To celebrate the Stones' 60th anniversary (and counting), EW lists the songs that most defined the rock and roll pioneers' career.
VonDerek Scancarelli Updated Dec 20, 2022 at 12:23 pm. m. ITS T
On July 12, 1962, a band then known as the Rollin' Stones took the stage for the first time at the Marquee Jazz Club in London, England. InKeith Richards'Memories 2010,Life,The guitarist remembers borrowing money.Mick JaggerThe father of hiring a team for the debut concert, in which the young people played blues classics and had something to prove.rolling Stonesas one of the most universally recognized names in music.
However, in the early '60s, the blues-obsessed group was only in its embryonic stage, performing covers of American icons likemandrill bayaYbo didleywhile looking for the next meal.
Sixty years later, the band returned to the streets in the summer of 2022, touring Europe to celebrate this unprecedented milestone.Mick Jagger,Keith Richards, YRonnie Maderaplayed for the first time since the loss of beloved drummer Charlie Watts, whodied in August 2021.
To celebrate the band's longevity and their insatiable desire to bring live music to the masses, EW ranked the 10 greatest Rolling Stones songs of all time.
10. "Angie" (1973)
This acoustic ballad appeared on the band's 1973 album.Goat head soup.The featured strings and piano arrangements stray slightly from the Stones' usual hustle and position Mick Jagger as an emotional ex-lover seeking closure through music. Jagger's performance evokes feelings of lost love, but not without a grueling struggle: "Angie, you're beautiful, yes, but isn't it time we said goodbye?"
In Keith Richards' autobiography, the guitarist and songwriter said he wrote "Angie" while recovering in rehab. While fans speculated that the song's name had some connection to his daughter Angela, Richards says the song had nothing to do with it, and that the name "Angie" was just a passing letter he picked up.
9. "Cargo Beast" (1978)
"Beast of Burden" fused the sound of Richards and Ronnie Wood in a way that clearly evolved from the late '60s Stones.some girls,The band went back to the 1980s, when pop music took a dramatic turn in songwriting, both technically and philosophically.
Before the hard-hitting spin on disco-era dance tracks like "Emotional Rescue" and "She's So Cold," the cuts on "Beast of Burden" contained the core of what made the Rolling Stones great, but boasted a modern energy like saying: "We will not be left behind." Despite Richard's ongoing battle with drugs, there was still fire in the band.
8. "You Don't Always Get What You Want" (1969)
It's undeniable that some of life's best lessons are most easily distilled through music. And there's no better song to deal with expectations and disappointment than "You Can't Always Get What You Want" from the Stones' 1969 album.let it bleed
The instrumental arrangement, which includes the addition of piano, horn and the London Bach Choir, gives the piece the confidence, comfort and solace that made the song universally popular. To this day, spectators at the stadium drown Jagger in singing along to the chorus. With a cool breeze and an electrifying crowd, it's a cathartic experience.
7. "Brown Sugar" (1971)
A song often considered controversial for its references to slavery, heroin, race and sex.sticky fingersTheir 1971 No. 1 hit "Brown Sugar" contains the two inherent elements of the Stones' most enduring melodies: Jagger's notoriously taboo lyrics and Richard's high-pitched, commanding guitar riffs.
There has been debate over who inspired the song: Marsha Hunt, an actress and model with whom Jagger had his first child, or showgirl Claudia Lennear, who was dating the Stones frontman at the time the song was recorded. After their lyrics were criticized in 2021, the Stones leftBrown sugarof their setlist, howeverLennear accountTo bendYou do not agree with the decision. “When did we learn to understand history without getting angry? We're not really in that space right now," he said. "I'm sensitive, but when it comes to poetic freedom, I let go. It's just a great riff. It's a great chorus line. Keith Richards hits the first two notes, everyone is on their feet, everyone is clapping, dancing, singing. My first thought when I hear it is, 'Long live the Rolling Stones'."
In stark contrast to the mellow country vibes of "Wild Horses," "Brown Sugar" asserts itself with the same ferocity of the 1960s Stones, but with a ruthlessness indicative of drugs and the chaos in which society finds itself. try with the rest. of the decade. Jagger explained that the vagueness of the suggestive theme resulted in a hodgepodge of inappropriate material leading to a great rock 'n' roll song. There's still a lot to see in 2022.
