The Stones 2nd US album, released Oct 23, 1964. It cemented the early blues band legend with tracks from their famous Chess Studios session in Chicago during the 1st American tour (Muddy Waters helped carry their gear into the studio) and tracks recorded at Regent Sound in London. Essentially, this is the album that finalized their status with Chicago blues forever.

The album starts with Check Berry's Around And Around, which the Stones had been doing as a show stopper in the UK, the big hits Time Is On My Side and It's All Over Now, and the great slow blues numbers Confessin' The Blues & Good Times Bad Times. Although they used to do a lot of instrumentals, 2120 S. Michigan seems to have survived as the only memory of this part of the early Stones familiar to most fans. Personally I always liked Congratulations, but never cared for their version of Susie Q, although it was very popular at the time.

The tracks recorded June 10-11, 1964 at Chess Studios in Chicago were (Around And Around, Confessin' The Blues, Empty Heart, Good Times Bad Times, It's All Over Now, 2120 S. Michigan version 2, If You Need Me). Tracks recorded at Regent Sound in London were done on Feb 25, 1964 (Susie Q), June 24-26, 1964 (Time Is On My Side version 1, Congratulations), and Sep 28-29, 1964 (Under The Boardwalk, Grown Up Wrong).

This album was never released in the UK, however the tracks were released in the UK as follows:

6-26-64 It's All Over Now, Good Times Bad Times

8-14-64 Five by Five EP - If You Need Me, Empty Heart, 2120 S. Michigan version 1, Confessin' the Blues, Around and Around

1-16-65 The Rolling Stones No. 2 - Time Is On My Side version 1, Grown Up Wrong, Under The Boardwalk, Susie Q

Congratulations was not released in the UK until 10-5-73 on the album No Stone Unturned

i bought this album when it first came out (1965?). bought it on cd recently and was reminded how good it was/is. in fact, my friends and i used to consider the stones' first 5 albums a sort of "Old Testament"of 60's british invasion r&b. check out "confessin the blues" and "its all over now" in particular.

The second LP isssued in October 1964 by the Stones in the US was in fact an amalgamation of a UK extended play (Five by Five), 3 tracks from the second UK LP(Rolling Stones 2), a UK "A" side, aUS "A" side and 2 UK "B" sides. At the heart of the LP are the five EP tracks, all recorded at the Chess studios in Chicago. The band approach the songs with cofidence including two Jagger-Richard compositions. From the same Chess sessions and included here is It's All Over Now a UK number one although it only reached a disappointing 26 in the US. This Bobby Womack song is a Stones classic and the outstanding track on the album. The remaining tracks were recorded in London and are a mixture of covers and Jagger-Richard compositions. The strongest being the self penned Good Times, Bad Times and a cover version of Susie Q. The US single Time Is On My Side, with a notable organ backing by Ian Stewart rounds things off.

The album provides an interesting comparison between the recording and production techniques of the Regent studios in London and the Chess studios in Chicago. This together with the inclusion of two hit singles provides the interest for this album which

The raw power of the early Rolling Stones albums are awesome. Have been a fan of the Stones since the beginning.

"12 x 5, " along with their debut album, is one of the Stones most heavily influenced Blues album. Jagger's delivery is rough but solid and he does justice to the Bobby Womack and Chuck Berry compositions on this album.

"It's All Over Now" is probably the best song on this album and it sounds just as good today as it did then. Berry's "Round and Round" is well-delivered by Jagger and at times, it sounds as though Berry is singing right along with the band!

All the other material here is good and anyone who appreciates the Stones early blues influence will undoubtedly enjoy listening to this album. My only criticism of this album is that its sound isn't very polished. However, given the technological limitations of that time and the band's lack of musical direction, this is something that can be expected. Aside from that, I'd advise all new Stones fans to add this CD to your collection as it is truly a great album.