As we approach the Stones’ 50th anniversary (unbelievably, they formed in 1962, six months before the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the news was still black and white!) and contemplate the vast catalogue of music they have given the rock and roll generation isn’t it odd that radio still plays the same Rolling Stone greatest hits over and over?
Nothing against tracks like “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Brown Sugar,” “Start Me Up” and the rest but Jagger, Richards and the boys have wandered into some pretty interesting territory over the decades, especially during the more experimental late ’60s and early ‘70s years.
Here, then, are five rarely played Rolling Stones songs, and the selection will undoubtedly lead to some lively debate in the comments section below.
“Dead Flowers” was a product the Stones’ early ’70s flirtation with country music brought upon by Keith Richards’ friendship with ex-Byrd and Flying Burrito founder, Gram Parsons. Given that aside from country music, heroin was the chief common denominator between Parsons and Richards, the lyrics are suitably dark – “I’ll be in my basement room, with a needle and a spoon.” Listen for Mick Taylor’s twangfest and Clarence White impression.
You Tube link (Marquee '71) -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osoeMtSbxtU&feature=player_embedded“The Spider and the Fly,” a slow, mesmerizing blues number was the B-side of “Satisfaction” in the UK and an album cut on Out of Our Heads. It was recorded during their first U.S. tour at Chess studios.
You Tube link (Toshiba Studios, Tokyo 1995) -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDedLtT5sno&feature=player_embedded “Sweet Black Angel” (a.k.a.”Black Angel”) from their 1972 album Exile on Main St. was the B-side to “Tumbling Dice.” The Stones rarely wandered into overtly political territory but this is a tough song about civil rights activist Angela Davis, who was up on murder charges at the time.
You Tube link - (audio only) -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8M8f9x435I&feature=player_embedded “Lady Jane” from 1966 and the B-side to “Mother’s Little Helper” showcases the late, great Brian Jones on dulcimer, of all things. The song has an eerie Elizabethan tone matched with quaint, almost courtly-love lyrics.
You Tube link - (Ed Sullivan Show '66) -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpI0OykFwKg&feature=player_embedded“Indian Girl” is one of the more mellow moments on the patchy Emotional Rescue album. Jagger sounds sincere and provides some affecting humanitarian comment in this look at third world politics.
You Tube link (audio only) -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHp3m-8Io2Q&feature=player_embedded- Andrew Vaughan, 5.21.10
http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/Exile-Week-Rolling-Stones-521/