The Rolling Stones | Between the buttons [Vinyl Album] LP

Between the Buttons was The Rolling Stones’ first album since April 1966’s Aftermath and it became their fifth UK studio album. It remains one of the Stones’ less well-known records, however, which is a pity as it contains some strong songs.

Besides the five band members – Mick Jagger, who took lead vocals on all tracks and also played the tambourine and harmonica, was joined by Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman and Watts – there were several guest musicians. Ian Stewart plays piano and organ, and Nicky Hopkins plays piano, as does Jack Nitzsche. The track “Connection” was performed live at the London Palladium the week after the album came out and was featured in the Martin Scorsese documentary Shine A Light, in 2008.

By late 1966, recording technology was allowing for greater experimentation, and though every track on Between The Buttons is credited to Jagger and Richards, there are certainly very different styles of music and songwriting to be heard on the album. “Yesterday’s Papers” has the distinction of being the first song to be written solely by Jagger and features Nitzsche on harpsichord. On “Something Happened to Me Yesterday,” the multi-talented Jones plays saxophone, trombone, and clarinet.