Comments, input and alterations are very welcome!
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Blue Turns To Grey
(Mick Jagger / Keith Richards)

RCA Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, US, September 6, 1965

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

So now that she has gone, you won't be sad for long
For maybe just an hour or just a moment of the day

Then blue turns to grey
And try as you may
You just don't feel good
And you don't feel alright
And you know that you must find her, find her, find her

You think you'll have a ball and you won't care at all
You'll find another girl or maybe more to pass the time away

Then blue turns to grey
And try as you may
You just don't feel good
You just don't feel alright
And you know that you must find her, find her, find her

She's not home when you call, so you can go to all
The places where she used to go, but she has gone away

Then blue turns to grey
And try as you may
You just don't feel good
And you don't feel alright
And you know that you must find her, find her, find her

Blue turns to grey, blue turns to grey
She has gone away, blue turns to grey
I feel so bad, blue turns to grey
I wish you'd come on home, blue turns to grey
I feel, I feel so down, blue turns to grey

Produced by Andrew Loog Oldham

First released on:
The Rolling Stones - “December’s Children” LP
(London PS 451) US, December 4, 1965



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-11-24 19:52 by René.

Beautiful song!

Very nicely used in 25x5 around the time of Brian's death.

I agree DandelionP it's a beautiful song, and listen to Cliff Richard version, thats a good one as well, I have always wondered how it become Cliff recording a Jagger/Richard song, did he show up and ask if they had a song for him...?..

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Ruby Friday
I agree DandelionP it's a beautiful song, and listen to Cliff Richard version, thats a good one as well, I have always wondered how it become Cliff recording a Jagger/Richard song, did he show up and ask if they had a song for him...?..

I'm not sure how Cliff came across the song, but I read somewhere that he was unaware that it was a Jagger-Richards song when he recorded it (the song had already been released previously by both Dick & Dee Dee and The Mighty Avengers, so it's possible that he or his producer heard one of these versions). Incidentally Cliff performed the song at the 1966 NME Poll Winners Concert on the same bill as The Rolling Stones.

Cliff's version (backed by The Shadows) was recorded at the E.M.I. studios (Abbey Road) on 17th January 1966.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009-02-09 11:44 by Sleepy City.

A good mid-60's Jagger/Richards composition, though perhaps Bills backing vocals ruin it a little.

Am I right in thinking that this dong didn't get an initial UK release? I know that Cliff Richard released a version.

Let's remember there's (at least) two studio versions of this.

Dick & Dee Dee's version uses the very same backing track as the RS demo (& The Mighty Avengers' arrangement sticks pretty close to it).

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Big Al
A good mid-60's Jagger/Richards composition, though perhaps Bills backing vocals ruin it a little.

Am I right in thinking that this dong didn't get an initial UK release? I know that Cliff Richard released a version.

Yes you're right. I think it's first UK release was on 'Stone Aged' or whatever it was called, in the early 70s.

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Sleepy City

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Big Al
A good mid-60's Jagger/Richards composition, though perhaps Bills backing vocals ruin it a little.

Am I right in thinking that this dong didn't get an initial UK release? I know that Cliff Richard released a version.

Yes you're right. I think it's first UK release was on 'Stone Aged' or whatever it was called, in the early 70s.

Yeah, that's the one, the inafamous STONE AGE 1971 release by Decca, with its graffiti cover (three yearrs after the BEGGARS BANQUET hassle) that inspired the band into anti-campagn... in fact, STONE AGE was the introduction of "Look What You've Done", "One More Try", "The Spider and The Fly" and "My Girl" as well to UK audiences.

- Doxa

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Sleepy City

I'm not sure how Cliff came across the song, but I read somewhere that he was unaware that it was a Jagger-Richards song when he recorded it .

According to my hasty sources, Sir Cliff said that as an excuse. If he had known it is a Rolling Stones song he would not have recorded it.

- Doxa

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erikjjf
Very nicely used in 25x5 around the time of Brian's death.

Totally agree!
That was the first time I'd heard the song, so it always reminds me of that.

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Doxa

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Sleepy City

I'm not sure how Cliff came across the song, but I read somewhere that he was unaware that it was a Jagger-Richards song when he recorded it .

According to my hasty sources, Sir Cliff said that as an excuse. If he had known it is a Rolling Stones song he would not have recorded it.

- Doxa

It would make an interesting duet if Cliff guested on a RS show (or perhaps if Mick guested on a Cliff & The Shadows show, as it would probably be performed better then!).

