Time Is on My Side

"Time Is on My Side" is a song written by Jerry Ragovoy (using the pseudonym "Norman Meade"). First recorded by jazz trombonist Kai Winding and his orchestra in 1963, it was covered (with additional lyrics by Jimmy Norman) by both soul singer Irma Thomas and then later the Rolling Stones in 1964.

Kai Winding

The song was first recorded by

The second arrangement (more tightly arranged and featuring guitar in the intro), recorded in Chicago's Chess studio on November 8, 1964,[7]^[1] was released in the UK on January 15, 1965,^[8] on The Rolling Stones No. 2. This later rendition is the one that receives the most airplay and appears on most "best of" compilations. Both versions incorporate elements of Irma Thomas's recording, including spoken-word interjections in the chorus, a monologue in the middle of the song, and distinctive lead guitar.^{[citation needed]}

The single peaked at No. 6 on the US Billboard Pop Singles Chart to become the Rolling Stones' first top ten hit in the US. Their previous single, "It's All Over Now", had peaked at No. 26.

A live version of the song from the band's 1982 live album,

The song was part of the

support act slots to other singers like Tina Turner. In 1992, she began performing it again following a TV show appearance in which the host Bonnie Raitt introduced her as the original singer.^[1]

Personnel

• Mick Jagger – lead vocals and tambourine
• Keith Richards – lead guitar and backing vocals
• Brian Jones – rhythm guitar and backing vocals
• Bill Wyman – bass and backing vocals
• Charlie Watts – drums
• Ian Stewart – Vox Continental organ

Charts

Chart (1964–65)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10]	5
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11]	3
Finland ( Soumen Virallinen)[12]	20
France	4
Germany (Official German Charts)[13]	28
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14]	6
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[15]	2
Sweden ( Kvällstoppen)[16]	17
Switzerland	3
US Billboard Hot 100[17]	6

Recordings by other artists

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"Time Is on My Side" has since been covered by artists such as

Paul Revere and the Raiders, Kim Wilson, Tracy Nelson, Patti Smith,^[18] Andrés Calamaro (for his "El Salmón", a CD with 103 songs), and the Moody Blues (in 1965 and on the 1985 re-release of The Magnificent Moodies

).

Pop singer and pianist

Time Warner digital video recorders commercial, which also served as promotion for her second album, Harmonium (2004), and received heavy rotation on US television during early 2005.^[19] The newspaper Metroland reviewed her take on the song negatively, and wrote, "we tend to think time is most definitely not on her side — how else to explain the near-universal apathy to the release of her second album, Harmonium?"^[20]

Harmonium was not re-issued to include the song.

In 2004, Jimmy Norman, who wrote the lyrics to "Time is on My Side" but whose name was eventually removed from credits,[21] recorded it for the first time as the last track on his album Little Pieces.

In 2007, English soul singer Beverley Knight recorded it, featuring Ronnie Wood, for her fifth studio album, Music City Soul.

In 2012, American professional wrestler Bray Wyatt would often menacingly sing the chorus of the song during his promos.^[22]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Cartwright, Garth (February 11, 2024). "Time Is on My Side — how Irma Thomas reclaimed her 1964 track". Financial Times. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
2. ^ Dave Godin's Deep Soul Treasures: Taken From The Vaults Volume 1 (Media notes). Ace Records. 1997.
3. ISBN 978-1-64628-896-0
   .
4. ^
   ISBN 978-1-901447-77-4
   .
5. ^ Margotin & Guesdon 2016, pp. 80, 81.
6. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 10, 1964. p. 12. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
7. ^ Margotin & Guesdon 2016, pp. 81.
8. ISBN 978-1-901447-77-4
   .
9. ISBN 1-904994-10-5
   .
10. ^ "The Rolling Stones – Time Is on My Side" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
11. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4677." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
12. ISBN 951-31-2503-3
    .
13. ^ "The Rolling Stones – Time Is on My Side" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
14. ^ "The Rolling Stones – Time Is on My Side" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
15. ^ Flavour of New Zealand, 4 February 1965
16. ISBN 9163021404
    .
17. ^ "The Rolling Stones Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
18. ^ "Patti Smith Group – Ask The Angels / Time Is On My Side (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1976-10-21. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
19. ^ "Time Warner's DVR is on your side!". Archived from the original on May 15, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
20. ^ "Anna Cheek CD-Release Party". Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
21. ^ Sisario, Ben (2004-11-03). "The songs (with a bumpy detour) never end". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
22. ^ "FCW Bray Wyatt Promo". YouTube.

Sources

• Margotin, Philippe; Guesdon, Jean-Michel (25 October 2016). The Rolling Stones All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track.
  ISBN 978-0-316-31773-3
  .