Description
The Rolling Stones – On Air – Compact Disc
The Rolling Stones’ On Air is a collection of the band’s BBC radio session recordings from 1963 to 1965, released on December 1, 2017 through Polydor / Universal Music. Rather than a conventional live album, it compiles performances recorded specifically for BBC programs such as Saturday Club, Top Gear, and Rhythm and Blues, capturing the Stones in their formative, pre-superstar phase.
The recordings date from a period when the band was still deeply rooted in American blues, Chicago R&B, early rock ’n’ roll, and soul, and the set reflects that. Alongside early originals like “The Last Time” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” the album leans heavily into covers that defined their early identity—songs by Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, and other R&B pioneers. These BBC sessions often required fresh takes recorded quickly and efficiently, which gives the performances a raw, immediate feel compared to the more polished studio versions from the same era.
The standard CD edition features 18 tracks. The audio was restored from BBC archives and private recordings, and many tracks were officially released for the first time here. The result is a cleaner, more complete document of the band’s early broadcast history than previously available bootlegs or partial releases.
What makes On Air valuable is how clearly it documents The Rolling Stones as a working R&B band before they fully transitioned into global rock icons. You hear a young Mick Jagger leaning hard into blues phrasing, Keith Richards’ early riff instincts taking shape, and the rhythm section driving with urgency. It’s a focused historical snapshot—less about greatest hits and more about capturing the energy and repertoire that built their foundation.
A BBC Recording
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Come On
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Roll Over Beethoven
The Spider And The Fly
Cops And Robbers
It’s All Over Now
Route 66
Memphis, Tennessee
Down The Road Apiece
The Last Time
Cry To Me
Mercy, Mercy
Oh! Baby (We Got A Good Thing Goin’)
Around And Around
Hi Heel Sneakers
Fannie Mae
You Better Move On
Mona
