Great observations by Burdon. Always fascinating to hear the immediate contemporary assessments of albums that are now classics or milestones.

This is the most underrated early Stones albums

A very “Kinks like “ album. The most British of all Stones albums.

Burdon really had perceptive comments. I know Between the Buttons quite well and like it, but Burdon picked out a lot of things that I hadn't noticed.

Burdon's version of Paint it Black is great too. He makes some good points. Overall a great album! 👍

Eric Burdon is very honest in his comments here. I was a big fan of him by thattime.

Mr. Yesterday's Papers, you are a master at creating an audio and visual setting for these old texts. I salute you again.

Eric Burdon has great takes on these tracks.

Between the Buttons is my favorite Stones album. The apex of their golden age.

0:40 Is interesting to see someone saying "Old Stones" in 1967

Eric is spot on

Burdon's best comment: (Buttons lp) "it's not really the Stones". Exactly! Neither was Satanic Majesties and that's why both are my favorite Stones lp's of all time. Burdon's comments are pretty much on the mark. But Connection must have grown on him as he would cover it down the road. I thought however that he would go bonkers over Amanda Jones, one of the Stones most underrated rockers. It's sounds so Animals-like but Burdon was correct that the song's sound was "old Stones"

TRES Cool! Eric Rules!!

Very perceptive. Burden very politely pointed out things that do not work on the album while not loosing sight of the fact it is a great record. Overall, it is a second phase of The Rolling Stones development: they are no longer a cover band, they write their own material but it is a hit and miss process (literally). In addition, influence of The Beatles starts weighing on them. Luckily, we know now (which Burton obviously didn’t know at the time) that much greater things are yet to come, within a year or two.

A friend asked me to name an under-appreciated album from a major artist, and this was my answer.

It’s a totally underrated lp….i love every song on this record!! Eric would have killed to have written any of these tunes.

Brian Jones shines on this album, the instrumentation is really fantastic on it. Especially on songs like All Sold Out, Something happened to me yesterday, Back street girl, Cool Calm Collected etc.

Fascinating to hear Eric’s mainly positive thoughts on Between The Buttons, which being so different from their normal style baffled many fans & critics alike. Also interesting to hear him apparently diss Aftermath, surely one of their greatest albums!

He ended up recording Connection for a BBC session.

This is pretty much how I felt about this one. He really did understand what the Stones were up to... Thank you, Mr. Burdon, and YP!

…dig this site.

I found it to be a lucid critique of the great Eric Burdon of the excellent Rolling Stones album. I discovered “Between The Buttons” just a few months ago, thanks to an anonymous and well-intentioned message, where they recommended me some songs from this record. Since then, I have a special weakness for “She Smiled Sweetly”, and I have to add that this beautiful song reminds me a lot of the Bob Dylan classic, “Just Like a Woman”.

This is their "goody bag" or "lucky dip" album. Not surprised it is so popular. The amount of experimental styles in this lp makes it a top 5 Stones album.

I read somewhere that Mick said something like "It's rubbish, but Frank Zappa said it was his favorite Stones album, so what do I know?" I like it, esp the Brit version. Also, I'm sure it's the only Stones record to feature a kazoo solo. 🤔

Yeah, he was right. This could have been the end of them. Luckily they recovered and became themselves again. Getting rid of Oldham and going with Glyn Johns Jimmy Miller later on was the best thing that happened. Taking charge of their own business, their own label, and everything was very smart.

We still have this LP.

I love this album! I prefer the U.S. track list.

Great! 😃👍

One of their most underrated albums. Absolutely a must have but I prefer "Aftermath" though.

Interesting comment about 'Connection' and the Otis idea.

Between the buttons is just an Aftermath part II with Revolver´s influences in it.

I like the Stones a lot, but Eric Burdon is IMHO a massive talent.

My favorite LP of theirs- the US version anyway!

I think that's why I love "Buttons" and "Majesties", imagine if they would have done the same sounding thing.. people would have bitched about that, I love that it was experimental, but still sounds like the Stones.

