10 Classic Rolling Stones Songs
The Rolling Stones have had a remarkable career with incredible highs, and despite tragic lows, they have prevailed (surviving the firing and death of founding guitarist Brian Jones, the Altamont tragedy, the departure of Jones’ replacement Mick Taylor, the retirement of bassist Bill Wyman, the passing of drummer Charlie Watts, not to mention rampant drug abuse and run-ins with the law). With everything swirling about, they recorded generation defining songs.
The songs below represent the highest of the highs.
#10. Sympathy For The Devil
The song, written by largely by Mick Jagger, had the working title of “The Devil Is My Name,” having earlier been called “Fallen Angels.” Below is an alternate studio version which is close to how they performed the song live.
#9. Mixed Emotions
A collaborative effort between Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards that came after a period of tension and estrangement. Richards brought his own music to the sessions along with most of the song’s lyrics with the rest coming from Jagger in the studio.
#8. It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll
Released in 1974, the song reached #1 in the United States and #2 in the UK.
#7. Miss You
Released during the disco era (1978), “Miss You” went to #1 in the U.S., mercifully ending the seven-week reign of “Shadow Dancing” by Andy Gibb.
#6. Brown Sugar
Credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the song was written mostly by Jagger. It’s the opening track and lead single from their ninth studio album, “Sticky Fingers” (1971) and went to #1 in both the United States and Canada.
#5. Paint It Black
Originating from improvisational melodies played by guitarist Brian Jones on the sitar, all five band members contributed to the final arrangement although only Jagger and Richards were credited as songwriters.
#4. Start Me Up
Initially begun during the “Some Girls” sessions in 1978, the song was resurrected for the “Tattoo You” set in 1981 and went to #2 in both the U.S. and Canada. But that wasn’t the end of the story.
Fourteen years later, Microsoft paid $3 million to use “Start Me Up” in the company’s very first television commercial for Windows 95. Legend stated that Microsoft founder Bill Gates paid something like $14 million but that was not the case.
The campaign featuring “Start Me Up” made Microsoft a household name at a time when the public’s awareness of the company’s brand was minimal. Of course, the song is also a mainstay at sporting events/games.
#3. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
After establishing themselves as a potent Blues cover band, The Stones (namely singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards) began writing their own songs.
An early effort, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was built around the coolest riff of the decade. Richards came up with it in a motel room while on a U.S. tour.
Jagger’s lyrics referred to sexual frustration and overt commercialism. The song, from the Stones fourth album, “Out Of Our Heads,” became the band’s first U.S. #1 and the definitive summation of the mid-60s.
The Stones kept the stellar hits coming with “Paint It Black” and “Let’s Spend The Night Together” landing in the subsequent months.
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” Live 1965
#2. Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Like “Satisfaction,” Jumpin’ Jack Flash was a riff driven masterpiece with Richards using a number of guitars with different tunings and “primitive’ recording techniques to deliver “supernatural Delta Blues” that marked the band’s return to their Blues roots after tripping on the psychedelia of their previous album, “Their Satanic Majesties Request.”
Jagger spent one night writing songs at Richards house. In the morning Jagger heard the footsteps of the gardener Jack Dyer walking past a window.
Jagger asked what the noise was, and Richards responded: “Oh, that’s Jack – that’s jumpin’ Jack.” The lyrics evolved from there.
Jumpin’ Jack Flash Live Rock and Roll Circus version
#1. Gimme Shelter
The opening track from the ‘69 album “Let It Bleed,” “Gimmie Shelter” covered the brutal realities of war, rape and murder. Richards began working on the song’s signature ominous opening chords in London while Jagger was away filming “Performance.”
During a mixing session in L.A. Merry Clayton was brought in by producer Jack Nitzche. Clayton, about four months pregnant, poured her heart and soul recording her parts (even impressing Jagger) in just a few takes. However, when Clayton returned home she suffered a miscarriage, attributed by some to her exertions during the recording.
Though not released as a single “Gimme Shelter” became a staple of the Rolling Stones’ live shows and became a regular addition to their setlist during the ’72 American tour and was included on many compilation releases. The song was also a lynchpin in the Stones film of the same name.
“Gimmie Shelter” Live
###