6. "(I Can't Get Any) Satisfaction" (1965)
"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" is widely considered the Rolling Stones' most popular song and has been streamed over 600 million times on Spotify and YouTube. A staple at family barbecues, pubs and sports arenas, the music transcends genre, time and geography.
From the band's 1965 album.out of our mindsThe track was the Stones' first number one record in the United States. Ironically, Jagger allegedly wrote the lyrics in Florida to express his frustration and disappointment in the United States, a country he considered too bland and commercialized. It seems that America's youth agreed. Richards claimed that the song's legendary riff came to him overnight, but luckily he recorded it.
5. "Sympathy for the Devil" (1968)
"Allow me to introduce myself, I am a rich man with good taste!" It's a line sung aloud by fans of all ages, usually behind the microphone at a karaoke bar after drinking a cocktail or two. When Jagger wooed the public in 1968BBC Circo de rock and rollIn particular, she strutted across the stage in a way that still inspires fans to sway their hips like sex symbols. The layered percussion intentionally adds a layer of funk that is often overlooked. But thebeggars banquetThe track doesn't omit the melancholy guitar that defines the Stones' spirit.
The lyrics also leave no question unanswered and, with a wink, address everything that made the band feel both in awe and unhappiness. Religion, war, police brutality, lust, and violence receive attention, but fundamentally the unifying theme is that of good and evil. It is documented that Jagger was inspired by the writings of Ukrainian writer Mikhail Bulgakov, whose dark satire commented on the ideology of Christianity.
4. "Wild Horses" (1971)
Recorded at Alabama's Muscle Shoals Studio in the late '60s, "Wild Horses" is made of the magic found only in the most vulnerable moments of a plucky rock star's dark reflection.
Released on the band's 1971 album.sticky fingers,The track began as an ode by Keith Richards to his newborn son, whom he has missed along the way. But the song's message was reworked by Jagger to do justice to the story of a faltering relationship. It has since been reinterpreted by fans the world over, with nods to commitment and devotion, fleeting youth and, most commonly, the emotional weight of love and loss.
3. "Paint it Black" (1966)
The Rolling Stones debut in the United States in 1966resultit opens with a pulsing beat and beautiful but decidedly ominous and terrifying guitar that confuses and seduces music fans. On "Paint It, Black", the audible strum of the guitar strings becomes an instrument in itself, combined with the sitar sounds contributing to the rave that Richards described as almost comical.
The perfect complement to the dark and mystical lyrics delivered by Jagger's aggressive melodic invention, the song defined the strangest, most powerful sound the Rolling Stones have to offer. And although the song is said to have been written from the perspective of someone struggling with depression after a loss, the song has seemingly gone down in emo history with a permanent stance on psychedelics.
2. "Jumping Jack Flash" (1968)
Of all music's best songs, few begin with a line as defining as Jagger's declaration, "I was born in a hurricane of crossfire." Stones, the 1968 single is considered by historians as the beginning of the band's greatest era. Jagger described the song as a metaphor for the band's return from an era of psychedelic experimentation.
The song's namesake, an homage to Richard's real-life gardener named Jack, transcended its literal inspiration from rock 'n' roll folklore. Wouldn't it be nice to imagine Jumpin' Jack Flash somewhere in an alternate timeline with the pinball wizard in one?Yellow Submarine? The 2012 HBO documentarycrossfire hurricane, named after the opening lyric, is a stunning glimpse into the madness that enveloped the Stones' first 20 years.
1. "Give Me Shelter" (1969)
The opening notes of "Gimme Shelter" alone are enough to transport you to another moment in American history. From the 1969 albumlet it bleed, calming yet haunting harmonies, and screeching riffs build tension only to be released later.
The lyrics are a heart-wrenching, down-to-earth acknowledgment of a world of suffering: war, rape and murder are just a shot away. Featuring the soulful voice of gospel singer Merry Clayton, the song's legacy reflects disillusioned Vietnam-era America, but Richards explained that his original source of inspiration was watching pedestrians taking shelter from a downpour. Furthermore, the band explained that the lyrical basis came from the hurts of a jealous heart.
