Brown Sugar (Rolling Stones song)
"Brown Sugar" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Bitch"/"Let It Rock" (UK) | ||||
Released | 16 April 1971 | |||
Recorded | 2–4 December 1969 | |||
Studio | Muscle Shoals (Sheffield) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:50 | |||
Label | Rolling Stones | |||
Songwriter(s) | Jagger–Richards | |||
Producer(s) | Jimmy Miller | |||
The Rolling Stones singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
Alternative covers | ||||
"Brown Sugar" is a song recorded by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. Written primarily by Mick Jagger, it is the opening track and lead single from their album Sticky Fingers (1971). It became a number one hit in both the United States and Canada. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, it charted at number two. In the United States, Billboard ranked it as the number 16 song for 1971.
Rolling Stone ranked it number 495 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2010 and number 490 in 2004 and at number five on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time.[7]
Inspiration and recording
Though credited to Jagger–Richards, "Brown Sugar" was primarily the work of Jagger, who wrote it sometime during the filming of Ned Kelly in 1969.[8] According to Marsha Hunt, Jagger's girlfriend and the mother of his first child Karis, he wrote the song with her in mind.[9] Former Ikette Claudia Lennear disputes this claim, saying that it was written about her.[10] In 2014, Lennear told The Times that she is the subject of the song because she was dating Jagger when it was written.[11] Bill Wyman stated in his book Rolling with the Stones (2002) that the lyrics were partially inspired by Lennear.[12]
"Brown Sugar" was recorded over a three-day period at
In the
In a December 1995 Rolling Stone interview, Jagger spoke at length about the song, its inspiration, and its success, and credited himself with its lyrics.[15] Keith Richards also credits Jagger with the song in his autobiography.[16] Jagger attributed the success of the song to a "good groove". After noting that the lyrics could mean so many lewd subjects,[17] he again noted that the combination of those subjects, the lyrical ambiguity was partially why the song was considered successful. He noted, "That makes it... the whole mess thrown in. God knows what I'm on about on that song. It's such a mishmash. All the nasty subjects in one go... I never would write that song now." When interviewer Jann Wenner asked him why, Jagger replied, "I would probably censor myself. I'd think, 'Oh God, I can't. I've got to stop. I can't just write raw like that.'"[15]
An alternative version was recorded on 18 December 1970 at Olympic Studios in London during a birthday party for Richards and Bobby Keys. It features appearances by Al Kooper on piano, and Eric Clapton on slide guitar.[18] The alternative version, which had previously been available only on bootleg recordings, was released in June 2015 on the Deluxe and Super Deluxe editions of the reissued Sticky Fingers album.[18][19]
Release
"Brown Sugar" was released in April 1971 as the first single from the album. While the US single featured only "
The song is also the first single released on
To promote the song, the Rolling Stones performed on
In the United Kingdom, the single was originally issued in mono using a now-rarely heard bespoke mono mix. This mono mix has not been released on any compilation.
The song was performed routinely during the Rolling Stones' 1970 European tour, occupying a prominent spot near the end of the set list even though audiences were unfamiliar with it. The band opened the shows of their infamous 1972 American tour with "Brown Sugar", and it has since become a Stones concert staple. However, in more recent times,[when?] Jagger has changed some of the more controversial lyrics when performing the song live. For example, the first verse line "I hear him whip the women just around midnight" has been replaced with "you should have heard him just around midnight."[20]
Critical reception
Writing for
The lyrical subject matter has been a point of interest and controversy.
In 2021, the band announced that the song would be removed from the setlist of their US tour.[28]
Cover versions
Little Richard recorded a rendition of "Brown Sugar" for his album The King of Rock and Roll, released in 1971.[29]
Chart performance
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[51] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] Physical |
Silver | 250,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] Digital |
Gold | 400,000‡ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Personnel
The Rolling Stones[53]
- Mick Jagger – vocals, castanets, maracas
- Keith Richards – rhythm and lead guitar, acoustic guitar
- Mick Taylor – lead and rhythm guitar
- Bill Wyman – bass guitar
- Charlie Watts – drums
Additional personnel
- Ian Stewart – piano
- Bobby Keys – tenor saxophone[54]
References
- ^ High Fidelity Musical America. Vol. 22. Billboard Pub. 1972. p. 106.
