Keno's ROLLING STONES Web Site

DECEMBER'S CHILDREN

Released - 1965, on London/Decca Records (now Abkco Records). Produced by Andrew Loog Oldham.

Personnel:

Mick Jagger - Lead Vocals; Harmonica
Keith Richards - Lead and Rhythm Guitars; Backing Vocals
Brian Jones - Rhythm, Slide and Lead Guitars; Harmonica; Organ, Piano; Backing Vocals
Charlie Watts - Drums, Percussion
Bill Wyman - Bass; Backing Vocals

Additional Personnel - Ian Stewart, Jack Nitzsche, J.W. Alexander

(Click on song for lyrics and song personnel)

SONG 1998 RATING 2005 RATING  2018
RATING*
 
SHE SAID YEAH   6.2   6.7    7.2
TALKIN' ABOUT YOU   5.2   6.1    6.4
YOU BETTER MOVE ON   6.2   6.7    7.0
LOOK WHAT YOU DONE   6.0   6.3    7.0
THE SINGER NOT THE SONG   5.3   5.7    5.7
ROUTE 66  (Live)   5.7   6.0    7.5
GET OFF OF MY CLOUD 10.0 10.0 10.0
I'M FREE   5.7   6.0     6.1
AS TEARS GO BY 10.0 10.0 10.0
GOTTA GET AWAY   6.0   6.5     6.2
BLUE TURNS TO GREY   6.0   6.5     6.7
I'M MOVING ON  (Live)    6.7   6.7     6.8
Ave. 6.59 6.93     7.21

MINI REVIEW
 

Considering that this was their third release in 1965, it's not a bad album. But on a few songs they were stretching it. Listen to "The Singer Not The Song" and tell me it's not a rip-off of the Beatles "Not A Second Time", or "I'm Free", which sounds a lot like the Beatles "8 Days a Week". Plus they really didn't need to add in the live cut of "Route 66" either, but the other live number, "I'm Moving On", is hot with a super slide by Brian Jones and a equally super harmonica by Mick Jagger.

There's also two classics on this one, "As Tears Go By", the very first tune written by Mick and Keith Richards on the day that manager Andrew Oldham locked them away in that room. The other classic is "Get Off My Cloud", with some great heavy drums by Charlie Watts and equally great lead guitar by Brian.

- Keno, 1998

*Old Ratings vs. New Ratings

The oldest ratings that you see here were from back in 1998 when I first rated the album for this site. Since time does change one's point of view, I decided to listen to and rate the album again, doing so in late 2005. In February, 2018, 20 years after the first ratings were made, I rated all of the songs for a third time. Also note that I did not look at the old ratings from 1998 until after I placed my new ratings here in both 2005 and 2018.

To listen to some sound clips from DECEMBER'S CHILDREN or to buy it, click on the link below: December's Children (And Everybody's)

To add your own review go here.

To read others reviews about this album, go here.

To see how December's Children's songs were voted on by fans, go here

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