Comments, input and alterations are very welcome!
_______________________________________________________________________________

Waiting On A Friend

Written by: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
Recording date: April – June 1981

Recording location: Paris, Mobile Recording Unit in some unlocated warehouse (only MJ, ca. six weeks in April & May) & New York, Atlantic Studios.


Line-up:

Lead vocals: Mick Jagger
Electric guitars: Keith Richards
Guitar: Mick Taylor (unsure)
Background vocals: Keith Richards
Bass: Bill Wyman
Drums: Charlie Watts
Piano: Nicky Hopkins
Sax: Sonny Rollins
Conga drums: Mike Carabello
Guiro: Mike Carabello
Claves: Mike Carabello
Cabasa: Mike Carabello

Waiting On A Friend

Oo-ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh, yeah yeah
Oo-ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh, yeah yeah

Watching girls go passing by
It ain't the latest thing
I'm just standing in a doorway
I'm just trying to make some sense

Out of these girls go passing by
The tales they tell of men

I'm not waiting on a lady
I'm just waiting on a friend

Mmm, a smile relieves a heart that grieves
Remember what I said

I'm not waiting on a lady
I'm just waiting on a friend

I'm just waiting on a friend
Just waiting on a friend
I'm just waiting on a friend
I'm just waiting on a friend
Just waiting on a friend
Oo-ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh, yeah yeah
Oo-ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh, yeah yeah

Mmm, don't need a whore, I don't need no booze
Don't need a virgin priestess
But I need someone I can cry to
I need someone to protect

Making love and breaking hearts
It is a game for youth

But I'm not waiting on a lady
I'm just waiting on a friend, huh

I'm just waiting on a friend
I'm just waiting on a friend
I'm just waiting on a friend
I'm just waiting on a friend
I'm just waiting on a friend
I'm just waiting on a friend
Oo-ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh, yeah yeah
Oo-ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh, yeah yeah


Producer: The Glimmer Twins
Sound engineers: Chris Kimsey

First released on: Tattoo You (LP)
Label: Rolling Stones Records (WEA/EMI)
U.S. Release date: August 18, 1981
U.K. Release date: August 28, 1981

Note: Info taken from TIOMS and NZentgraf



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016-02-01 10:44 by NICOS.

LOL, is it time for the yearly «who played THE ONLY guitar on WOAF again?

A lovely track. It has always been a favourite. Look out for this one from the IORR Band soon, btw..

Yes, I can only hear one electric guitar on Waof, no acoustic, and indeed, on ever version -boot I've heard, 4 or 5 versions that is, it's the same (copy) of that track. Differently edited though, soundwise.. As far as I can conclude it's never been overdubbed. Can anyone post a version with 2 guitars or an acoustic? So here pops up the question: who played this electric, and even more interesting to me: what's the source? Nice tune btw, Sonny Rollins is ace of course.

Lovely is the word for it indeed, both musically and lyrically -
unexpectedly lovely, one can even say.

I've been lucky enough to hear it in concert twice, and it was lovely both times.

Quote
DancelittleSister
Yes, I can only hear one electric guitar on Waof, no acoustic, and indeed, on ever version -boot I've heard, 4 or 5 versions that is, it's the same (copy) of that track. Differently edited though, soundwise.. As far as I can conclude it's never been overdubbed. Can anyone post a version with 2 guitars or an acoustic? So here pops up the question: who played this electric, and even more interesting to me: what's the source? Nice tune btw, Sonny Rollins is ace of course.

I've never heard a version with a clearly audible acoustic guitar, either. I thought I did at one point, but upon closer listens it was only echo

It's a great song. Great video too, one of their best from their "cheesy video" era.

Some people say that it's a veiled way of writing about homosexuality.

A cathartic work of genius that mainlines straight to my soul and makes me feel soooooooooo good.

It starts out with that sad, gentle guitar riff, tinged with a little bit of hope.

And then Charlie, joining in at precisely the right moment, to give it some swing.

And then that shimmering piano from Nicky Hopkins, sparkling like sunlight on a summer lake.

And then Jagger’s incredible falsetto, so vulnerable and yearning, soaring into the ether like the voice of an angel.

