
From
1971 to 1977, Rolling Stones Records were distributed by Pioneer in
Japan.
Records have Warner yellow labels, and from August 1971 were distributed into simple insert picture sleeves - one 7" x 7" sheet of paper with lyrics on the back, on top of their company sleeves [which latter was the tongue shaped sleeve on 4 occasions].
Very rare promo copies were pressed for each track - distributed into stock PS - and bore blue labels
until mid-72, then white.
Two different artworks were made in 1971 for the single 'Brown Sugar' [P-1043S] in fold-out sleeves, including an exclusive 'red hammock' cover [the European white 'pants' design is rarer in Japan though].
'Wild Horses' [P-1062S], coupled with 'Sway' as in the US, also came out with two different covers: the 'horses' sleeve [also used in Mexico] is not common, but its 'on stage' version with a picture from the 'Gimme Shelter' movie in the red tones is a major Japanese rarity.
Three singles were extracted from the 'Exile On Main Street' album and distributed into the thick tongue shaped company sleeve, with yellow inserts inside.
'Tumbling Dice' [P-1115S] was the latest single from this era whom promo pressings would be issued on blue labels. The 'Happy' [P-1156S] single was the same coupling as for the US, yet is rarer than its predecessor. The third single, 'Rocks Off' is even harder-to-find, due to its exclusive flip - w/ 'Sweet Virginia' [P-1192S]. Besides an extremely rare UK promo-only version, Japan was indeed the only country to have issued this track as a single.
![The Rolling Stones - Brown Sugar - Pioneer P-1043S - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977], Japan discography The Rolling Stones - Brown Sugar - Pioneer P-1043S - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977], Japan discography](rsr/img/bs.jpg)
![The Rolling Stones - Angie - Pioneer P-1256S - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977], Japan discography The Rolling Stones - Angie - Pioneer P-1256S - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977], Japan discography](rsr/img/p1256.jpg)
![The Rolling Stones - Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo - Pioneer P-1281SS - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977], Japan discography The Rolling Stones - Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo - Pioneer P-1281SS - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977], Japan discography](rsr/img/p1281.jpg)
![The Rolling Stones - Fool To Cry - Pioneer P-15S - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977], Japan discography The Rolling Stones - Fool To Cry - Pioneer P-15S - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977], Japan discography](rsr/img/p15s.jpg)
![The Rolling Stones - Japan - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977] The Rolling Stones - Japan - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977]](rsr/img/bs_s.jpg)
![The Rolling Stones - Japan - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977] The Rolling Stones - Japan - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977]](rsr/img/p1115_s.jpg)
![The Rolling Stones - Japan - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977] The Rolling Stones - Japan - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977]](rsr/img/happy_s.jpg)
![The Rolling Stones - Rocks Off - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977], Japan discography The Rolling Stones - Rocks Off - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977], Japan discography](rsr/img/rocks_s.jpg)
'Angie' initially issued in 1973 [P-1256S] was reissued in 1976 with a new catalogue number [P-118S] and the same picture insert artwork inspired from the 'Goats Head Soup' album with the David Bailey's shot of Mick Jagger.
A unique live cover again was designed for the uncommon 'Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo [Heartbreaker]' [P-1281S], which strangely - or mistakenly - sported an artisanal reworked tongue logo [to be seen in Italy at the same time].
As for 'Angie', double numbering would happen for 'It's Only
Rock'n'Roll' [P-1333S and P-141S] whom artwork signed by airbrush artist Philip Castle illustrates the lyrics of the song - Germans also used this nice drawing for their 'Ain't Too Proud To Beg' picture sleeve.
Belgian artist Guy Pellaert designed the album of the same name whom second single 'Ain't Too Proud To Beg' picture sleeve [P 1359S] is a reproduction in miniature.
![The Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock'n'Roll - P1333S - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977], Japan discography The Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock'n'Roll - P1333S - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977], Japan discography](rsr/img/p1333.jpg)
![The Rolling Stones - Ain't Too Proud To Beg - P1359 - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977], Japan discography The Rolling Stones - Ain't Too Proud To Beg - P1359 - The RSR - Pioneer years [1971-1977], Japan discography](rsr/img/p1359.jpg)
Its rarity and beauty made it the second most desirable single from this era.
The picture sleeve for 'Fool To Cry' [P-15S] in 1976 is very Japanese since using the photo of Yasuhiro Wakabayashi from the 'Black & Blue' album artwork.
A word about company covers:
The first 2 singles were came into an Atlantic red & white company sleeve, then came the red
Pioneer CS until 1972 and the blue and white by 1975.