1967 was a highly successful year for The Rolling Stones. It started with the release of Between The Buttons and ended with the stylistic about-turn of Their Satanic Majesties Request. Released on Decca, Between The Buttons came out first in the UK, on January 20, 1967, with a revised US edition following on February 11. Between The Buttons' title came about by chance, following an off-the-cuff remark made by producer Andrew Loog Oldham to drummer Charlie Watts, who was doing some sketches for the artwork. Between the Buttons was the Stones' first album since April 1966's Aftermath and it became their fifth UK studio album. It remains one of the Stones' less well-known records, although it contains some very strong songs. Besides the five band members – Mick Jagger, who took lead vocals on all tracks and also played the tambourine and harmonica, was joined by Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman and Watts – there were several guest musicians. Ian Stewart plays piano and organ, and Nicky Hopkins plays piano, as does Jack Nitzsche. 

By late 1966, recording technology was allowing for greater experimentation, and though every track on Between The Buttons is credited to Jagger and Richards, there are certainly very different styles of music and songwriting to be heard on the album. "Yesterday's Papers" has the distinction of being the first song to be written solely by Jagger and features Nitzsche on harpsichord. On "Something Happened to Me Yesterday," the multi-talented Jones plays saxophone, trombone, and clarinet. Two tracks were exclusive to the UK album version. The first was the gentle waltz "Back Street Girl," written by Richards and Jagger. The second UK-only song on the album was "Please Go Home," which was based on a Bo Diddley-style beat. It was later released in America on the compilation album Flowers.

The album artwork features cartoons and drawings by Watts, and the cover features a photograph taken by Gered Mankowitz in mid-November 1966, following an all-night recording session at Olympic Sound Studios. The band went to Primrose Hill park, in north London, just after dawn, arriving in a Rolls Royce. Mankowitz said the photograph, which he made deliberately bleary by spreading Vaseline on his lens, captured "the ethereal, druggy feel of the time," adding, "There was this well-known London character called Maxie – a sort of prototype hippie – just standing on his own playing the flute. Mick walked up to him and offered him a joint and his only response was, ‘Ah, breakfast!'"