The back catalog

21:10 Apr 6, 2011 

I often forget the glossary, I tend to rush here for help!
Thanks a lot for your helpful comments.

20:48 Apr 6, 2011 

See if you can find it in the glossary; I seem to remember we had this in FR > EN, and it may have been something to do with 'fond...'?

What it means, in EN, is that the 'catalogue' is just the list of their recorded works (i.e. things that may have been in a record copany's catalogue, for example) — but it's not literally the catalogue itself.

And 'back' simply means 'old / previous recordings', rather than the most current stuff.

So what it means is that when the Stones signed with UMG, they brought all their old recordings with them (well, figuratively, at least!), and that during the period mentioned, most 'activity' (presumably, releases of discs etc.) was based on that existing stock of recordings (i.e. rather than fresh recordings — well that would be a bit tiring for the old dears, now wouldn't it?)