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Rolling Stones Quotes: Keith Richards on making the December’s Children and Aftermath albums
“I learned a lot from albums like December’s… and Aftermath. I did all the parts on half the album that Brian normally would have done. Sure I was mad. It wasn’t like now where you spend 4 to 6 months making an album. Those albums had to be done in 10 days, plus another single. That was a fact of life… With Brian becoming a dead weight on top of the work, it threw a lot of the pressure on me.”
Keith Richards’ Grit Behind The Rolling Stones’ Early Albums
Working on December’s Children and Aftermath wasn’t exactly a laid-back studio experience for Keith Richards. Unlike today’s luxury of spending months crafting an album, back then the Stones had to hustle hard — completing albums in just about 10 days, plus a single on top of that. The clock was always ticking, and there was no room for fussing over details.
Keith found himself stepping up more than usual, especially with Brian Jones not pulling his weight during this intense grind. “I did all the parts on half the album that Brian normally would have done,” he recalls. This extra burden wasn’t easy, and it definitely made Keith a bit mad. But it also pushed him to grow, sharpen his skills, and take on a leadership role he might not have expected.
Pressure, Progress, and Lessons Learned
Despite the pressure cooker environment, Keith sees those early days as a valuable learning experience. The tight deadlines forced the band to focus, make quick decisions, and capture raw energy that might have been lost with more time. “That was a fact of life,” he says — the pace shaped the sound and spirit of those records.
Brian’s struggles added weight on Keith’s shoulders, but it also meant he had to rise up and fill in the gaps. This period wasn’t just about making albums fast; it was about resilience, creativity under fire, and forging the gritty character The Rolling Stones became known for.
In the end, those quick, pressure-filled sessions left a lasting mark on Keith — and on the band’s legacy — proving that sometimes, great music comes from chaos and challenge.
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