The Rolling Stones Hardcover – December 1, 2020

There are SO MANY reviews already, and I hate to be redundant, but I really must say just HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! I kept hearing about it, of course, "The Stones' Bible", as it were, and I was intrigued, but the price was sadly prohibitive for yours truly, even a used copy was nearly $100! Still, seeing photos from the book online here and there was enough to make me "salivate like a Pavlov dog" and I knew I just HAD to one day have my own copy, secondhand, broken spine, missing dust jacket, whatever, I was prepared to settle as long as I could still enjoy the wonderous photos I kept hearing about. So, when Amazon put it up for sale at over $100 off the original price, I could NO longer resist! And the fact that it was brand-new, mint-in-the-box, carefully and sturdily packaged with FREE shipping, was just too good a deal to pass up! It arrived a day earlier than promised, via Amazon's own courier service, which hand delivered it to me personally. I had heard the book was large, but that's an understatement! The thing needs its own coffee table it's so big, and at 14 lbs the table better be sturdy enough to support it. It is HUGE, chockful of glorious, rare photographs by some of the world's premier photographers of the past five decades! Most of the book is dedicated to the band's early years, but there are more modern accounts toward its end. There's a section devoted entirely to international magazine covers. It's almost too much and will take some serious time to fully explore. Thus far, I've only managed to peruse it, but I am very impressed and well pleased overall! I know we've all heard it time and again, but in this case it's TRUE: If you're a serious Stones fan/addict/collector, this is THEE MUST-HAVE book for your library, and IF YOU ONLY BUY ONE STONES' BOOK in your lifetime, it should truly be THIS ONE!!! IT SERIOUSLY ROCKS! And so does Amazon--yet again! Thanks Amazon!

I've got a bit of a Stones book collection, including the large-format (and very expensive) Let It Bleed limited edition by Ethan Russell and the Genesis TOTA '75 book (also pricey). I'm happy to report that there is finally a definitive Stones photography book that is widely available and worth every penny. The Taschen book blows pretty much every previous widely available collection completely out of the water. The large, square format nicely accommodates the photos with photo credits throughout. And yes, even some of the famous Exile photos by Dominique Tarle are represented (unless you are saving up your $3500 to find a copy of that uber-collectible Genesis book on ebay, this book is definitely the way to go).This book lingers (appropriately) over the early years, the late '60's and 1970's. I think the time periods covered are balanced just the way most fans would like them to be.Also, the packaging is outstanding. From Amazon, it came shipped in an outer box, inner cardboard box, a cardboard protective box (featuring a handle and the cover image) and shrink wrap on the book inside. I've purchased many coffee table books from Amazon, and some have been damaged due to poor packing. But there is little to no risk of that happening with this book.

I already have seven (7) books on the Rolling Stones. I have all their music in multiple formats, including remasters and 180 gram vinyl. I have numerous of the Stones' posters, both newer and vintage. I follow the Stones on Facebook and get a daily feed of them as they frolic and romp around the world. Do I really need another Stones book? Certainly not. Isn't it time for me to accept that I'll never be asked to join the Stones and get a life of my own? Isn't it time that I turn my fixation to a band that is younger than 52 years old, or even that other band, the Beatles?The answer is yes to the last two questions, but with the arrival of this behemoth Taschen volume, that day will have to wait.The overall massive size and high quality of this distinguishes it immediately from what you already have. I like it in that it gives due coverage to Brian Jones as well as Bill Wyman. All phases of the Stones legacy are covered. It seems like fairly even coverage to me. At the end of the book there is a thick section which gives you an overview of hundreds of magazine covers and posters, etc. where the Stones have been profiled over the decades. It's really an impressive retrospective. Many of these photos you have seen before, but many you have not. In any event, it is nice to have so many archived in one deluxe location.It goes without saying that if you were to have only one Stones book, this would be the one you'd want. Nothing out there even comes close. But if you already have a small Stones library, this is a significant upgrade. Make room for it; you'll sorely regret it if you don't. Let's face it, for many of us the Stones are not just another band; they have provided the soundtrack for our lives. The memories this book will evoke won't just be about them--it will evoke memories about your own life and evolution. Get this, and spend a Saturday morning reflecting on the years that have gone by with the music of the great Rolling Stones playing in the background.

Being an American fan since the beginning, I can say this is the best book on the Rolling Stones. If you are like me, we are lucky to have grown up with The Stones, you will know each photo shoot that resulted in those iconic album covers. They are all represented including great outtakes. I'm a big fan of the early/mid Stones and the vast selection of photos from that era is astounding. With an added amazing collection of ads, posters, LP and 45 covers, and more, the high quality reproduction of the photos etc. and completeness of the Stones career are presented perfectly. It can't get any better than this book. Well done! Beautiful! Get it....(Mine did NOT arrive in a heavy cardboard box with a handle, just shrink-wrapped with no bubble wrap in a medium thick cardboard box)