Another mesmerizing episode. And based on the comments, an album that divides the Stones listeners into two camps. I love these contemporary reviews of the music because the reviewer can only base his criticism on what has come before, and 1966/7 was a period of great change and expectations. From what I read then and read now, the Beatles were constantly asked when they would break up. Rock bands had a short shelf life, so lasting 4 or 5 years was virtually unheard of. I doubt that many - or any - members of rock groups expected to still be playing at 30, let alone 40. 1966/7 was also the period that albums became the format for rock groups that wanted to make an impression. I bought BTB when it came out,and it was one of the first albums that I heard for the first after firing up a bowl. I confess that I was disappointed. I bought the US version as it was the only available, and the Stones had wandered far afield of their gutsy, bluesy sound (the US only Rolling Stones, Now was my favorite then and close to it now with 'Down Home Girl' and 'Mona' still bringing a smile to my lips. And the single 'Ruby Tuesday' could not touch 'The Last Time'/ 'Play With Fire,' at least to my ears. I did like 'All Sold Out,' but then I heard it as 'All Souled Out' which title I admired. But BTB quickly grew on me, and I love all the colors that Brian added to the songs. I know most folks will abhor my judgment, but after Sticky Fingers, the Stones sounded like a glorified bar band to me. I don't always agree with Eric's judgments, but they were untouched by the future, and based on my experience, some albums take more time to assimilate. The one thing that Eric, I, and all your listeners should agree on is that we love music. Just not the same music.

I believe the mystery instrument on Cool, Calm, Collected is a dulcimer.

Don't worry too much Eric, Allen Klein is going to get all the royalties anyway.

Interesting review. Seems most of the reviewers during these times were really engaged and genuine. A bit surprised that Burdon was so focused on the production aspect of the music, since I thought he was more of a rootsy / singer songwriter kind of guy more interested in the performance.

Good on Eric for recognizing how amazing "Backstreet Girl" is compared to much of their material. Too bad they never play it live.

I agree with him in every assessment

Keith said that 1967 had a hole in it somewhere and it started here. Hard to believe that they toured Europe not long after BTB's release and finished the year with Majesties. I certainly don't agree with Eric on the comparison with Aftermath though....that album ( both versions) was far more adventurous than BTB.

Aweomse layering of the Brian vids behind the tracks. Totally agree on all the Andrew bit. Im sure Jagger read this back in the day and it contributed to Andrew getting turfed.

Criminally underrated album - must have played this one over the decades more than Aftermath. It will come around and become a classic.

I love this album, and have always loved the fact it celebrates Charlie, the UK version vastly superior to the US version,. Mick has a wicked sense of humour and it shows on this album. Cheers

my favorite album. January 1967, before psychedelism (and the release of Jefferson Airplane surrealistic pillow in feb 1967). Old british boys in victorian style, very kinks-like. Yesterday's Paper, Connection, Please Go Home, Complicated, Miss Amanda Jones.... And those who said that 1967 was a cursed year for the stones. Maybe it is a good thing to recall that the 45 single "Let's Spend The Night Together / Ruby Tuesday" was released with the album. A cursed year really ?

Well, this is something different and very interesting. Funny, my gf just recently got on an Animals kick and rediscovered just how soulful Eric's voice is. And that in turn got me listening again to his post Animals stuff like Sky Pilot. I have my own opinion about the tracks on BTB but I'm content to just listen to Eric's ideas. Some of your U.S. viewers might be saying " Hey, where's Let's Spend the Night Together and Ruby Tuesday? two of the first three tracks we heard on the album. Yup, we here in America had a different version of BTB. We added those two, but lost Back Street Girl and Please Go Home. (Eric's right about Back Street Girl--that is one awesome song)

When I was a teen in the 80s, learning all the 60s bands (besides the radio hits), this one surprised me because I couldn't believe there was a Rolling Stones record that contained only one song that I knew, "Ruby Tuesday", and it turns out that song wasn't on the original British version. I don't know if any other songs from "Buttons" charted here in the States upon release, but I can tell you that not one song was played on classic rock radio here, besides "Ruby". I think that ultimately it was their most British record (post-massive fame) and was therefore a bigger deal over there. Even so, I continue to be a little shocked at how disliked "Aftermath" was by some folks, including Eric Burdon evidently. Otherwise, I generally agree with his song-by-song assessments on "Buttons".

