Comments, input and alterations are very welcome!
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Hitch Hike
(Marvin Gaye / William Stevenson / Clarence Paul)

RCA Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, US, November 2, 1964

Mick Jagger - lead vocals, backing vocals
Keith Richards - electric guitar, backing vocals
Charlie Watts - drums
Bill Wyman - bass
Brian Jones - electric guitar

I'm going to Chicago that's the last thing my baby stayed
I'm packing up my bags, I'm gonna leave this town right away
I'm gonna find that girl if I have to hitch hike round the world, hitch hike baby

Chicago city that's what the sign on the freeway read
I'm gonna keep on going ‘til I get to that street’s called 6th and Main
I've gotta find that girl if I have to hitch hike round the world, hitch hike baby

C'mon hitch hike, hitch hike children
Hitch hike, hitch hike baby
Hitch hike, hitch hike baby
C'mon hitch hike, hitch hike darling

Hitch hike baby, hitch hike children
Hitch hike baby, hitch hike children, hitch hike baby

I'm going to St. Louis but my next stop just might be LA, that's what I say
I got no money in my pocket so I'm going to have to hitch hike all the way
Hitch hike children
I'm gonna find that girl if I have to hitch hike round the world, hitch hike children

C'mon hitch hike, hitch hike children
Hitch hike, hitch hike baby
Hitch hike, hitch hike baby
C'mon hitch hike, hitch hike children

Now c'mon, c'mon hitch hike, hitch hike children
Hitch hike, hitch hike darling
C'mon hitch hike, hitch hike children
Hitch hike, hitch hike, hitch hike baby

Produced by Andrew Loog Oldham

First released on:
The Rolling Stones - “Out Of Our Heads” LP
(London PS 429) US, July 30, 1965

For comparison sake:

Mick Jagger - lead vocals, backing vocals
Keith Richards - electric guitar, backing vocals
Charlie Watts - drums
Bill Wyman - bass
Brian Jones - electric guitar


Absolutely Classic!

2 1 2 0

One of those early covers that doesn't quite work, like 'On The Boardwalk', or 'That's How Strong My Love Is'. 'Boardwalk' seemed an inappropriate selection, while 'Hitchhike' and 'That's How Strong My Love Is' are out of the vocal range of the young Jagger. Jagger was a master on the recent live version of THSMLI. I'll bet 'Boardwalk' would still sound strange. 'Hitchhike' might be fun.

it's a bit perfunctory, but not a disaster like "Under the Boardwalk" or "Money."

Meh. Not a throwaway, but it sure doesn't get my blood moving either. Just one of those harmless little tunes that gets overlooked amidst all the classics.

Drew

Marvin Gaye's version was in the US charts in 1962. Maybe somebody out there who knows about these things can tell me if it charted in the UK, but I don't think it did. So this is probably the Stones still playing their early role as self-appointed blues and soul missionaries, introducing great American music to England, but by late 1964 that role was starting to get a bit out of date.

It's too much just a copy of the original - the only thing the Stones add to it is a couple of little guitar runs and the solo (which I do like), but otherwise it's just the Stones trying to sound like Marvin Gaye. They don't quite succeed, because while the original performance is so good, the song itself (IMO) isn't all that strong:





By the way, it's Received Wisdom on this board that Under the Boardwalk, another just-a-copy-because-we-like-it cover from around this time, is rubbish (probably because it isn't "typical early Stones blues" and Mick Jagger's voice is definitely not up to Drifters standards). But I do like it, because somehow their love of the song comes through and makes a less than musically perfect performance shine. And I prefer that guitar bridge to the Drifters' strings.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-01-25 08:19 by Green Lady.

Classic!!!

Classic Crap

Masterpiece

2 1 2 0

I like all the songs mentioned (especially Money, which is Iggy and the Stooges half a decade early) but Hitch Hike probably least, mainly because of the rather limp backing vocals. It's still good.

Good but not great!

I really like this track talk topic, Rene´.
I do wonder, though, is there a reason for Brian always being credited last of the members?
(Am I a Brian fan, or what...)

Quote
rootsman
Good but not great!

I really like this track talk topic, Rene´.
I do wonder, though, is there a reason for Brian always being credited last of the members?
(Am I a Brian fan, or what...)

Well, it depends on how long the person is or was in the band, that's all.

René

I dig all these soul covers.(except "I've Been Loving You Tooo Long" which was REALLY outta Jagger's range!) I always thought the track line-up was a bit odd on the USA "Out Of Our Heads" LP tho'- "Mercy, Mercy" was a strong opener but I didnt understand following it with "Hitch Hike" because they sound like the same song nearly..