Comments, input and alterations are very welcome!
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Honky Tonk Women
(Mick Jagger / Keith Richards)

Olympic Sound Studios, London, UK, March 9 - 11 & 16,
May 12 - 25 & 28 and May 30 - June 5, 1969

Mick Jagger - lead vocals, backing vocals
Keith Richards - electric guitar, harmony vocals
Charlie Watts - drums
Bill Wyman - bass
Mick Taylor - electric guitar
Ian Stewart - piano
Jimmy Miller - cowbell
Steve Gregory - horns
Bud Beadle - horns
Doris Troy - backing vocals
Nanette Newman - backing vocals
Reparata and The Delrons - backing vocals
(Mary “Reparata” Aiese,
Lorraine Mazzola,
Nanette Licari)

I met a gin-soaked, bar-room queen in Memphis
She tried to take me upstairs for a ride
She had to heave me right across her shoulder
'Cause I just can't seem to drink you off my mind
It's the Honky Tonk Women, yeah
That gimme, gimme, gimme, the honky tonk blues

I laid a divorce in New York City
I had to put up some kind of a fight
The lady, then she covered me in roses
She blew my nose and then she blew my mind, yeah
It's the Honky Tonk Women
That gimme, gimme, gimme, the honky tonk blues, yeah, alright

It's the Honky Tonk Women
That gimme, gimme, gimme, the honky tonk blues, yeah, now
It's the Honky Tonk Women
That gimme, gimme, gimme, the honky tonk blues

Whoo!

Produced by Jimmy Miller

First released on:
The Rolling Stones -
“Honky Tonk Women / You Can’t Always Get What You Want” 7” single
(Decca F 12952) UK, July 4, 1969



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-11-21 14:18 by René.

Well, what can I say about this...except that it´s one of the best tracks ever!><

A masterpiece!!!!!!!!

What is the explanation for the different live-lyrics ("Paris")? It makes sense for the Paris-Gig in 76, but NY 69?

Why isn't Brians name on that single from july 1969? It must have been done spring 1969...

2 1 2 0

Not much you can say about it that hasn't been said already. Faultless.

Keith's playing and sound on this is fantastic. Same for the whole band in fact.

Thrilling track that just bounces off the vinyl. Amazing intro that hooks your heart and pulls you into a steamy old west bar. Love it in all its forms. I especially love the 78 version where Keith plays the intro for what seems like eternity. WOnderful.

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Come On
Why isn't Brians name on that single from july 1969? It must have been done spring 1969...

Because he wasn't an active member of the band anymore when they cut it. The released version was recorded from May 30th 1969 onwards, while Brian's last sessions where most probably in late February 1969, where he contributed to You Got The Silver and Midnight Rambler.

Mathijs

My favourite stones single, the drums and keefs guitar sound does it
for me.I could listen to the opening riff for hours.
The stones at there buccaneering best,
has to be the studio version, as i think live its sloppy and
dont have the punch as the original.
Should of been 20 mins long.... love it

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Come On
Why isn't Brians name on that single from july 1969? It must have been done spring 1969...

Brian's name isn't on it because he doesn't play on it.

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Mathijs

Because he wasn't an active member of the band anymore when they cut it. The released version was recorded from May 30th 1969 onwards, while Brian's last sessions where most probably in late February 1969, where he contributed to You Got The Silver and Midnight Rambler.

Mathijs

Brian is shown and or mentioned as being at sessions after February 1969 right up to May infact.

Mick Taylor has made it very clear the track was already recorded and near finished when he added his lead lick overdubs so the released version mostly pre-dates him turning up on 30th May 1969.

The rest of them can't seem to make up their minds when what was done probably because they worked on it a lot of over a few months.

Didn't Keith name a different horn section in Life?

you must be the coolest motherf&%ç* to compose and play one of the greatest guitarintros in rock history with the use of just one hand! ;-)

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His Majesty

Quote
Come On
Why isn't Brians name on that single from july 1969? It must have been done spring 1969...

Brian's name isn't on it because he doesn't play on it.