- ISBN 9780812903140.
- ISBN 978-1-4574-3336-8.
- AllMusic. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- All Music. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- ISBN 9781442254473.
- ^ "Brown Sugar". Rolling Stone. 9 December 2004 (accessed 25 April 2007).
- ^ Wenner, Jann S. (14 December 1995). "Mick Jagger Remembers". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ISBN 978-1-250-02632-3.
- ^ Mastropolo, Frank (16 April 2016). "Revisiting the Rolling Stones' Controversial 'Brown Sugar'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
- ^ "Brown Sugar". www.timeisonourside.com. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
- ^ "Brown Sugar". timeisonourside.
- ISBN 0-19-517010-5.
- ^ a b "Jagger Remembers" Archived 5 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Rolling Stone. 14 December 1995.
- ISBN 978-0-316-03438-8.
- ^ mayerson, hy (9 March 2019), Metamorphosis, retrieved 10 March 2019
- ^ a b Kreps, Daniel (3 June 2015). "Rolling Stones Share 'Brown Sugar' Take With Eric Clapton". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ Britton, Luke Morgan (2 June 2015). "The Rolling Stones share unheard version of 'Brown Sugar' featuring Eric Clapton". NME. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ Kelly, Emma (14 October 2021). "metro.co.uk". metro.co.uk. Metro News. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ Valentine, Penny (17 April 1971). "Rolling Stones: 'Brown Sugar'/'Bitch'/'Let It Rock' (Rolling Stones Records)". Sounds.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 24 April 1971. p. 20. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ "Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 24 April 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ Saunders, Mike (3 May 1971). "The Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers (Rolling Stones Records COC 59100)". The Rag.
- ^ Turman, Katherine (30 June 2020). "Radio Pulled Violent Songs Off Air After 9/11 – But It Won't Reckon With Race". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1976). "Rolling Stones". The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll. Retrieved 24 June 2007 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie (2007). "The Rolling Stones 'Brown Sugar'". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 April 2007.
- ^ Marwani, Peony (22 April 2022). "Mick Jagger addresses 'Brown Sugar' backlash: 'We provoked a lot of people'". The Independent.
- ^ Grow, Kory; Dolan, Jon; Leight, Elias; Doyle, Patrick; Hudak, Joseph (9 May 2020). "16 Great Little Richard Deep Cuts". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ "The Rolling Stones – Brown Sugar" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ "The Rolling Stones – Brown Sugar" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5385." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
- ^ "The Rolling Stones – Brown Sugar" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Brown Sugar". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ^ "Flavour of new zealand – search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- ^ "The Rolling Stones – Brown Sugar". VG-lista. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ "The Rolling Stones – Brown Sugar" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ Kimberley, C (2000). Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. p. 32.
- ^ "South African Rock Lists Website – SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs (A-B)". www.rock.co.za.
- ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ISBN 919727125X.
- ^ "The Rolling Stones – Brown Sugar". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ "Rolling Stones: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ "The Rolling Stones Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ "Australian Chart Book". Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- ^ "Dutch Charts". dutchcharts.nl.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1971/Top 100 Songs of 1971". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles – 1971". Tropicalglen.com. 15 December 1971. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ a b "British single certifications – Rolling Stones – Brown Sugar". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ "Sticky Fingers Liner Notes". Album Liner Notes. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
- ^ "Sax on the Web > Rock&Roll > Classic Solos – Transcripts". www.saxontheweb.net.
External links
- Lyrics of this song
- Rolling Stones – Brown Sugar on YouTube from 1975 compilation album Made in the Shade.
- Rolling Stones – Brown Sugar on YouTube from 1974 concert movie, Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones, filmed during the Stones' American Tour 1972.