JUMPING JACK FLASH -  Perhaps their best single ever. Recorded during the Beggars Banquet sessions in the days when bands didn't always put singles on albums, too bad, it would have made a great album even stronger. This is one song that no matter what type of bad mood you may be in when you hear it's first note, by the time its finished you will feel much better, more upbeat. Makes me wanna jump up and down and play air guitar like a fool when I hear it! Its truly a gas, gas, gas! HONKY TONK WOMEN -  The last of the great singles that did not make it on to a studio album. Recorded on March 10  & 11, 1969 with Brian Jones on guitar, his last time in the studio with the band. Some claim this is one of those songs that Brian wrote the guitar riff to and wasn't credited. On June 5,'69, as Mick, Keith and Charlie were at Brian's house to end their partnership with him, Mick Taylor was in the studio alone adding his guitar to this song. Brian's guitar track was then removed and the song was released on July 3, '69, the same day Brian died. TIME IS ON MY SIDE (V.2) -  Nobody covered this song better than the Stones, that is, on their second try. Version 1 which starts with Stu's organ solo (hence: aka organ version) was okay and released first but nowhere as good as version 2 with its electric guitar blaring about it (hence: aka guitar version), the boys vocals also seem better on this version too. 19TH NERVOUS BREAKDOWN - Ah yes, the Stones got  away with one here with a drug reference in the song so cleverly worded it pass right by radio programmers and London/Decca Records. As Mick later said of London Records "They never listened to any of the songs we put out, that's why we got away with so much with them". There's some great interplay between Brian and Keith on this song and Bill's dive-bombing bass at the end of this song is great. MOTHER'S LITTLE HELPER - Yet another early song about drug taking, this time pill popping. I always thought that Brian was playing the sitar on this tune but now I hear that he's playing a 12 string Vox Mando  - or could it be both? OUT OF TIME  (V.2)  -  The nice simple, mellow, short version released in the US. Version 1 (aka long version) was released only in the UK on Aftermath. Version 3 was released on Metamorphosis in '75 but only features Mick, so not really a true Stones tune. HAVE YOU SEEN YOUR MOTHER, BABY (STANDING IN THE SHADOW?) -  Lots of horns and a great guitar track on this one, was a single and lead to that famous photo shot of the boys in drag. A different version of the song showed up the the Russian Metamorphosis CD, less brass and a added second, nice sliding, guitar. I DON'T KNOW THE REASON WHY (aka Hillside Blues) - Record at Elektra Studios, Los Angeles, October 1969   Contains the best  guitar weave ever recorded in the studio between Taylor and Richards. DOWNTOWN SUZIE  -  This is a great little song written by Bill and recorded by the Stones in May '68 during the Beggars Banquet sessions. Great acoustic guitar on this one. Wasn't released until '75 on Metamorphosis, too bad. When you listen to this one it sounds as much a Stones song as any other, more so than Bill's "In Another Land", his only other penned song released by the Stones. I have seen this tune mistitled on boots as "Sweet Lucy". CHILD OF THE MOON - B side to Jumping Jack Flash. Would have fitted in well on Beggars Banquet, nice driving guitars by Keith on this one, Brian on saxophone, there are three versions of this song. DANDELION  -  The Stones singing a "flower power" song. Recorded during the Satanic sessions and sounds like it. Keith liked this tune so much he named his first daughter after it. At first titled 'Fairground'. Another one of those simple tunes. COCKSUCKER BLUES   (aka Schoolboy Blues) - Recorded in 1970 featuring only Mick (on vocals) and Keith (on guitar). This was given to London/Decca Records by the Stones for their final single that they owed the label. London/Decca refused to release it. Was officially released in 1983 in West Germany on the album The Rest Of The Best but dropped from the album a short time later. MEMO FROM TURNER - Recorded by the Stones on November 17, 1968 but did not get released till '75 on Metamorphosis. This turned out ok, but the solo version recorded earlier by Mick for the Performance movie soundtrack is better. I WANNA BE YOUR MAN - John Lennon & Paul McCartney wrote this for the Stones while visiting the boys one night at Mick, Brian and Keef's flat. Not a whole lot to this song but Brian saves it with a outstanding slide guitar - with more of that to come on later songs. I DON'T KNOW WHY - Mistakenly credited to Jagger/Richards when it came out on Metamorphosis and released as a single, but this is a Stevie Wonder penned song. The Stones were in the middle of recording this tune with Mick Taylor when they were interrupted by a phone call early in the morning of July 3rd '69, informing them that Brian had died. They did not feel like playing anymore after that and the song was finished a few days later. I'D MUCH RATHER BE WITH THE BOYS -  Only Mick and Keith appear on this