'The Rolling Stones Complete Recording Sessions 1962 -2012' is well-researched

"Rolling Stones Complete Recording Sessions 1962 - 2012 -- 50th Anniversary Edition"

Credits: 

Cherry Red Books

This review is part of a series of reviews of Rolling Stones books that have a 50th anniversary theme.
Most of the books about the Rolling Stones rehash the same stories about the band's sex, drugs and rock and roll, so if fans want a book that's only about the Rolling Stones' music, then one of the best options is the meticulously documented "The Rolling Stones Complete Recording Sessions 1962 -2012 -- 50th Anniversary Edition" by Martin Elliott.
The book's title is an exact description of its content. The entire book, which was published in the U.S. in October 2012, consists of all of the known songs recorded by the Rolling Stones on authorized releases and bootlegs.
Each song entry lists the following information:

• The song's title
• The songwriter(s)
• The total running time
• The date the song was recorded
• The location where the song was recorded
• Any additional musicians who performed the song with the Rolling Stones
• The song's producer(s)
• The song's engineer(s)
• What year(s) the song was performed live by the Rolling Stones
• The Rolling album(s) or video(s) that have the song (U.S. and U.K. releases only)
• The release dates and peak chart positions of those albums. (U.S. and U.K. charts only)
• The story behind the song and a mini-review

There are also indexes at the back of the book that list the songs by year of release and in alphabetical order.
Along with Rolling Stones historian Bill Wyman's published archives, this book is probably one of the most well-researched Rolling Stones books that you will ever find, and it's an essential resource for any serious collector of Rolling Stones albums, videos and bootlegs.
Fans will get a treat at reading the stories behind some of the lesser-known Stones recordings. A good example would be the stories behind the former bootlegs that were officially released on StonesArchives.com.
If you're looking for a book about Mick Jagger's sexual exploits or Keith Richards' drugged-out debauchery, then there are plenty of other books for that, although some of this book's stories about the songs mention the decadent behavior that inspired the songs. But if you want a comprehensive book about the Rolling Stones' recording history, then this is the gold sta