On Air (Rolling Stones album)

On Air is a compilation album containing live in the studio performances by the Rolling Stones that were broadcast on various BBC radio shows from 1963 to 1965, The album was released in multiple formats, including CD, double-CD deluxe edition, heavyweight vinyl and special limited-edition coloured vinyl. The release follows that of a coffee table book by Richard Havers, which shares the same title. The standard versions of the album contain 18 tracks, while the deluxe editions contain 32 tracks. == Critical reception ==

The album received a favourable Metacritic score of 84, with Uncut calling it "essentially [a] sequel" to the band's previous album, Blue & Lonesome, which was released in December 2016. Uncut also stated that On Air captures the "full flowering" of the Jagger/Richards songwriting relationship. The Los Angeles Times considered the album to be comparable to similar, previously released BBC recordings made by the Beatles during the period. Robert Christgau wrote in Vice: "Billed 'R&B' as they started playing out in 1963, the Stones were catchier and quicker than blues, and on these 32 radio transcriptions they sound like the premier bar band of their time if not ever. Where Blue & Lonesome is a sodden thing – many old rockers have recorded sharper, spunkier, wiser music – this collection proves what world-beaters they were even before they got serious about songwriting." == Track listing ==

Musicians • Mick Jagger – vocals, harmonica • Keith Richards – guitar, backing vocals • Brian Jones – guitar, harmonica • Bill Wyman – bass, backing vocals • Charlie Watts – drums • Ian Stewart – piano on "Down the Road a Piece", "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" Production • Engineering: Chris Bolster, Lewis Jones, John Barrett, Paul Pritchard • Demixing: James Clarke • Mastering: Alex Wharton • Text: Richard Havers • Design: Studio Fury • Cover image: Hulton Archive ==Charts==