50th Anniversary Edition of the ‘Stones Sessions’

A Sessionography and History of Studio and Select Live Recordings from the Famous Chart-Toppers to the Infamous Rarities

The book was first released in 1990 and updated in 2002. The 50th Anniversary Edition was published in August 2012 by Cherry Red.

The Rolling Stones Complete Recording Sessions, written and researched by Martin Elliott, is the definitive guide to the Rolling Stones’ recorded works. It provides significant live tour and concert details and sets the fifty years of events in a historical and cultural context.

Chris Kimsey, the renowned studio engineer and commercially the Rolling Stones most successful producer contributed fully and wrote the foreword for the 2012 book.

Chris Kimsey at Pathe Marconi Studios, Paris 1977.
Photo courtesy of
Barry Sage

His involvement with the Rolling Stones was over a 25 year period and for eleven albums: Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out (1970), Sticky Fingers (1971), Some Girls (1978), Emotional Rescue (1980), Sucking In The Seventies (1981), Tattoo You (1981), Undercover (1983), Rewind (1971-1984), Steel Wheels (1989), Flashpoint (1991) and Stripped (1995) and the Live At The Max IMAX film soundtrack (1991). His role ranged from tape operator, recording engineer, mastering engineer, mixer, associate producer and co-producer.

The book was extensively re-worked for 2012 release which tied in with the 50th anniversary of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band in the world and the commencement of their sixth decade at the forefront of contemporary music. Martin Elliott is a renowned authority and historian on the group, the book lists every session and recording (studio and significant live) – both the official releases and the infamous bootlegs.

Research conducted has included interviews with producers and engineers, session musicians, backing singers, Stones experts, archivists and musical technicians including: Madeline Bell, Phill Brown, Stephen Carter, Ed Cherney, Bob Clearmountain, Dr Andrew Demery, Sean Egan, Ronald Elliott, Bibi Farber, Bernard Fowler, Gary Galbraith, Keith Grant, Jim Horn, Chris Kimsey, Kristi Kimsey, Simon Kirke, Mike Krowiak, Phil Lawton, Chuck Leavell, Sherlie Matthews, Ian McLagan, Susan McLean, Alan O’Duffy, John Pasche, Gene Pitney, Adrienne Posta-Davis, Marc Roberty, Jane Rose, Jennifer Ruffy, Barry Sage, Nikki Sudden, Jim Sullivan, Rod Thear, Alex Vertikoff, Ann Waters, Ben Waters, Bobby Whitlock, Vicki Wickham, Graham Wiltshire.

Website last update – 5 February 2016 (News)