And those lyrics, man … poetry of the highest order, capturing loneliness and yearning and heartache and what really matters in life: friendship and love and warmth and companionship, not sex and sex and sex and sex. (Or is the title merely what a junkie, waiting for his dealer, will say when questioned by the police??)

Sonny Rollins, of course, is the icing on the cake here, with his searing, heartbreakingly-beautiful sax work. Breathtaking and magnificent.
The production is impeccable, with just the right amount of dreamy echo to give the track a slightly otherworldly feel.

I remember unexpectedly hearing WOAF one day, wafting from a bakery while walking the streets of Paris, and it brought tears to my eyes. I realized how deeply I love the Rolling Stones, how much they matter to me and to the world.

Drew

Quote
drewmaster
A cathartic work of genius that mainlines straight to my soul and makes me feel soooooooooo good.

It starts out with that sad, gentle guitar riff, tinged with a little bit of hope.

And then Charlie, joining in at precisely the right moment, to give it some swing.

And then that shimmering piano from Nicky Hopkins, sparkling like sunlight on a summer lake.

And then Jagger’s incredible falsetto, so vulnerable and yearning, soaring into the ether like the voice of an angel.

And those lyrics, man … poetry of the highest order, capturing loneliness and yearning and heartache and what really matters in life: friendship and love and warmth and companionship, not sex and sex and sex and sex. (Or is the title merely what a junkie, waiting for his dealer, will say when questioned by the police??)

Sonny Rollins, of course, is the icing on the cake here, with his searing, heartbreakingly-beautiful sax work. Breathtaking and magnificent.
The production is impeccable, with just the right amount of dreamy echo to give the track a slightly otherworldly feel.

I remember unexpectedly hearing WOAF one day, wafting from a bakery while walking the streets of Paris, and it brought tears to my eyes. I realized how deeply I love the Rolling Stones, how much they matter to me and to the world.

Drew

Awww Drew, you just brought tears to my eyes, especially that last sentence, very true. A perfectly lovely way to describe that lovely song.

Another one of those absolute perfect songs on Tattoo You.
One of their best songs ever and a perfect example of why the Stones are not just a rock band: they are a rock band with soul.

One of my favourite songs and the best video ever....

The video is cool, but without the moving pictures I always found WOAF very boring. It´s almost elevator music to be honest. Very unpleasing indeed.

Good one. Nice song to play. I like the guitar-job here...

This video is among the best ever made...together with Sinittas 'Toy boy' that is....

2 1 2 0

Quote
Tops
One of my favourite songs and the best video ever....

Yes!

Quote
latebloomer

Awww Drew, you just brought tears to my eyes, especially that last sentence, very true. A perfectly lovely way to describe that lovely song.

Thanks latebloomer! Didn't mean to make you cry though ...

Drew

The last of the great slow-mid tempo grooves...they don't write 'em like that anymore.
It was played relentlessly on the radio at the time of release, and can still be heard today on select classic rock stations.
Nice vocals, great guitar tones, the sax is great, and the piano exceptional which rolls the song along like a gentle wave.
CLASSIC indeed...still waiting on another 'friend' similar to this....

_____________________________________________________________
Rip this joint, gonna save your soul, round and round and round we go......

Average at best -- very nice sax but the song overall doesn't do much for me. Never understood the love for it. Worried About You & Heaven are the standouts on side 2.

Schamltzy, girlish and 80's slick production. 2 out of 10.

It's always great to listen to this track, early stage recording 72 and in 81 the: "Electric Ladyland, Atlantic Studio in New-York".

80s production, when it sounds like the outtake from the early 70s save the sax and the vocals (both are great)?

Nope.

Seventies and Eighties input, both make this a great song

Quote
Hairball
The last of the great slow-mid tempo grooves.

Hardly. What about ...

Slipping Away
Out of Tears
Thief in the Night
Laugh, I Nearly Died

... just to name a few?

Drew

As I have written before, probably in the album thread:
I am one, who likes TATTOO YOU even less than weaker DIRTY WORK. "Waiting on a Friend", however, is a gem good enough to be part of any other Stones album, provided that the song would have fitted in. Stylistically, maybe only GOATS HEAD SOUP is the one other album where it really could have featured on that condition.

My tabloid estimation of "Waiting on a Friend" is 10 (out of 10), possibly even 10*.

I like the studio version as well as the live 81/82 versions.