Decades after its creation and with its permanent new meaning assigned to it, Richards described the track as "apocalyptic". In 1970 a documentary with the same name was released.Give me shelter, was created by the great names of cinéma vérité, the Maysles brothers. The film chronicles the Rolling Stones' tragic and deadly 1969 concert at Altamont Speedway in California.
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- By Derek Scancarelli
FAQs
How many top 10 hits have the Rolling Stones had? ›
Since then, The Stones have amassed the most top 10 albums (37) in the history of the Billboard 200 chart, including nine No. 1s. Also, on the Hot 100 songs chart, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers have notched 23 top 10s, including eight Number 1s.
Did the Rolling Stones make psychedelic music? ›Bands the world over wanted to be part of a psychedelic revolution that was changing pop music. And The Rolling Stones were no different. Their Satanic Majesties Request was a tangle of psychedelic sounds and influences, complete with iconic 3D artwork.
What is the best Rolling Stones compilation? ›Hot Rocks (1964-1971) (1971) [Compilation]
It has all the band's early singles, right through their classic late 60's album cuts, ending with tracks from Sticky Fingers. The best Stones package.
The Beatles had 20 #1 singles, The Stones had 8. The Beatles had 19 #1 albums, and The Stones had 9. One way The Stones surpassed The Beatles is that they stayed together! That means they charted 37 albums over the years, and that's the impressive reason they earned the #2 position on the top artists list.
Who has the most Top 10 hits of all time? ›With 40 top 10 hits in the Hot 100 over her career, Swift surpassed Madonna as the woman with the most top 10s in the chart's history. (Madonna has 38 top 10 singles.) Swift is only surpassed by Drake, who counts 59 top 10 hits.
Who was the first psychedelic rock band? ›The first known band to categorize their music as psychedelic rock was Austin, Texas-based rock band The 13th Floor Elevators. The band, led by singer and guitarist Roky Erickson, even named their 1966 debut album The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators.
What was the first psychedelic rock song? ›In February and March, two singles were released that later achieved recognition as the first psychedelic hits: the Yardbirds' "Shapes of Things" and the Byrds' "Eight Miles High".
What artist is most connected with psychedelic rock? ›Pink Floyd are probably the only band who influenced psychedelic rock twice. Their first incarnation, led by Syd Barrett, was arguably the most interesting.
What are the 5 most recorded songs of all time? ›- “Yesterday” by The Beatles. ...
- “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. ...
- “(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones: ...
- “My Way” by Frank Sinatra. ...
- “Over the Rainbow” by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg, sung by Judy Garland.
"Blinding Lights" by the Weeknd (pictured) is the most-streamed song of all time on Spotify, with over 3.4 billion streams as of March 2023.
What is the #1 most popular song of all time? ›
According to Guinness World Records, Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" (1942) as performed by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single worldwide, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies.
Who is the best guitarist in the Rolling Stones? ›Hendrix is joined by the likes of Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page and Pete Townshend among the top 10, in a list laden with rock 'n' roll icons spanning decades.
Which band is better Beatles or Rolling Stones? ›The Beatles were a great band, but The Rolling Stones still are a great band, one which has carried on for sixty years, has more music, and written far greater numbers of legendary tracks than The Beatles ever could have dreamed to as a band, or as solo artists for that matter.
What is the best album of all time according to Rolling Stone? ›The Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band topped the list, with Rolling Stone's editors describing it as "the most important rock 'n' roll album ever made".
Are Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger friends? ›“We went through some pretty strange times,” Mick Jagger shared while inducting the Beatles into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. “We had a sort of — a lot of rivalry in those early years, and a little bit of friction, but we always ended up friends.
Who is the biggest rock and roll band of all time? ›The Beatles
The Beatles are unquestionably the best and most important band in rock history, as well as the most compelling story.
Turns out John Lennon led the pack, having sung lead on 109 Beatles tunes. Paul McCartney was a very close 2nd with 98. But while Lennon dominated the early Beatles albums (songs like “Please Please Me”), McCartney tended to sing more leads on the band's later recordings.
Who sold most albums ever? ›Perhaps unsurprisingly, British rock band The Beatles are top of the list for best-selling artists worldwide, with 183 million units certified sales. Second is Garth Brooks with over 157 million units sales, followed by Elvis Presley with 139 million units.
Who is the biggest selling solo artist of all time? ›Elvis Presley, recognised as the best-selling solo music artist of all time by Guinness World Records, sold over 400.
