Recorded between June and October 1979, 'Emotional Rescue' was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and is a disco-influenced number, somewhat similar to the band's 1978 hit 'Miss You'.
The song is notable as one of the earliest songs by the group to show the growing rift between main songwriters Jagger and Richards. Although Richards plays guitar and added backing vocals towards the end of this track, he is noted to not have liked the direction in which Jagger was trying to take the band with disco-like compositions, although this may have been exaggerated by the press and Richards' hard-rock-oriented image. The song is based around a bass line played by Ronnie Wood. Also notable is Jagger's singing of the song in a falsetto, popular on many disco-era songs (a la The Bee Gees' Barry Gibb). Bassist Bill Wyman plays synthesizer on the record, while Jagger and Ian Stewart play electric piano.

On March 28, 1980, thermographic video clips were shot for 'Emotional Rescue' and 'Where the Boys Go' in New York City. Director David Mallet released an alternative version of 'Emotional Rescue' while hired later for the next single clip 'She's So Cold'.

Released as the album's lead on June 20, 1980, 'Emotional Rescue' reached #9 on the UK Singles Chart and #3 in the U.S. A short and a long version of the track were to be found on promotional single releases worldwide, as well as on 12" maxi singles.

Picture sleeves from around the world

Exclusive PS were made for 'Emotional Rescue' in France, Belgium [housing the US pressing] and Italy; Japan and Holland issued promo variations of other artworks and Poland issued an official playable postcard depicting swans or a Siamese cat (!).

84 editions worldwide include 'Emotional Rescue' on the 7" format.

Down In The Hole
[Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]

Will all your money
Buy you forgiveness
Keep you from sickness
Or keep you from cold?

Will all your money
Keep you from madness
Keep you from sadness
When you're down in the hole?

'Cause you'll be down in the gutter
You'll be bummin' for cigarettes
Bummin' for nylons
In the American Zone

You'll be down in the hole
Yeah, down in the hole
No escape from trouble
Nowhere to go

Down in the gutter
Beggin' for cigarettes
Beggin' forgiveness
All that you know

Down in the hole
After diggin' the trenches
Looking for cover and findin' out there ain't nowhere nowhere to go
Nowhere nowhere nowhere to go

None of your money
Will buy you forgiveness
None of your jewelry
None of your gold

Your black market cigarettes
Your American nightclubs
Ah, they've got nowhere left

Something for nothing
All of your friends gone
Something for nothing
That's all that you know

There's something down in the hole
Down down down in the hole
There's something down down down down in the hole  

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Mick Jagger: lead vocals
Keith Richards: electric guitar
Ron Wood: electric guitar
Bill Wyman: bass
Charlie Watts: drums
Michael Shrieve: percussion
Sugar Blue: harmonica