Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery, “or” Did the Rolling Stones Merely Copy A Good Thing Riding On The Coat-Tails of the Beatles?

Once Decca Records realized the huge fumble of loss revenue slithered right out of their hands by turning down the Beatles, Decca immediately followed the advice of young George Harrison and signed a recording contract with the Rolling Stones. Sure enough, and in like mind imitation, while the Beatles scored big in early April 1964, claiming the first five slots on the USA top 40 Billboard Pop Charts, the Stones released their first album on April 16, 1964, and then in America on May 30, 1964 titled, The Rolling Stones, England’s Newest Hit Makers, also posed with their five faces in half shadows just like With The Beatles album cover. UK sales lifted the Stones debut blues band to number 1, however, in America, England’s newest hit makers missed the top ten by one space peaking at number 11. Only one track from this album made the US Top 40 (Tell Me climbed to number 24) yet the opening song (Not Fade Away) reached number 3 on the UK pop charts aiding the new group with some clout. Soon, reality sunk in and the Stones grasped another good idea from John & Paul in writing original compositions that had the potential to strike fame and fortune, like the Beatles. Even harmonica bits became a common trend for both groups on their early LPs.

Enormous appeal freely oozed out of every pore attached to the ever-popular Beatles, individually and as a Fab-Four whole. Convinced without a doubt, after John, Paul, George, and Ringo performed for Ed Sullivan, Capitol Records released five more LPs before year’s end, with tremendous results as all reached number 1 except the “Something New” album, which peaked at number 2. Not a bad stunt since the lads first United Artist Movie Sound track LP shared many of the same tunes. Part of this 1964 Long Playing surge included a simple heading known as, “The Beatles Second Album.” So, in like mind imitation, Decca choose the heading, The Rolling Stones #2 as a follow-up album release. Next came “The Rolling Stones Now” as an answer to “Something New- The Beatles.

On October 25, 1964, the Stones received a guest spot on the Sullivan Show, once again riding the Beatles coat-tails appearing on many of the same BBC T.V. and radio programs the Lads of Liverpool had headlined earlier.

The following year the Beatles released “Yesterday” including a string quartet, so the Stones released “As Tears Go By” also with added string instrumentation. February 65, the Beatles released “Eight Days A Week” with a mini chorus on which the boys sing, “Love me, Hold me, Love me, Hold me. Seven months later, the Stones released, “Get Off My Cloud” backed with I’m Free” that also utilized a mini chorus in which Jagger sang, “So love me, hold me, love me, hold me. A few months later, the Beatles introduced the Indian Sitar used brilliantly on the track, “Norwegian Wood” so, in like mind imitation, the Stones featured the Sitar on their next single, “Paint It Black.” The stealing of ideas got so ridiculous, Ringo suggested they title their new LP (Revolver), “AFTERGEOGRAPHY” as an answer to the Stones newest album “AFTERMATH”  that finally included 14 songs, like the Beatles LPs,

In 1967 the whole world stood spellbound over Sgt. Pepper through fascinating music as well as visual artwork design, including the tune’s lyrics splashed all over the back cover. On the extravagant front cover sits a large doll wearing a blue and white horizontal stripe sweater that reads, “Welcome Rolling Stones” so, in answer to this, the Stones glitzy “Their Satanic Majesties Request” cover and include four faces (John, Paul, George, and Ringo) hidden among the flowers. Paul and George are near Charlie Watts then opposite, next to Bill Wyman are John and Ringo. An insert was included that contains the lyrics to every track. Oh, and notice how each Stone is dressed as a wizard, like the Beatles scene in Magical Mystery Tour released a month earlier The Stones following album, Beggars Banquet also printed the song list lyrics a top of the inside record sleeve. Incidentally, 67 and on into 1968, the Beatles set a strategy to cash in on the Christmas gift spending with late November releases of Magical Mystery Tour, then 12 months later, The White Album. So, the Rolling Stones released both Beggars Banquet and Let It Bleed in early December of 68, then 69. (Let It Be commenced filming on January 2, 1969, and ended with the rooftop concert on January 30.) Exactly July 20, 1969, the Beatles were invited to view a rough cut of the movie. I wonder if Mick & Keith got to watch some of those film footage cuts, because Jagger and Richards Let It Bleed song was released December 5, 1969. Hmmm, LET IT BE, then LET IT BLEED––sure looks like coat-tail riding to me.

Let’s not forget the unique Double Album gimmick. First came The White Album and four years later, the Stones imitated it with “Exile On Main Street. And then you have a redefined artsy fartsy technic toward the greatest hits package where in November 2000, Apple offered The Beatles 1, and a few years years later, ABKCO Records offered The Rolling Stones Forty Licks.

One final note before I close, check out the album cover of Beatles For Sale released December 64 and compare it to the cover of Between The Buttons released January 67. I’m just saying!  

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