“The Rolling Stones No. 2” is the band’s second album, and it plays like a mission statement. The Stones are chasing the sound of American rhythm and blues, not just covering it. This is a record built to prove they can match the originals note for note while adding their own rough edge.
Opening With a Cover
The album opens with “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love,” a slow, soulful cover that sets the tone. It runs over five minutes, and the band stretches it out without losing the song’s weight. “Down Home Girl” follows at nearly four and a half minutes, a mid-tempo rocker that shows off the band’s sneer.
“You Can’t Catch Me” is the shortest track here at just under three and a half minutes, and it’s the purest rock-and-roll moment on the record. It’s fast, loose, and built for live performance. “Time Is on My Side” slows things back down, and the band’s version is tighter than the original.
“What a Shame” and “Grown Up Wrong” sit together in the middle of the record. Neither earns much attention on its own, but they move the album along without slowing it down. “Down the Road Apiece” picks things back up, and “Under the Boardwalk” keeps the energy going before the record’s second half shifts gears again.
The Back Half
“I Can’t Be Satisfied” is a slow blues number that gives the guitarist room to play. “Pain in My Heart” is shorter and sadder, a quiet moment before the final push. “Off the Hook” is a short, driving track that sounds like it’s heading somewhere, even if it doesn’t quite get there. The album closes with “Suzie-Q,” a one-minute instrumental coda that feels rushed but fitting.
The Verdict
This is a strong, uneven record. The covers are the heart of it, and the band’s versions of “Time Is on My Side” and “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” are the standout moments. The rockers in the middle are competent but forgettable, and the closing instrumental feels like a quick ending rather than a finish.
It’s a record about confidence, and mostly it delivers on that promise.
Key Facts
- Artist: The Rolling Stones
- Album: The Rolling Stones No. 2 (1965)
- Tracks: 12
- Total running time: 37 minutes
- Longest track: “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” (5:07)
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- Everybody Needs Somebody to Love5:07
- Down Home Girl4:17
- You Can’t Catch Me3:38
- Time Is on My Side3:00
- What a Shame3:09
- Grown Up Wrong2:08
- Down the Road Apiece3:00
- Under the Boardwalk2:50
- I Can’t Be Satisfied3:31
- Pain in My Heart2:14
- Off the Hook2:37
- Suzie-Q1:54