What female singer has the most number one hits? ›Mariah Carey (USA) has topped the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on 19 different occasions.
Who was the most famous guitarist from the psychedelic rock era? ›
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter.
Did the Beatles play psychedelic rock? ›The be-all and end-all of psychedelic rock and roll, 'Tomorrow Never Knows' has no equal. The final song on the landmark 'Revolver' album is one of the most mesmerizing slices of rock and roll ever recorded.
Who started the psychedelic movement? ›We're marking the centennial of the birth of psychologist Timothy Leary, considered the father of the psychedelic movement of the 1960s and its experiments with mind-altering drugs.
What were the first psychedelic songs? ›...
- White Rabbit. ...
- Pink Floyd. ...
- Yellow Submarine. ...
- Purple Haze. ...
- Red Hot Mama. ...
- Black Snake. ...
- Blue Room. ...
- For Reverend Green.
Surreal, whimsical, esoterically or literary-inspired lyrics are often used. There is often a strong emphasis on extended instrumental segments or jams. There is a strong keyboard presence, in the 1960s especially, using electronic organs, harpsichords, or the Mellotron, an early tape-driven 'sampler' keyboard.
Who wrote the first psychedelic song? ›In 1964, 'Any Way You Want It' was about as otherworldly as it got. Written by Dave Clark, the track marks the dividing line between the early '60s beat music and psychedelia, thanks to the band's heavy use of Echoplex reverb and delay units, which were used to give the track a distinctly space-age sound.
Did Jimi Hendrix play psychedelic rock? ›Jimi Hendrix was the most gifted instrumentalist of all time, a self-taught electric guitarist whose fluid, immersive style was perfectly suited to embrace—and then revolutionize—the late '60s psychedelic rock movement.
Which musician was known for psychedelic folk? ›David Crosby's 1971 album If Only I Could Remember My Name has been described as an early progenitor of the genre. Other major influences on later freak folk artists include Linda Perhacs,Anne Briggs, Karen Dalton, Shirley & Dolly Collins, Animal Collective, the Incredible String Band, Xiu Xiu, and Pearls Before Swine.
What were the two most important influences on psychedelic rock? ›It merged improvisation and sonic experimentation to create longer songs, incorporated the influence of Beat poetry and modern jazz, and utilized Eastern instruments such as the sitar.
Which singer holds the maximum number of songs in a day? ›He is well known for singing numerous Bollywood and Hindi songs. In 1993, Kumar Sanu holds the Guinness world record for singing the highest number of songs in one day. He recorded 28 songs in one day.
What is the #1 album of all time? ›
Michael Jackson's Thriller, estimated to have sold 70 million copies worldwide, is the best-selling album ever. Jackson also currently has the highest number of albums on the list with five, Celine Dion has four, while the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Madonna and Whitney Houston each have three.
What song has the most artists in one song? ›"X-You" is a testament to the future of music, where in the span of less than two months, 4,199 artists from across the world were able to incoporate all of their talent into one song.
What is the best selling 12 inch singles of all time? ›On March 7th, 1983, New Order pioneered dance music with the release of the best selling 12 inch single of all time—”Blue Monday”, whose initial run sold over 700,000 copies.
Who is the most underrated guitarist in Rolling Stone? ›Rolling Stone names Kurt Cobain, Mick Jones, Elliott Smith among most underrated guitarists. Rolling Stone magazine has posted a list of what they call the 25 most underrated guitarists. Taking the top spot is multi–instrumentalist Prince, with Nirvana vocalist Kurt Cobain taking the second place.
Who is the No 1 guitarist in Rolling Stone? ›Rolling Stone rank Jimi Hendrix as number 1 guitarist of all time. From RollingStone.com: Jimi Hendrix exploded our idea of what rock music could be: He manipulated the guitar, the whammy bar, the studio and the stage.
Who is number 1 guitarist of all time? ›1: Jimmy Page
The mastermind behind hard-rock giants Led Zeppelin is without a doubt the best guitarists who ever lived. Jimmy Page's clamorous fusion of blues-rock and hyperactive riffage took the revolutionary spirit of Jimi Hendrix's innovations and turned them into pure magic.
