The Rolling Stones Top 75 Countdown (#48-43)

At #48 of the Rolling Stones Top 75 songs Countdown, there is the first song that was recorded for the It's Only Rock 'n Roll album (1974). The song is called Time Waits For No One.

Time Waits For No One is one of the more mature and introspective songs of the Stones: a Rock ballad that opens with a riff by Richards which echoes throughout the rest of the song, a riff that is suitably reminiscent of time passing. There are also distinct Latin influences in the song, the guitar work in the song's middle section in particular is heavily influenced by that of Carlos Santana.

Time Waits For No One has additional importance as it is seen as one of the final strains between the original Rolling Stones members and Mick Taylor. Prior to this time, Taylor had added his own riffs and flourishes to songs by Jagger and Richards, as did all the band members. However, after the song was written, Taylor asserts that his contribution to it was of main significance. As co-writer with Mick Jagger (during a period when Keith Richards was frequently absent) Taylor mentions that he had Jagger's assurance that he would receive songwriting credit (as well as for Till The Next Goodbye) alongside usual credited composers Jagger and Richards, but he did not. His assurance had been such that he had mentioned it in an interview, prior to the album release with the recording, and was chagrined to find from the interviewer that no songs had credited him. It was this snub, along with the decision by the other Stones to head to Munich and begin recording the next album instead of touring in support of It's Only Rock 'n Roll, that was a major reason for Taylor's abrupt (and unexpected) resignation from the band.

Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine described Time Waits For No One as having "aching beauty". The song, though well regarded among the Stones' canon of work, has never been performed live. Here it is:

At #47 we find a song from the album Goats Head Soup (1973). Coming Down Again is sung as a duet by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. It is largely the work of Richards, who went as far as to say, "Coming Down Again' is my song," at the time of its release. A slower ballad similar in mood to another track on the album, Angie, the lyrics tell of Richards' relationship with then-girlfriend Anita Pallenberg, who had chosen to abandon her romantic liaison with his friend and bandmate Brian Jones in favour of one with him. It is regarded as one of Richards' best lead vocal performances.

At #46 there's a song from the same album. Dancing with Mr. D is the opening track of Goats Head Soup. It is a brooding rocker in line with much of the Stones' funk inspired recordings from the Goats Head Soup era. The song opens with a riff by Richards prominently repeated throughout the song. Jagger's lyrics allude to either dalliance with a succubus or Death himself, or even possibly the Devil.

At #45 here's the Rolling Stones' first US Top 10 hit ever. Time Is On My Side is a song written by Jerry Ragovoy (under the pseudonym of Norman Meade). It was first recorded by jazz trombonist Kai Winding and his Orchestra in 1963. The background vocals are attributed to Cissy Houston (Whitney's mother) and her cousins, sisters Dee Dee and Dionne Warwick.

In 1964 it was covered (with additional lyrics by Jimmy Norman) by both soul singer Irma Thomas and the Rolling Stones.

Irma Thomas' version reached #52 in the US Hot 100:

The Rolling Stones' version reached #3 in Canada, #5 in Belgium, #6 in the US and the Netherlands, and #28 in Germany:

At #44 is the song with which we began this adventure together. C*cksucker Blues (or Schoolboy Blues) has a long and interesting history - you can read it here: C*ocksucker Blues

The high position that I give this song is a combination of my appreciation of the song itself (which isn't bad at all), as well as the song's social significance. Since you can already listen to two versions on the link provided above, here's a third version for you:

Finally for today, here's the song at #43. Fool To Cry is a ballad from their 1976 album Black and Blue. A tender song, it showed a much softer side of the Stones than their usual bravado and provocation. It was the first single off the album, peaking at #6 in the UK, Canada and Ireland, #8 in the Netherlands and Norway, and at #10 in the US.

In 2008 came a great version by Taylor Dayne:

Tomorrow we will count down into the Top 40. See you then.