This is an extremely rare and, even among hard-core Rolling Stones collectors, surprisingly unknown obscurity from the Rolling Stones catalog. It has a fascinating history, which is documented in a few places on the web, including Wikipedia, Snopes, and the Rolling Stones FAQ. All three sites tell a similar story, like this one from Snopes:
When the Stones decided to leave Decca Records and start their own label (Rolling Stones Records) in 1970, Decca informed them that their contract obligated them to deliver one more single. The Stones dutifully complied by handing over the unreleasable "Schoolboy Blues," also known as "Cocksucker Blues." (Strangely enough, the song was eventually released by Decca in Germany, as a bonus single included with the 1983 four-LP boxed set The Rest of the Best. The set was quickly pulled and rereleased without the single.)
Many collectors are aware of a bootleg copy of this single, which can be had for $100 or so, but as far as I can determine, this is one of the limited (and unknown) number of copies of the single that appeared in the 1983 (84?) German LP box set. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to determine how many copies exist, nor have I found any copies for sale or auction or even an image of the Decca-released single.
From my experience, however, this is clearly not a bootleg, since it has a high-quality picture sleeve, a professional produced label, and even a copyright warning along the label's outer edge. All bootlegs I've seen have blank labels or no label at all, and have cheap-looking sleeves or inserts (in the case of LPs).
Another oddity about this single is the band's use of the moniker "Nanker Phelge." As explained in Wikipedia,
Nanker Phelge (aka Nanker/Phelge) was a collective pseudonym used between 1963 and 1965 for several Rolling Stones group compositions. Stones bassist Bill Wyman explained the origins of the name in his 2002 book, Rolling with the Stones:
When the Stones cut "Stoned"—or "Stones," according to early misprinted pressings—as the B-side to "I Wanna Be Your Man," Brian [Jones] suggested crediting it to Nanker/Phelge. The entire band would share writing royalties. Phelge came from Edith Grove flatmate Jimmy Phelge, while a Nanker was a revolting face that band members, Brian in particular, would pull.
Needless to say, the lyrics of this amazing record are as outrageous as the picture sleeve itself! Though I have no reference confirming it, my suspicion is that the single released in the Decca box set was produced by a Stones fan within the company who wanted to complete Jagger's plan to give the company The Finger back in 1970. When Decca executives discovered the misdeed, they ordered the box set pulled and single removed. Condition Detail:Label: M | Vinyl: M- | Audio: M-Written by: Dr. JohnProduced by: Mick JaggerChart info: Not charted 1984Mix: Stereo (Default for U.S. 45s after 1972)
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More 45's by The Rolling Stones |
Ain't Too Proud To Beg/ Dance Little Sister (M-), Rolling Stones 19302, 1974: $12.00 |
Almost Hear You Sigh/ Break The Spell (M), Rolling Stones 73093, 1990: $8.00 |
Angie/ Silver Train (M), Rolling Stones 656068 , 1973: $20.00 |
Beast Of Burden/ When The Whip Comes Down (M-), Rolling Stones 19309, 1978: $12.00 |
Emotional Rescue/ Down in the Hole (M), Rolling Stones 20001, 1980: $12.00 |
Going To A Go-Go (M), Rolling Stones 21301 , 1982: $18.00 |
Hang Fire (M), Rolling Stones 40305 , 1982: $20.00 |
Heart Of Stone/ What A Shame (M-), London 9725, 1965: $25.00 |
Highwire/ 2000 Light Years From Home (M-), Rolling Stones 73742, 1991: $7.50 |
I Don't Know Why/ Try A Little Harder (M), Abkco 4701, 1975: $15.00 |
It's All Over Now/ Good Times Bad Times (M-), London 9687, 1964: $300.00 |
Miss You/ Far Away Eyes (M), Rolling Stones 19307, 1978: $18.00 |
Not Fade Away/ I Wanna Be Your Man (M), London 9657 , 1964: $20.00 |
Paint It, Black/ Stupid Girl (M-), London 901, 1966: $75.00 |
Sexdrive/ Under Cover of the Night (M), Rolling Stones 73789, 1991: $9.00 |
Tell Me (You're Coming Back)/ I Just Want To Make Love To You (M), London 9682, 1964: $180.00 |
The Last Time/ Play With Fire (M), London 9741, 1965: $200.00 |
Time Is On My Side/ Congratulations (M-), London 9708, 1964: $90.00 |
Undercover Of The Night/ All The Way Down (M-), Rolling Stones 99813, 1983: $12.00 |
Waiting On A Friend (M), Rolling Stones 21004 , 1981: $15.00 |
Waiting On A Friend/ Little T&A (M-), Rolling Stones 21004, 1981: $18.00 |
Waiting On A Friend/ Little T&A (M-), Rolling Stones 21004, 1981: $10.00 |
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If you like this kind of music, take a listen to . . . |
Abraham, Martin & John/ Daddy Rollin' (In Your Arms) by Dion (M), Laurie 3464, 1968: $15.00 |
Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)/ Victim of Circumstance by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (M), Boardwalk 11150, 1982: $11.00 |
Emotions In Motion/ Catch 22 by Billy Squier (M), Capitol 5135, 1982: $15.00 |
Fake Friends/ Nitetime by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (M), MCA 52240, 1983: $14.00 |
He's Gonna Step On You Again/ Sometimes It's Not Enough by John Kongos (M-), Elektra 45729, 1971: $12.00 |
Midnight Man/ White Man-Black Man by The James Gang (M), ABC 11312, 1971: $7.50 |
My Size/ I Believe In Everything by John Entwistle (M), Decca 32896 , 1971: $14.00 |
Skyscraper Commando/ Power by Elephants Memory (M-), Metromedia 210 , 1971: $10.00 |
Spinster by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (M), Blackheart FR-15, 1994: $10.00 $8.00 |
Tongue In Cheek/ Woman by Sugarloaf (M), Liberty 56218, 1971: $24.00 |
Tongue In Cheek/ Woman by Sugarloaf (M), Liberty 56218, 1971: $12.00 |
Touch Me/ I Don't Need Your Love by Fancy (M-), Big Tree 16026, 1974: $7.00 |
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