ABKCO Records and HDtracks announce the first-ever release of high definition digital downloads of the Rolling Stones original catalog of studio, compilation and live albums in fidelity FLAC formats. These Rolling Stones titles are offered in both 176.4kHz/24-bit and 88.2kHz/24-bit and both versions are DRM-free.



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The initial release of five ABKCO Rolling Stones albums on HDtracks are the first of several Stones collections to be made available exclusively from the HDtracks.com online store at www.hdtracks.com. An additional twenty two ABKCO Rolling Stones titles will subsequently be released. This campaign follows in the footsteps of last month's highly successful ABKCO Records/HDtracks release of four classic Sam Cooke albums from ABKCO's catalog in 88.2kHz/24-bit.

The five Stones albums include The Rolling Stones, the band's very first album (UK version) that was first released on vinyl 46 years ago as well as The Rolling Stones - No. 2, first released in 1965. Both albums are presented in mono as originally recorded.

The Rolling Stones - No. 2 includes three of the songs from the band's sessions at Chess Studios in Chicago in 1964 -- "Down The Road Apiece, "I Can't Be Satisfied" and "Time Is On My Side" that are, for the first time, offered in mono in a high resolution digital format. That album also includes the band's version of Solomon Burke's "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love," as recently reprised by Mick Jagger on this year's 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards. 12x5, includes six true stereo tracks that were also recorded at Chess, these were completed during the infamous June 1964 session: "2120 South Michigan Avenue," "Around And Around," "Confessin' The Blues," "Empty Heart," "It's All Over Now," and "If You Need Me."

Two compilation albums, Big Hits (High Tide & Green Grass) and Through The Past Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2) are also part of the initial ABKCO/HDtracks Rolling Stones releases. Big Hits covers the band's top selling singles released from 1964 to early 1966 including "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," "The Last Time," "As Tears Go By," "19th Nervous Breakdown" and "Get Off Of My Cloud." Through The Past, Darkly includes such Top Ten hits as "Paint It Black," "Mother's Little Helper," "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow?" "Ruby Tuesday," "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Honky Tonk Women."

Forthcoming releases in the series include: Out of Our Heads (both US and UK versions), December's Children, Aftermath (both US and UK versions), Let It Bleed, Between The Buttons (both UK and US versions), Beggars Banquet, The Rolling Stones Singles Collection, Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!, Their Satanic Majesties Request, The Rolling Stones (US version a/k/a England's Newest Hit Makers) Hot Rocks, More Hot Rocks, The Rolling Stones Now!, Got Live If You Want It!, Big Hits (High Tide & Green Grass) (UK version), Through The Past, Darkly (UK version), Metamorphosis, Flowers and a compilation of three UK EPs - The Rolling Stones, Five by Five and Got Live If You Want It!.