I absolutely love this!! Would love to see them dust it off for the next tour! A wonderfully underrated classic, IMO.

great tune and very soulful
I just love the fade out of this song with Jagger singing:
Blue turns to grey
she has gone away
i feel so bad
i wish she would come on home

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Doxa


Yeah, that's the one, the inafamous STONE AGE 1971 release by Decca, with its graffiti cover (three yearrs after the BEGGARS BANQUET hassle) that inspired the band into anti-campagn... in fact, STONE AGE was the introduction of "Look What You've Done", "One More Try", "The Spider and The Fly" and "My Girl" as well to UK audiences.

- Doxa

Thanks for confirming Doxa and Sleepy City.

I think Sad Day must've been the final 60'S US-only release to see the light of day in the UK

better than "Sad Day."

fabulous song - the kinda song that they would be wise to revisit live - should be easy to pull off....out of time falls into this category, too.

One of my faves. Agree with others' comments that they really should dust this off live, it would go down so well.

There's also a version by The Epics, but "embedding is disabled by request"
[www.youtube.com]


"As we say in England, it can get a bit trainspottery"



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2015-11-15 23:39 by Deltics.

Decembers Children will definitely pull you through.

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Doxa

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Sleepy City

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Big Al
A good mid-60's Jagger/Richards composition, though perhaps Bills backing vocals ruin it a little.

Am I right in thinking that this dong didn't get an initial UK release? I know that Cliff Richard released a version.

Yes you're right. I think it's first UK release was on 'Stone Aged' or whatever it was called, in the early 70s.

Yeah, that's the one, the inafamous STONE AGE 1971 release by Decca, with its graffiti cover (three yearrs after the BEGGARS BANQUET hassle) that inspired the band into anti-campagn... in fact, STONE AGE was the introduction of "Look What You've Done", "One More Try", "The Spider and The Fly" and "My Girl" as well to UK audiences.

- Doxa

From Roy Carr's "An Illustrated Record":




"As we say in England, it can get a bit trainspottery"



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009-02-10 01:02 by Deltics.

One of Bill's favorite tunes.

It's so nice to read all your comments and it brings back memories, I remember well when the LP "Stone Age" arrived, and I remember The Stones but and big advertisement in New Musical Express, saying something like: "We were not aware of this album, we don't like the cover, the songs, and it's beyond the standards that we try to relased, Beware: All new Stones songs only from "Rolling Stones Records" From Mick, Keith, Bill, Charlie and Mick.

Deltics, thanks!

- Doxa

Nope, doesn't work for me ... squarely in the middle of what I would call the Stones' "no-man's land" era (between their early blues covers and Satanic Majesties) when they were doing their best to be quirky/folky/poppy. Not the Stones I know and love. Sorry.

Drew

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Doxa

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Sleepy City

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Big Al
A good mid-60's Jagger/Richards composition, though perhaps Bills backing vocals ruin it a little.

Am I right in thinking that this dong didn't get an initial UK release? I know that Cliff Richard released a version.

Yes you're right. I think it's first UK release was on 'Stone Aged' or whatever it was called, in the early 70s.

Yeah, that's the one, the inafamous STONE AGE 1971 release by Decca, with its graffiti cover (three yearrs after the BEGGARS BANQUET hassle) that inspired the band into anti-campagn... in fact, STONE AGE was the introduction of "Look What You've Done", "One More Try", "The Spider and The Fly" and "My Girl" as well to UK audiences.

- Doxa

No. "The Spider and The Fly" of course was the B-side of "Satisfaction".

It's beautiful and I love it but it's also a little frustrating. The lyrics run out of steam ('you just don't feel good/and you don't feel alright' is spell-breakingly prosaic) and the 'find her' bit seems, to me, an awkward way to end the chorus. I suppose it sounds like what it is - a song by very talented young writers and performers who were still finding their way.

It's got that mid-sixties pop feel, sounds like it could be a Beatles song.

My first post here.
Got a rare acetate from the Mighty Avengers Blue turns to grey but with Mick Jagger on vocals and Jimmy Page on guitar.
It comes with a handwritten letter from the leadsinger of The Mighty Avengers.
Will post a part of the mp3 but don't know how do do it.

On the "25x5" VHS this song has been synchronized with great effect on the footage of Brian Jones' funeral. However, from what I've read Keith actually dislikes the song. I love it, though!