Recording of "Waiting on a Friend" (as 'Waiting for a Friend') began in late 1972 through early 1973 in Kingston, Jamaica, during the Goats Head Soup sessions when the band still had Mick Taylor as a member. His guitar piece made it to the overdubbing sessions in April 1981 when the song was selected by Tattoo You producer Chris Kimsey as one the band could re-work for the album.


In the liner notes to 1993's compilation album Jump Back, Mick Jagger said, "We all liked it at the time but it didn't have any lyrics, so there we were... The lyric I added is very gentle and loving, about friendships in the band." Jagger also had stated that the 1981 lyrics were contemplated for a future possible video, making the song the first Rolling Stones single to be packaged as a possible video for the emerging MTV channel.

The video, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg (who also directed their 1968 special The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus), became very popular on MTV. Matching the song's lyrics, Jagger is seen waiting for Keith Richards in the doorway of an apartment block. The building, at 96-98 St. Mark's Place in Manhattan, is notable for appearing on the cover of Led Zeppelin's 1975 album Physical Graffiti. The two then walk down the street and enter a bar and grill where the other three band members are already drinking. Jagger sings the song to Richards and the video concludes with the band setting up for a gig at the back of the bar, ignored by the other patrons

The lyrics see a more mature side of singer Jagger represented. He speaks of setting aside women and vices in favor of making some sense of his life and finding the virtues inherent in true friendship:

“ Don't need a whore, I don't need no booze, don't need a virgin priest/But I need someone I can cry to, I need someone to protect. ”
The song is noted for its dreamy qualities brought on by the soft guitars, smooth rhythm, and Jagger's lilting refrain of "doo-doo-doo"'s. Stones-recording veteran Nicky Hopkins performs the track's running piano.[1] The Stones hired jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins to perform the solo on this song.

Previous post I copied from Wiki.

What are IORR's opinions on 'best' live version?

Quote
drewmaster

Quote
latebloomer

Awww Drew, you just brought tears to my eyes, especially that last sentence, very true. A perfectly lovely way to describe that lovely song.

Thanks latebloomer! Didn't mean to make you cry though ...

Drew

Truth be told, probably had as much to do with snow shoveling exhaustion and a wicked head cold as your eloquent review, but then again I am a bit of a sentimental slob when it comes to the Stones. Still, I couldn't have said it better myself. It is a song I never get tired of hearing and the video is a sweet testament to the enduring bond between Keith and Mick.

One of my favourites.

One of those mini masterpiece slow songs that pop up now and again - like Ruby Tuesday or Wild Horses - and really show off the wider spectrum of the Stones incredible songwriting prowess.

What is so beautiful about this song is its vulnerability, its openness and directness about simple friendship.

So many Stones songs are about carnal desire but this is a great feelgood song about hanging with a good companion. And bonus points to Mick for not making it gender specific - so that companion could be a girl..or a boy confidante. A really classy piece of songwriting.

Quote
drewmaster
A cathartic work of genius that mainlines straight to my soul and makes me feel soooooooooo good.

It starts out with that sad, gentle guitar riff, tinged with a little bit of hope.

And then Charlie, joining in at precisely the right moment, to give it some swing.

And then that shimmering piano from Nicky Hopkins, sparkling like sunlight on a summer lake.

And then Jagger’s incredible falsetto, so vulnerable and yearning, soaring into the ether like the voice of an angel.

And those lyrics, man … poetry of the highest order, capturing loneliness and yearning and heartache and what really matters in life: friendship and love and warmth and companionship, not sex and sex and sex and sex. (Or is the title merely what a junkie, waiting for his dealer, will say when questioned by the police??)

Sonny Rollins, of course, is the icing on the cake here, with his searing, heartbreakingly-beautiful sax work. Breathtaking and magnificent.
The production is impeccable, with just the right amount of dreamy echo to give the track a slightly otherworldly feel.

I remember unexpectedly hearing WOAF one day, wafting from a bakery while walking the streets of Paris, and it brought tears to my eyes. I realized how deeply I love the Rolling Stones, how much they matter to me and to the world.

Drew

Well captured drew. I think you speak from most of us on here.

Great song, and one of the (many) highlights of Tattoo you......

My missus who is no big Stones fan, absolutely loves it

What a drag it is gettin' old