Poll: U.S. or U.K. version of Aftermath

Didn't the group have input on both the US and UK track listings?

 

Am I the only one that loves "What To Do"?

 

UK

But I agree with those saying that "Goin' Home" should be the album closer.

 

Nope - I think it's great and a terrific closer for the LP...

 

UK version of course!!!

 

I like it too, by the way, nice backing vocals (pow pow pow) by Bill Wyman on this one.

 

I couldn't disagree more with every point you make here: The UK is The Stones' best LP. The US is not. One of the worst US label chop jobs, only equaled by Revolver. And the UK cover is better (the back photos are clear & sharp, not lo-rezed like the US photos, also). UK sound is light years better than any London Records pressing, too.

 

UK all the way...cover 100x better too

 

UK all the way. I only have the US one on LP and it's still special, but the UK one is the classic.

 

Me likey. Especially the "bow bow bow bow" backing vocal!

 

Yes. So those who want to bitch about the supposed US atrocities, take it up with Mr Drew Oldham.

 

I like "Take It Or Leave It".....otherwise, this is also my answer.

 

I also like "Take It Or Leave It".

 

Ooops, I just hit UK but then remembered that I prefer "Goin Home" as the final freak out track. In mono (even if it's a fold down, I hate cute, tinny stereo Stones in the 60s).

 

Well, I grew up with the U.S. version, but I also grew up with the U.S. Out of Our Heads and I prefer the UK version of that.

Same arguments: PIB sets the dark mood, Goin' Home drags in the middle of the album, Out of Time is absurdly overlong, What To Do is great but sounds 1965-ish (would have fit right on OOTH) and wrecks the mood, and Take It Or Leave would really have better been left recorded by others. As someone said in the album-by-album, I Am Waiting works better on side 2.

 

Sums it up for me. I voted US.

 

I like it! It seems like a very subtle tribute to Sam Cooke.

 

UK all the way. I had the U.S. for four years or so before I got an '80s UK Decca pressing and it took the UK version for the whole album to click for me. Why, I have no idea - it must be the sequencing and the ridiculous little fillers like "What To Do" and "Take It Or Leave It", which add nothing musically yet give the UK version more personality. Also, I think "Out Of Time" is the best song on either version.

I scored a mono Decca for $10 over the summer - unfortunately, it's so beaten up it's virtually unlistenable. Still nice to have, regardless, if just a tiny bit frustrating...

 

Aftermath was recorded entirely in the US.

Did they take the tapes with them back to England, or did they leave the originals, bringing only dubs home?

And were the UK discs thus cut from the masters, while the US had to use 2nd generation copies of the masters – or was it the other way round?

(This question also applies to subsequent Rolling Stones tracks recorded in the US.)

 

You think the 5:38 version is not too long?

 

UK

 

I voted for the US. It's tough losing Mother's Little Helper and Out of Time, but the US just flows better. And like others have said, Paint It Black is a great opener and Goin' Home works much better at the end. And a much better cover!

And I like What To Do too, but its just fine right there on side 4 of More Hot Rocks (one of my favorite Stones LP sides!)

 

Nope. Don't get me wrong - I can definitely see how people could - but the first time I heard the long version (I only knew the edit from Flowers), I was like "It just keeps on going... and going!" I can't get enough of that chorus.

 

U.S. version for me. I like the darker overall feel of the album and never cared much for Take it or Leave It, nor Mother's Little Helper. Also prefer to have Goin' Home at the end of side 2--seems like a natural album closer.