The Rolling Stones have been active since the early 60s and until now released 31 studio albums and more than 120 singles. So it’s a huge amount of music and it’s not easy to pick a favorite song. The guitarist and songwriter Keith Richards always said that he can’t choose a favorite song because it would be like picking his favorite child. However, he once mentioned six 6 that were some of the best ones he wrote or co-wrote with Mick Jagger.
The 6 songs that Keith Richards said were some of the best he wrote
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
It was in an interview with YLE (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage) back in 1988 that Keith was asked which were his favorite songs that he had written. “I don’t know, you tell me. I mean, that’s subjective. There’s too many for me to choose. The good ones I like and there are other ones I forget about it and then sometimes I hear and say ‘Wow, that actually wasn’t so bad'”. But then he continued listing six songs that were among the ones he thought were the best ones he wrote.
The first one was their biggest classic “Satisfaction”, released by the band in 1965. The number 1 hit was released as a single and over the decade was featured many times on lists of the greatest songs of all time. It was also featured on the American version of the Stones fourth album “Out of Our Heads”.
Curiously, the idea for the song came to Keith Richards in a dream. Thankfully, he had a recorder beside his band where he hummed the idea.
“Tumbling Dice”
The second song he mentioned was “Tumbling Dice”, released as a single in 1972 and also featured on their album “Exile on Main St.”. Like most Rolling Stones songs, the track was also written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. It appeared on the charts of several countries, peaking at number 7 on the United States Billboard Hot 100.
At the time, the band had a new guitar player: Mick Taylor, who replaced the late Brian Jones, who was fired and shortly after tragically died.
Since it was released, several artists covered the song, including Lind Ronstadt. Her version, sung from a female perspective, was featured on her 1977 album “Simple Dreams”. It was also a Top 40 hit for her.
“Street Fighting Man”
Keith Richards also mentioned “Street Fighting Man”, a song released on the band’s 1968 album “Beggars Banquet”. At the time the song was considered polemic because of the lyrics that slightly criticized the British government, something that was not common in music back then.
The United States radio stations were also worried about the lyrics since in 1968 there was a big violent confrontation between anti-Vietnam war protesters and the police that year. So they decided not to play the track. The reason many radio stations in the UK and USA gave was saying that the record was “subversive”.
Curiously, the band’s bassist Bill Wyman didn’t play in the song. It was Keith Richards who besides recording the guitar, also recorded the bass parts.
“Make No Mistake”
This is the only solo career song that Richards mentioned in the interview. The track was featured on his debut solo album “Talk is Cheap”, released in 1988. It was recorded during the long-standing falling out with his bandmate Mick Jagger that made the Stone be inactive for a few years. It has 11 songs and one of them was “Make No Mistake”, mentioned by his as one of the best ones he wrote.
Many amazing musicians were part of the recordings of that album. Including the drummer Steve Jordan, who since Charlie Watts’ death is the drummer for the Stones. Also were part of the recording sessions Charley Drayton (Drums), Bobby Keys (Saxophone) Bootsy Collins (Bass), Chuck Leavell (Organ), Mick Taylor (Guitar) and Patti Scialfa (Backing vocals).
“Jumping Jack Flash”
Also Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the song became one of Rolling Stones most famous ones. Since it was released it has been constantly featured on their live shows. Besides Mick and Keith, the band was also formed at the time by Brian Jones, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts.
The additional musicians on that track were Ian Stewart (Piano), Jimmy Miller (Backing vocals) and Rocky Dijon (Maracas). It became a number one single in countries in the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Netherlands and New Zealand, for example. In the United States, the track peaked at number 3 on the United States Hot 100.
“Brown Sugar”
The final song mentioned by Richards was “Brown Sugar”, released as a single in 1971 and also featured on their album “Sticky Fingers”. It instantly became a number one hit in the United States and Canada.
Besides the classic line-up with Mick Taylor on guitar, during the recording session were also part the pianist Ian Stewart and Bobby Keys (Tenor saxophone).