Eric knows from experience that this is shambles. Can't think of an Animals album, or WAR ect that was solid end to end. Always a few good tracks.

Yesterday's Papers? I saw what you did there.

Burdon got the point

This is one of my favourite Stones albums, though I grew up with the North American version- the UK version is just as good though. The production is fine by me. I would say that it is rather similar in some ways to the Kinks' Face to Face LP, but that's a great one too. Interestingly though Jagger dismissed this album in later interviews.

Back in 1967 I spent hours trying to figure out the lyrics to "All Sold Out". I even tried playing the album at 45 and 16 RPM to see if that would help.

I always loved this LP. But, Mick hated it apparently. Because it was Andrew Loog Oldham who was the main influence pulling the strings.

too positive criticism for me this channel is pure gold

My favourite track is "Something happened to me yesterday" it's great! Sounds like they were having a party when it was being recorded. The police raid on Keith Richards house happened about the same time as the album was being recorded. I wonder if there could have been any connection. hmm!! 🤔🤔

"She smiled sweetly" is what hits. Album is so so when compared to those times.

He is bang on, to my ears. I don't own the album, never will. A throw away. Was it rushed to complete some recording contract?

Cool.

Eric is Still a great vocalist. My favourite vocalist since the untimely death of Steve Marriot

The US LP replaced Back Street Girl and Please Go Home with Ruby Tuesday and Let's Spend the Night Together. I guess this was an effort to sell more units since the original Between the Buttons didn't have any "hit" songs on it. It's a shame they didn't have Back Street Girl on the US pressing, since it's one of their best ballads from the mid-60s. A similar thing happened with Aftermath, where the US version replaced Mother's Little Helper, Out of Time, What to Do, and Take it or Leave it with Paint it Black

Is it their best album? I would say no, but it’s always been one of my favorites. Recorded when Andrew Loog Oldham was obsessing over Pet Sounds.

None of these tracks have become Stones classics whereas Aftermath has Under My Thumb on it, for me one of the greatest Stones tracks.

The most obscure Stones album, except for the excellent "Jamming with Edward."

I actually had "Between the Buttons" playing on my turntable when I got the notification for this video 😂💖Lovely footage of Brian! It's great to see a music channel giving him recognition. He deserves it. Nothing in music will ever top that performance of "Ruby Tuesday/Lets spend the Night Together" at 1:12. Fantastic video YP 😊

For those who don't know, Eric Burdon and The (New) Animals covered 'Connection' for the BBC: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/g6l4dpiatN2rnYE.html

There was a rumor going around at the time that the space between the buttons was dosed with LSD. I wonder how many people licked their record sleeves. 🤣

Really a sub par album. How can he say better than Aftermath is beyond me though.

He didn't dig Yesterday's Papers, which has some of the best lyrics Jagger delivered. But his assessments are spot on. The great problem with this album, with a couple of exceptions, are the arrangements.

Here in time it's still the case British and American LPs are very different. No Flowers for England. There is a big overlap on those 3, Aftermath, Between the Buttons, Flowers in terms of songs. Oddly, despite Flowers being the Stones answer to Yesterday and Today, ie an American album not conceived of as such by the band, it is the best imo. Backstreet Girl is one of my favorite Stones' songs in genera,l and my favorite lyrics wise, equal to Sympathy for the Devil. Sitting on a Fence is great lyric wise , too. " They just get married cause there's nothin else to do". Its a great song, shame it wasn't used for Aftermath. I got my albums from the US PX in Deutschland at that time. We'd get British, American and rarely Deutsch LPs, so it was odd that Bam, Bam we got both Between the Buttons and Flowers, but that was why.

Always loved this album, particularly the song "Connection", but some of the other tracks were empty repetition. I didn't know until now that the UK version included the gem "Backstreet Girl", which I first found on an Italian 'Stones compilation called "Slow Rollers". The U.S. version included "Let's spend the night together." and "Ruby Tuesday", both of which, though great songs, were played enough on "classic rock" stations by the time I bought these, that there was no reason to have either in my record collection.

Cool doing a whole album wish it was a good one all those songs sounded like retreads of other, better Stones songs.

