The Story Behind The Rolling Stones Hits
Majority of the Rolling Stones hits were not only living proof of the band’s
ability to pack the crowds. These songs are also living reminders of the dramatic
happenings in the lives of the members of the World’s Greatest Rock and
Roll Band.
As the 2007 Rolling Stones concert tour gets halfway, fans and critics alike
are bent on reliving the stories behind the various hit songs of this seemingly
undying band, which, despite deaths, legal entanglements and other challenges,
remained a force to reckon with in the music world. And rightfully so, considering
that the stories behind these hit songs is as colorful as the currencies they
have earned for the band.
To summarize, this band (which was formed in the 60’s), have 55 original
albums and 37 singles that made it to the Top 10. Tucked under its cap are its
Hall of Fame Award in 1989 and a Number 4 ranking (according to the Rolling
Stone Magazine) in the list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Not to say
the least, the band has over 200 million in album sales all over the world.
Here is a closer look at some of the hit songs of the Rolling Stones after their
almost 40 years of existence:
- I Can’t Get No Satisfaction - This song was included in the
Out of Our Heads US album and is only the beginning of the many Stones hit
songs. This song, which was the beginning of a long song-writing tandem between
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, was ranked number two in the Rolling Stones
list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. While the Americans welcomed the song
with open arms, the British considered it too suggestive sex-wise (the song
talked about sexual intercourse) and so only a few UK stations included it
in their play list. Jagger himself admitted the important role played by Satisfaction
in the rising popularity of the Stones.
- Honky Tonk Women - Another hit song, which was released in 1969
almost successively in the United Kingdom and in the US, and which topped
both the UK and US charts. The song is again another successful collaboration
between Jagger and Richards which they wrote while vacationing in Brazil in
1968. Honky Tonk Women referred to a western bar dancer. It was allegedly
intended as a country song but ended up with two versions. What makes the
song tragic, despite the fact that it remained in the Billboard Hot 100 for
almost four weeks, is the date of its release which was a day after the funeral
of Brian Jones, a founding member of the Stones. It is ranked number 116 in
the Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
- Brown Sugar - This song, which was released in 1971, was ranked
490 in the Rolling Stones Greatest Songs of All Times. It became a hit both
in the US (number 1) and the UK (number two). A look at the Rolling Stones
set lists shows that this is a favorite.
- Angie - This ballad which talks about lost love was written by Richards
but was given a heart-wrenching rendition by Jagger. Ballads are a rarity
to this band but maybe this is the very reason why it topped the US charts
and ranked number five in the UK chart. There were rumors that Jagger wrote
the song and it tells of his romance with Angela (David Bowie’s wife).
Richards however denied this and claimed that his inspiration was his daughter.
The song became more famous when it was used by the German CDU party during
Angela Merkel’s election campaign.
Choosing the best song from the Rolling Stones hits can be an exercise in futility
considering that almost all (if not all) the songs that made it to the top of
the charts are very good songs. So why choose one when you an enjoy them all?
Rolling Stones Tour
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