The Rolling Stones Top 75 Countdown (#57-52)

At #58 of the Rolling Stones Top 75 songs Countdown, there was Miss You, their last #1 in the US, but not a #1 in the UK. At #57 we find Little Red Rooster, their 2nd #1 in the UK, but not a hit at all in the US. It was however a hit in Australia (#2), the Netherlands (#4), Germany (#14), and France (#21).

The song is a Blues standard credited to arranger and songwriter Willie Dixon. It was first recorded in 1961 by American Blues musician Howlin' Wolf in the Chicago Blues style. Here's his version:

Sam Cooke adapted the song in 1963 using a more uptempo approach:

The Rolling Stones' rendition remains closer to the original arrangement than Cooke's. It continues to be the only Blues song to reach the top of the British chart.

At #56, here's the hit single from Exile On Main St (1972); Tumbling Dice. The song peaked at #5 in the UK and the Netherlands, #6 in Norway, #7 in the US and Canada, #14 in Ireland, #17 in Germany and #28 in Belgium.

The song is known for its "groove", with Aerosmith's Joe Perry saying that it's, "so laid-back, it really sucks you in..."

In 1977, Linda Ronstadt covered the song Tumbling Dice for her Simple Dreams studio album. In an interview with Hit Parader magazine, she stated that her band played the song for sound checks, but nobody knew the words. Mick Jagger suggested that Ronstadt should sing more hard rock songs and suggested Tumbling Dice. She even made him write down the lyrics.

Produced by Peter Asher and released on Asylum Records as a single in the spring of 1978, Ronstadt had a hit with Tumbling Dice charting at #32 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Ronstadt also performed the song and starred in the movie FM. Her live version appears on the soundtrack album to this 1978 film. Here is that version:

At #55 we find The Spider and the Fly. It was first released on the US version of their 1965 album Out of Our Heads. In the UK it was released as the B-side to (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction. The song was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, presumably influenced by Mary Howitt's 1829 poem of the same name. One of their earliest attempts at Country music, this laid-back Country-Blues number was cut by the band during their first tour of the US at Chicago's Chess Records. The lyrics speak of the search for women on a night out.

So far, the songs we've heard, from our #75 up to and including #55 are rated (by me) with a 17/20. The next few songs, starting at #54, are rated with an 18/20.

At #54 is the band's first #1 in the UK, in June 1964. It's All Over Now was also #1 in the Netherlands, #2 in Ireland, #7 in France, #8 in Belgium, #9 in Australia, #14 in Germany, and #26 in the US and Canada. Here it is:

The song was written by Bobby Womack and Shirley Womack. It was first released by The Valentinos featuring Bobby Womack. The Valentinos version entered the Billboard Hot 100 on June 27, 1964, where it stayed on the chart for two weeks, peaking at #94.

A successful version was also recorded in the early 70s by Rod Stewart and his band The Faces.

At #53 we find a cool song from the Black and Blue album, called Memory Motel (1976). It is a significant song as it is one of the few which feature both Jagger and Richards sharing lead vocals. The song itself runs over seven minutes, one of the longest songs by the Rolling Stones.

Richards did not play guitar on this piece; Black and Blue has long been known as the album used to find a replacement for Mick Taylor, who left right before work was to begin on it. Harvey Mandel plays electric guitar while Wayne Perkins performs acoustic. Jagger, Richards, and Billy Preston play acoustic piano, electric piano, and string synthesizer on the song, respectively. Preston also contributes backing vocals along with Ron Wood, who would eventually become the Stones' lead guitarist.

At #52 we find the followup single to Little Red Rooster, called Heart Of Stone. A song that wouldn't feel out of place in the repertory of Van Morrison & Them, it's dramatic and edgy (for 1964).  Richie Unterberger says it better than I: 'Heart Of Stone [is] a slow and soulful, dramatic ballad with the kind of vaguely discordant, droning guitars heard on many an early Rolling Stones slow number. What was impressive was how the Jagger/Richards song, though similar in some respect to American Soul ballads of the period...was not explicitly derivative of any one Blues or Soul song that they were covering on their mid-60s records. The lilt of the verses owed something to Country music and the mournful harmonies heard on the latter part of the verses added to the overall feeling of melancholy moodiness."

The song peaked at #5 in Australia, #6 in the Netherlands, #19 in the US, and #24 in France. It was not released in the United Kingdom until featuring on the Out Of Our Heads UK album released September 1965.

For today's story I purposefully used a photo of Jagger together with John Lennon, because I've recently discovered this video of my favorite song of the Beatles and I wanted to share it with you. Jagger, as well as other members of the Rolling Stones are featured, so it's appropriate that we play it today. Even if you're familiar with the song, the video is totally worth it.

A small quiz for you all. During the last 3 weeks, I presented a song which momentarily pays tribute to A Day In The Life. Which was it? This is for Record Man, AFHI, Phoenix and anybody else who knows the answer and wants to take part.

If you're in the mood for passing tributes to famous songs by famous acts, here are three tougher questions:

1) The opening line of one of the biggest hits of the second half of the 50s is featured at the end of one of the most famous songs by the best Punk Rock group ever (which is not the Sex Pistols). Which is the 50s song and which is the 70s song?

2) A line from a hit that has been sung by both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, created by the pioneer of Rock'n'Roll, whom receives tribute in one of the best scenes of the film Back To The Future, is featured at the end of one of the most famous songs by the pixie prince of Glam Rock and his band. Which is the 50s song and which is the 70s song?

3) A line from Velvet Underground's seminal first album is referenced in a film of the last 20 years directed by Europe's most famous living gay auteur. Which is the song and which is the film?

You can give your answers in the comments' section. I will reveal the right answers, as well as feature the song videos, tomorrow.