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A Guide to the First Releases on Rolling Stones Records
Rolling Stones Records and the Start of a New Chapter
In 1970, the Rolling Stones made one of the smartest moves of their career: they walked away from Decca Records and decided to run the show themselves. The result was Rolling Stones Records, a label created not just out of business sense, but out of sheer independence. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor, Charlie Watts, and Bill Wyman wanted control—over their songs, their albums, and their future. This wasn’t just about ownership; it was about freedom. Freedom to release music on their own terms and to explore solo projects without asking permission. To steer the ship, they brought in Marshall Chess, son of Chess Records founder Leonard Chess, a figure who understood both legacy and risk. Distribution in the U.S. came through Atco, under the Atlantic umbrella, giving the Stones muscle without sacrificing autonomy. With their tongue logo and no compromises, Rolling Stones Records wasn’t just a label—it was a declaration: the band was done playing by anyone else’s rules.
A Worldwide Shift: How the Company Expanded Its Reach
On April 1, 1971, the band secured a five-album distribution deal with Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records, with the label’s reach extending across the world. In the U.S., the albums were distributed by Atlantic until 1984, while in the UK, WEA handled distribution until 1977 before EMI took over until 1984. In 1986, Columbia Records began handling distribution in the United States, with CBS taking on the international role. However, in 1992, RSR came to an end when the band signed with Virgin Records, although the iconic tongue and lips logo continued to grace all their releases from that point onward.
The first release under the new label was Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Joujouka in 1971, a groundbreaking world music album. The label’s catalog grew to include releases like Jamming with Edward! in 1972, showcasing recordings from Jagger, Wyman, Watts, and guest musicians like Nicky Hopkins and Ry Cooder. This move into the realm of creative freedom cemented Rolling Stones Records as an essential chapter in the band’s musical legacy.
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