful "Miss Amanda Jones."
The recording sessions, which took place at Olympic Sound Studios in London, were reportedly fraught with tension. Brian Jones' drug use was spiraling out of control, and his relationship with the rest of the band was deteriorating. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, meanwhile, were cementing their songwriting partnership, leaving Jones feeling increasingly marginalized.
'Between the Buttons' was met with mixed reviews upon its release. Some critics praised its musical ambition, while others lamented the lack of a cohesive sound. In retrospect, the album stands as a fascinating document of a band in transition. It captures the Stones at their most experimental and vulnerable, a snapshot of a group of musicians grappling with the pressures of fame, the changing tides of popular culture, and the demons that lurked within.
In the end, 'Between the Buttons' was both a triumph and a tragedy. It showcased the Stones' musical versatility and willingness to push boundaries, but it also hinted at the internal struggles that would eventually lead to Brian Jones' tragic demise.
