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Description
Between the Buttons, issued in January 1967 in the UK (revised for American shores in February), marks a pivotal inflection point in the Stones' evolution. Having exhausted the blues-rock well that powered *Aftermath*, this album found the quartet-or quintet, depending on whether you're counting Brian Jones, who departed after the session-stepping away from cover performances and into more distinctly songwriting territory. Produced by their longtime associate Andrew Loog Oldham, it represents a deliberate shedding of the blues album mold that had defined them since the mid-60s. The US edition would see some track swaps, notably replacing "The Star of the Empire Show" with material more suited to American radio palates, a small testament to the album's transitional nature.
Musically, it balances the band's signature swagger with newfound sophistication. Tracks like "Cool, Calm and Collected" showcase the Jagger-Richards songwriting partnership at work, while "I've Got My Own Troubles" and "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standin' in the Shadows" reveal a darker, more introspective streak. It's the album where they begin to sound less like a tribute band and more like a band that's developing its own voice. The cover of Otis Blackwell's "Got My Own" (also known as "I've Got My Own Troubles") particularly demonstrates their ability to embrace soul without being trapped by it-a delicate balancing act few could pull off without sounding forced.
The album's legacy is somewhat obscured by the grandiosity of *Their Satanic Majesties Request*, which would follow within months. But *Between the Buttons* is less a destination than a bridge, a moment of consolidation before the psychedelia floodgates opened. It's essential for understanding where the Stones had been and, more importantly, where they were heading-a crucial chapter in the narrative of one of rock's most enduring acts. For the vinyl purist, it remains a worthy addition, if perhaps not quite the masterpiece that *Let It Bleed* or *Exile* would later prove.
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Citations:
1. [AllMusic - Between the Buttons](https://www.allmusic.com/album/between-the-buttons-mw0000337856)
2. [Genius - Between the Buttons (UK) tracklist](https://genius.com/albums/The-rolling-stones/Between-the-buttons-uk)
3. [Observer - Brian Jones and Between the Buttons](https://observer.com/2017/01/brian-jones-rolling-stones-between-the-buttons-anniversary/)
4. [Wikipedia - 1967 in music](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_in_music)
5. [Robert Christgau - Stones review archive](https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/music/stones-76.php)
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