It's easy to see why those two extremely popular British bands were pitted against each other, but when it came to innovations in the songwriting, arrangements, and production of pop music in the 1960s, The Beatles' greatest rivals were The Beach Boys.
What is the most listened to rock band? ›- 1 The Beatles74%
- 2 Queen71%
- 3 The Rolling Stones71%
- 4 Paul McCartney70%
- 5 Fleetwood Mac69%
- 6 The Eagles68%
- 7 Elvis Presley68%
- 8 John Lennon68%
| Rank | Band | Certified Sales |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Beatles | 290.4 Million |
| 2 | The Rolling Stones | 102.7 Million |
| 3 | Pink Floyd | 123.8 Million |
| 4 | Beach Boys | 32.7 Million |
'(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction': The Rolling Stones' First US No.
What is considered the best Rolling Stones song? ›
- "Gimme Shelter" (1968) Janus.
- "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (1965) EdSullivan.com. ...
- "Sympathy for the Devil" (1968) Janus. ...
- "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Hearbreaker)" (1973) ...
- "Paint It Black" (1966) ...
- "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" (1971) ...
- "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (1968) ...
- "Shine a Light" (1972) ...
Billboard ranked them as the 2nd Greatest artist of all time (behind the Beatles). The Rolling Stones have scored 37 top-10 albums (9 No. 1 albums) on the Billboard 200 and 8 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
What was the Rolling Stones first top 10 hit? ›The Rolling Stones, "Angie" went to no. 1 Today in Music History.
What rock band has had the most number one hits? ›The Beatles have tallied the most No. 1 hits in the 61-year history of the Hot 100, with 20. Their closest competitor is Mariah Carey, with 18. They, too, are tops on the albums front: The band's 19 No.
Who has the most top hits of all time? ›Indeed, with 290 million records sold worldwide, the Beatles are at the top of many lists. Not surprisingly, the artist with the most No. 1 hits is the Beatles.
What was The Rolling Stones biggest selling song? ›- 8 Miss You.
- 7 Emotional Rescue.
- 6 Angie.
- 5 Honky Tonk Women.
- 4 Waiting On A Friend.
- 3 I Can't Get No Satisfaction.
- 2 Undercover Of The Night.
- 1 Rock And A Hard Place.
1 Sticky Fingers - 22.13 Million
You know the album, the one with the zipper on it. Sticky Fingers represents the best-selling Rolling Stones album of all time as it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021.
The most widely held belief is that the first rock'n'roll single was 1951's Rocket 88, written by Ike Turner, sung by Jackie Brenston (the saxophone player from Turner's backing band The Kings of Rhythm), and recorded by Sam Phillips, who later went on to found Sun records and discover Elvis Presley.
What was the name of the Rolling Stones biggest hit in the early 1960s? ›“Heart of Stone” (1965)
Early in 1965, the Stones hit the Top 20 for the second time (after “Time Is on My Side”) with this wonderfully prickly soul ballad written by Jagger and Richards.
The Rolling Stones, 'Some Girls'
It became their all-time biggest seller.
What was the first number one rock song? ›
1955 brings Rock and Roll's first #1 hit - as Bill Haley and His Comets top the Pop Chart with the single "Rock Around The Clock".
What is the biggest rock hit of all time? ›- 'Purple Haze' by Jimi Hendrix. ...
- 'Whole Lotta Love' by Led Zeppelin. ...
- 'Sympathy for the Devil' by The Rolling Stones. ...
- 'Under Pressure' by Queen & David Bowie. ...
- 'Baba O'Riley' by The Who. ...
- 'Comfortably Numb' by Pink Floyd. ...
- 'I Love Rock 'n' Roll' by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. ...
- 'Funk #49' by the James Gang.
- The Beatles. The Beatles are unquestionably the best and most important band in rock history, as well as the most compelling story. ...
- The Rolling Stones. ...
- U2. ...
- The Grateful Dead. ...
- Velvet Underground. ...
- Led Zeppelin. ...
- Ramones. ...
- Pink Floyd.
Pop icon Taylor Swift made music history this week when her epic, ten-minute-long version of “All Too Well” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song is the longest to ever reach the top spot by a margin of more than a minute, reports Gary Trust for Billboard.
Who is the number one solo artist of all time? ›Elvis Presley (USA) is the best-selling solo artist, with 1 billion sales worldwide (129.5 million in the USA).