On April 23rd, it will be 50 years to the day that an über-cool 19-year old kid walked into a UK club to catch a set by a local blues band called the Rollin’ Stones.
Young Mr. Oldham promptly added a “g” to their name before making over their sound and style for long-term adulation by world teen-dom. You know the rest of the story.
Less known is how this young hustler then created one of the world’s coolest-ever labels – Immediate – where, inspired by Phil Spector and Brian Wilson, he arranged and released the cult classic – “The Andrew Loog Oldham Orchestra Play the Rolling Stones Songbook”.
Fast forward to 2011. The High Dials receive a call from Mr. Oldham’s Colombian headquarters. Would they like to be a part of Rolling Stones Songbook Volume 2? In a heartbeat, “She Smiled Sweetly” is snapped up, string sections are summoned and timpanis dusted off, all in time for the Stones’ golden jubilee.
Plenty far more famous people are also invited to the party- like Johnny Marr, Gryff Rhys and Elliot Easton of the Cars, each collaborating on a different Oldham-era Stones gem.
Rolling Stones Songbook Vol. 2 was released in Canada this past week on Universal. Get it via iTunes or Amazon. A High Dials video is also coming soon – details to follow.
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