one. Recorded in February, 1965 and not released until '75 on Metamorphosis. Written by Keith and Andrew Oldham about pop song writer/producer Bob Crewe, who was coming out of the closet back in the early '60s. Has that early '60s rock vocal sound to it. (WALKING THRU THE)  SLEEPY CITY -  I always liked this song, not released till '75 but recorded in '64. Once again features just Mick and Keith. In the early '60s when Mick, Keith and Brian were roommates, they would roam around London, after-hours. It's from those nocturnal habits that the song evolved. ANDREW'S BLUES - The Stones first fouled mouth song written at the expense of their producer. Only the Stones could take a song filled with sex and dirty words and make it sound good. Unofficially released on the Metamorphosis CD (Russian  version only and limited) as a bonus track. JIVING SISTER FANNY -   There are two released versions of this song, each with different lyrics. Official U.S. released version appears on London Years and original Metamorphosis. The other one is found on the Metamorphosis Russian CD. Excellent guitar licks are heard on both versions, but perhaps better lyrics (but not vocals) are found along with a cool electric piano heard on the Russian release. FANCYMAN BLUES - One of the very best songs released in 1989 (as a "B" side single), too bad it wasn't on the Steel Wheels LP. Simple song but sounds excellent, with a nice harp by Mick. DON'T STOP - One of four new songs released from 40 Licks. I love this song, it's pure Stones rock 'n roll!  Comes real close to a ten on my rating scale; could have used a bit more blaring guitars at it's ending and it would have landed that ten, but still, a great tune and at its release held promise for the band's recording future. TOO MUCH BLOOD (long disco versions - 1 & 2) - What is the all time worst Stones song ever released? Version 1 of this song is, and it isn't even close! The two versions noted here should not be confused with the short version released on the Undercover album, which is an average song at best. But with these two messes, one is worst than the other, with version 1 nothing but pure trash! It is noise pollution of the highest form for any true Stones fan to have to endure! Brian Jones must be turning over in his grave over this! Had this been released by a disco band, then it's rating would be a bit higher, like a 1 or a 1.5. But this is the Stones, how could they record this garbage and then allow its release? Both versions are over 10 minutes long. Version 1 has almost the same lyrics as the short version of the song, version 2's lyrics are a bit different, and in it Mick talks (not sings) about Michael Jackson's "Thriller" song. Holy shit is all I can say, stay as far away from this crap as you can! ROCK AND A HARD PLACE (long disco versions, not the version from Steel Wheels) - What is that terrible techno-disco sound that is flooding my ears? It can't be a Stones song, can it? Holy crap, it is! You would think after the disco versions of "Too Much Blood" that the Stones would have learned that their true fans hate that crap, so why dish out more of this just 6 years later? Who knows, but please, get the programmer at the Stones' SIRIUS satellite station to stop playing this shit over the radio. UNDER THE RADAR - Released only on the special edition DVD version of A Bigger Bang, but why? A great tune that should have been on the LP. Nice Stones sounding song with great, catchy lyrics that would have added some more pure rock 'n roll to the album. DON'T WANNA GO HOME (aka WE DON'T WANNA GO HOME) - Released only on the special edition DVD version of A Bigger Bang, and again, why? A fine rock tune which should have been included on the LP. CHAMPAGNE & REEFER - Recorded live with Buddy Guy, this number is just bursting with of all kinds of energy, from some excellent guitar weaving, to some cool harp playing by Mick. You can't ask for a better live blues cover! WATCHING THE RIVER FLOW - Another great cover song, Mick's vocals sound fantastic on this one, and even Bill returns to play bass again with the band for this song, made in tribute to the late original Stone, Ian "Stu" Stewart. DOOM AND GLOOM - This one is filled with all kinds of energy! Pure Stones rock n roll! Not bad at all for a group full of old men!... New note made in April, 2014: I just played this song again today - I hadn't heard it in about a year since I didn't buy Grrr!, but holy shit, this song has staying power, it sounds better today to me then it did in 2012 when it came out, therefore I'm raising its rating from 8.5 to 9.7! Changing a rating on a new song a year or 2 later like this isn't unusual for me to do, and usually a final rating isn't issued until about 2 years pass anyway. **There are so many more songs to add to this list, especially when you include tunes off of bootlegs, so now it's your turn to give a rating and a short comment on some of these non album released singles or boots. Go to our Other Recordings Form and write down your comments and ratings and I'll add it to the Stones fans boot reviews page. Return to Stones Album Ratings