Rockin til they drop: Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (L-R) CREDIT: Mark Seliger

he Rolling Stones have dropped a new single, and it is the best thing they have done in decades. Featuring both Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder jamming with the band, Sweet Sound of Heaven is a thrilling, uplifting proto-gospel song that belongs in the very highest echelons of the Stones’ starry catalogue.

It doesn’t attempt to recreate past glories so much as dive deeply into a roots music they love, and put their own distinct stamp on it. You would have to go back to Exile on Main Street to hear the Stones on such exultant form, deeply wrapped up in their music, lost in the groove and the moment.

Jagger leads from the front, with a towering vocal performance, the man who once asked for Sympathy for the Devil calling out to heavenly powers to make life on earth more bearable. The rhythm guitar of Keith Richards scratches and pokes away on the right side of the mix, Ronnie Wood’s sweet licks percolate on the left, and a stellar band fills all the spaces between, with Steve Jordan anchoring the sound in Charlie Watts’s old drum seat, and no less a superstar personage than Stevie Wonder rattling away on a very nimble electric piano and Rhodes organ.

The whole thing was recorded essentially live at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles in January this year, with the group in the round all facing each other. Footage shows Lady Gaga sitting on the floor, at first echoing and answering Jagger’s vocals, and gradually building in confidence to push beneath his voice, and drive him to ever greater heights. It is really one of Jagger’s finest ever performances, as the old devil exults mischievously in notions of heavenly reward. “No I’m not gonna end in some dusty motel / And I’m not gonna die in the dirt,” the 80-year-old frontman insists, shrugging off notions that he will meet some dismal traditional blues end.

Indeed, for a song about heavenly rewards, Jagger doesn’t seem particularly ready to meet his maker at all, preferring to revel in the pleasures of this earthly vale while he can: “I’m gonna live, I’m gonna cry, eat the bread, drink the wine / Cos I’m finally quenching my thirst.” There’s a fantastic moment, just before the horns punch in, when Jagger delivers what sounds like a justification and valediction for the Stones whole ethos of rocking til they drop: “Let us sing, let us shout, let us all stand up proud / Let the old still believe they are young!”


Sweet Sounds of Heaven features Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder

But the outstanding thrill of this performance is yet to come, as it builds to a huge climax and reaches a powerful conclusion after five minutes, only for Jordan to pick up the beat again. Gaga laughs and joins in, trilling the chorus melody, producer Andrew Watt adds a bass line and Jagger calls “Play me something, Stevie”, inspiring Wonder to weigh in with lubricious piano.

Gradually the whole band rejoins the fray, building it up again, higher and higher to an even more explosive climax or righteous musical joy. It is the kind of thing that can only happen when a band is playing together, live in the studio, something you will rarely hear on modern recordings. It is the essence of the Stones’ appeal in seven and a half minutes of pure pleasure. Honestly, the first time I heard it, it put a smile on this old critic’s face that lasted for a week.

Sweet Sound of Heaven is an anthem that belongs in the most soulful end of the Rolling Stones catalogue, as philosophical as You Can’t Always Get What You Want, deep and rootsy as Wild Horse, and as epic as Sympathy for the Devil. It shows off the Stones as a performing band in all their glory.

When the song was mentioned during the press launch at Hackney Empire earlier this month (for forthcoming album Hackney Diamonds), it immediately brought a gust of laughter from Richards. “It’s a kinda gospel song,” said Jagger. “Gospel!” chuckled Richards. “You’ve never been to church in your life!”

“I did go once!” protested Jagger.

“What’s it like?” said Richards, playing along.

“It’s a big building, normally, with arches,” joked Jagger.


Lady Gaga and Mick Jagger performing in 2012 CREDIT: WireImage

When I spoke to Richards recently, he told me he was particularly pleased with Sweet Sound of Heaven. “The reprise (at the end) was spontaneous, it is what happens with bands. The more you play, the more you want that extra bit. It was fun to make. Stevie was in town, and he happened to drop by, and it was the same with Lady Gaga, bless her, the woman can sing.

We used to work with Stevie a lot on the road tours in the Seventies, and hey man, he is a brilliant player. It was never intended to particularly bring in other people, they happened to be around, but if you can contribute things like they did, well, we’re the Rolling Stones, join the party!”

It all bodes incredibly well for the forthcoming album, and for the continuing adventures of the world’s greatest rock and roll band. “I’d like to take Sweet Sounds of Heaven on stage,” Richards told me. “The song is strong, and I think we can pull it off. Let’s find out!”

The Rolling Stones: Sweet Sound of Heaven is now available on all streaming platforms. Hackney Diamonds will be released on October 20

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/the-rolling-stones-lady-gaga...

Ah never mind my prior question about Apple Music users, it's on YT!

Lovely.
Sweet as a nut.

Love it! It deserves a header and a new thread but it's ok here

Me likey!

It's a really beautiful song. Keith described Streets of Shite as a Mick Tour de Force, but boy is this a Mick Tour de Force if there ever was one.

There aren't too many popular soul singers around any more, and it's amazing that at 80, Mick is still right up there with the best of them. He's never given enough credit for his soul chops, but this is a monster.

Still not a fan of Lady Gaga but have to say that without her, the song wouldn't be nearly as good. A couple seconds she overbsings, but the rest is really incredible. It's really beautiful how Mick sort of leads her through the song. The old master really showing the way. Credit there to the production of Watt.

I also understand Mick's comments now about Steve Jordan tastefully paying tribute to Charlie. It's clearly Steve Jordan, but he does some lovely stuff with Charlie like licks throughout.

It's a great feeling when your favorite band still writes the best songs.

Gazza wrote on Sep 28^th, 2023 at 11:27am:



I've only heard Angry and Sweet Sounds, and I don't know if I can handle more, it's so good I feel like I OD'd on music.

Guys- the song on my phone or laptop does not sound the way it really sounds. I played it through my phone over speakers in the car- WOW friggin WEE! It sounds big and clear like an old friend mate. Lady Ga Ga is a great fit. Made a Kroger run and Kroger is 7 mins away. Heard it twice. Got some milk, thanks.

This album will stun listeners.

Wow, great song. For me it proves their "future" lays in the blues and not in Rock. For "Angry" they are just too old but with tracks like this who knows what can happen in the near future.

I wish they'd play Let it Loose live...I could die happy after that...Mick's voice still got it as he is demonstrating on SSoH, or as he did last year in Berlin with Fool to Cry...
also Almost Hear You Sigh...sometimes I truly regret I was only born in the 90s and never had a chance to go to the Steel Wheels tour...but hell am I looking forward to getting to hear SSoH live next hear...what a time to be alive and be a fan of the greatest band in the world!