Quote
Mathijs

Because he wasn't an active member of the band anymore when they cut it. The released version was recorded from May 30th 1969 onwards, while Brian's last sessions where most probably in late February 1969, where he contributed to You Got The Silver and Midnight Rambler.

Mathijs

Brian is shown and or mentioned as being at sessions after February 1969 right up to May infact.

Mick Taylor has made it very clear the track was already recorded and near finished when he added his lead lick overdubs so the released version mostly pre-dates him turning up on 30th May 1969.

The rest of them can't seem to make up their minds when what was done probably because they worked on it a lot of over a few months.

Didn't Keith name a different horn section in Life?

I think he mentions Keys and Price as the horn section. From memory, I believe Wyman states in Rolling With the Stones that they worked on HTW thoughout March and April, but they never got it right. Then, in early June they suddenly got it right in one take, and this is the take they used to overdub. He states they basically recorded and finished the track in a day.

Wasn't the audition and recordings of Taylor on May 14th? I always understood that he was aware of the situation with Brian, as the band was complaining about him not showing up to sessions. But Taylor did a session on May 14th I believe, and was asked back two weeks later to what he believed where overdub sessions, while the Stones already had decided they wanted him in the band. On the overdub sessions in early June he did Live With Me, Country Honk and Honky Tonk Women, and they recorded I Don't Know Why, Jiving Sister Fanny and I'm Going Down.

Mathijs

It's perfect, of course.

The main guitar part is brilliant. Alchemy. Beyond great...and I still can't f'n play it the same as the record!

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71Tele
It's perfect, of course.

The main guitar part is brilliant. Alchemy. Beyond great...and I still can't f'n play it the same as the record!

yep - same !!!!!

Epitome of the Rolling Stones

Brian Jones was fired from Stones in about 7 days and then suddenly died...he's name should have been on their last 'real' Single...

2 1 2 0

pure brilliance!

i still wish they'd remove it from the live shows, however.

It's one of their 2 o 3 greatest singles ever. Brilliant.

It's the tempo that makes it so awesome. Like Miles said, it's what you don't play that's as important as what you do.

amazing track...only made more epic when used as the opener of 75/76 tour...the best opening song ever...hypnotic.

more cowbell

song writing as a craft. accessible to a wide variety of musical tastes.
not my favourite stones song, but, could be, with a small handful of others, the perfect track.
3 1/2 minutes of brilliance.

Well now, more cowbell goes without saying, don't it?

To me, the magic is in the spaces

Both guitar and drums ........MAGIC

Marv Peck

Y'all remember that rubber legged boy

One of the World Wonders

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Charlie has altered the drumrythm for the live versions since then hasnt he?
Different bassdrum pattern, like he changed for ex streets of love, if I remember correctly..
Or am I wrong?

The single that put them on artistic par with the best of the Beatles. The bass is buried and seems an almost conscious decision not to have it be so prominent, leaving the guitars and drums to dominate. It is true that it rarely gets played well in concert. They should open a few shows with it like they often honor 'Jumpin' Jack Flash'.

It also contains one of Keith Richards best guitar Solo's. The perfect open G song.

HTW..... another great song in the greatest catalog ever.
I echo marvpeck's words about 4 posts up.
When it first came out, my friends and I gathered in disbelief.....that
this song came into being...... a masterpiece.

Honky Tonk Women is the song that single-handedly gave the Stones a seismic image shift from being primarily an English pop band - albeit one with rock leanings - to a group embracing Americana and a bold new future as the greatest rock'n'roll band in the world.

This was the moment that they left the 60s behind and took on board a new found swagger as kings of cock rock. The beat, rhythm and raucous style was also the blueprint for their general sound over the next few singles and albums.

Mixed feelings -the first half is one of the best tracks ever. The riffs, the sound, it's just fantastic. But the second half, with the singers, brass and a dozen guitar overdubs it gets very cramped and a bit of a mess.

I like most that the songs ends 8 bmp faster than it starts. The build-up of excitement is fantastic.

Mathijs