I bought this recently on vinyl. Not really sure what I think about it. Something I read online said that it is regarded by many as one of the greatest rock albums of all time. Stumped... :0/

Between the Buttons - Yes, their most underated Lp and one of my all time favourite Lps . I love both the UK and USA versions, however the UK version is my favourite. No , it's not "Exile" ( arguably their most overated Lp) Yes, I'm a Brian Jones fan and have been since I was 11 (49 years ago), However, ive come to love/ appreciate the Mick Taylor period Lps and value them in their own right, however, the Post Jones Stones were quite a different band and should be judged on its own merits as should the 62 - 69 Jones era. I have a sense that if Keith Richards could bury /withdraw from sale Between the Buttons and Satanic Majesty's he would.

Well he kind of slagged it. Didn't he? I think it's got some great moments All Sold Out comes to mind.

Love Amanda Jones. First heard on movie Some kind of Wonderful, teen movie. The album for me is a bit uneven. Grows on me more .

Baroque Stones are underated

I'd trust Eric to be fair since I don't know anything about this album. I agree with him about the Stones being too serious. Because, of course they're cool, and funny isn't cool. On the other side of the coin you have 'The Goon Show,' 'Coasters' loving Beatles who seemed tp be incapable of being serious for any length of time - not that I'll ever complain. Who else would choose 'You Know My Name (Looh Up the number)' as the flip side of 'Let It Be?'

Amazing how the Stones went from tripe like this to the brilliance of Beggars Banquet in a year.

The Stones were successful in spite of Andrew Loog Oldham’s ever brutal “production”.

Hope Eric didn't spill the wine.

Did he listen the mono or stereo mix?

Reckon Eric would be embarrassed if he'd read this again . "damn sight better than Aftermath".....🖐🥴 "Please Go Home"...."lot's of new sounds here" ? one of the rare instances Jones sounded amateurish (on the Theremin) bleeep bleep buzz ..... The brilliant "Who's Been Sleeping Here" *definitely* Dylan ....and then the syrupy "She Smiled Sweetly" ; no doubt an ode to Mick's bird (that could sing).....Overall a good album , that's self evident . Before 1979 The Stones were incapable of making a mediocre album. Would've loved an observation what "Between The Buttocs" was about.

Good review, but still, I like the album.

Brian makes that Album

Eric always told it like it was tho..

Been a Stones fan pretty much my whole life and I’ve always thought of this one as a transitional record for them. Not one of my favorites, locked in the time, but some good songs.

I rate Eric quite high. I really like Help me Girl. Between the Buttons is a fab album. Not my fav though. I do prefer Aftermath.

What is that instrument on Cool, Calm, Collected Eric wonders about? It's also on Gomper from Satanic Majesties. That long necked Oud type thing Brian's holding in photos ? EDIT: The web says its Electric Dulcimer , and you can hear its doubled strings, which is why Oud came to mind.

I forgot that The Stones catalog is so full of filler

Eric Burden is a great artist who knows how to put songs together. The Stones are like junk yard dogs, barking and running in circles with no direction. Brian Jones saved them.

Better than Aftermath? NONONO!

Better than Aftermath, Eric? Um...no. Its a good album though.

I really don't like how he thought the Beatles had their hands on everything they did. They had the fifth Beatle George Martin who messed with everything. I usually don't like anyone being critical of the Stones,but Eric is different . He understands their sound and what they were doing. Probably the best I've ever heard and not many are more qualified to comment. The tracks " We love you " and Connection" are my favorites . Great Keith and Mick tunes. 😎

R O C K - RIO DE JANEIRO.

Except that "orchestra" was Brian Jones.

Burdon is way too critical here. This is one of the Stones best albums. I'd put it in their top 5.

Mick Jeger say to Eric Burden your Brian jones and him say too I know sound of Brian and we make song to gether so sound director of the Animal. It is I am but not you to my self John Martin give song to us but Luis Amstrong have song from Jaqub after that my body to get women as Koko Taylor it is dream come true. What happened ? It is Godbless from God. Yes Sir. Thank'slot.

Ruby tuesday the only stand out tack on it. The master suffers from bad production.

Burdon was being nice. Its a crap album.

Great album but could have been Ray Davies at the time as well. Defining English based pop and themes and moving away from US black based stuff