1969  The Rolling Stones UK and US Charts  Honky Tonk Women

'Honky Tonk Women' was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards while on holiday in Brazil from late December 1968 to early January 1969. Inspired by Brazilian gauchos at the ranch where Jagger and Richards were staying in Matão, São Paulo, the song was originally conceived as an acoustic country song.

Two versions of the song were recorded by the band: the familiar hit which appeared on the 45 single and their 1960s compilation 'Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)'; and a honky-tonk version entitled 'Country Honk' with slightly different lyrics, which appeared on 'Let It Bleed'. The concert rendition of the song featured on 'Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!' differs from both the hit version and the country version, with a markedly different guitar introduction and an entirely different second verse, but is much closer to the single version than the album version. Thematically, a "honky tonk woman" refers to a dancing girl in a western bar who may work as a prostitute.

The band initially recorded the track called 'Country Honk', in London in early February 1969. The song was transformed into the familiar electric, riff-based hit single 'Honky Tonk Women' sometime in the spring of 1969, prior to Mick Taylor's joining the group. In an interview in the magazine Crawdaddy, Richards credits Taylor for influencing the track: "... the song was originally written as a real Hank Williams - Jimmie Rodgers - 1930s country song. And it got turned around to this other thing by Mick Taylor, who got into a completely different feel, throwing it off the wall another way." However, in 1979 Taylor recalled it this way: "I definitely added something to 'Honky Tonk Women', but it was more or less complete by the time I arrived and did my overdubs." Ry Cooder has asserted that he originated the song's main guitar riff, and has accused the Rolling Stones of "ripping him off". The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks from 23 August 1969. The single was released in the UK the day after the death of founding member Brian Jones. 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' was the single's B-side.'

Honky Tonk Women' was reissued in 1976 as a doubled A-sided single in the UK, along with 'Sympathy For The Devil'.



Picture sleeves from around the world big gallery mode
The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Mexico [1969] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Israël [1969] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Spain [1969] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Portugal [1969] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Germany [1969] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Italy [1969] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Denmark [1969] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, France [1969] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Japan [1969] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, USA [1969] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Singapore [1969] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Holland [1969] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Belgium [1969] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, South Africa [1969] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Turkey [1969] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Japan [1970] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Argentina [1971] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Belgium [1972] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, France [1972] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Japan [1973] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Japan [1973] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Japan [1973] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, France [1975] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Portugal [1975] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Holland [1976] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Japan [1976] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Germany [1977] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Belgium [1978] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Holland [1979] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Japan [1980] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Brazil [1982] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women, Germany [1987] ,7"

229 editions worldwide include 'Honky Tonk Women' on the 7" format.



Covers
'Honky Tonk Women' was covered by the following artists:

  • Campbell, Ali: 2010 CD Great British Songs
  • Cathedral City Project: 1994 CD: Performs The Rolling Stones Favourites. Belgium. Instr.
  • Cocker, Joe: 1970 LP: Mad Dogs & Englishmen. Live.
  • Curb, Mike & The Waterfall: LP: The Rolling Stones Songbook. Instr.
  • Flying Burrito Brothers: 1987 LP: Dim Light, Thick Smoke & Loud, Loud Music, '91 CD.
  • Freud, Marx, Engels & Jung: 1988 CD: Takamehtien Mekatähtiä, Finland.
  • Gold, Adam and John Mahoney 1994 Cassette: V/A: Exile On The Information Superhighway, '95.
  • Hampton String Quartet: 1988 CD: What If Mozart Wrote "Born To Be Wild". Instr.
  • Hot Ice: 7": c/w 19th Nervous Breakdown, Radio Records 417.
  • Humble Pie: 1973 7" A&M 1440 + CD: The Best.
  • Jebadiah:1978 LP: Rock 'N Soul.
  • Jennings, Waylon: 1970 LP: Singer Of Sad Songs.
  • John, Elton: 1970 LP: 11-17-70. Live.
  • Jones, Tom : 2001 V/A CD Gimme Shelter Vol. 1 (17 covers of RS classics)
  • King, Albert: 1971 LP Lovejoy.
  • Kino-orkesteri: 1984 LP: Kino-orkesteri. as 'Kampin Kaisa' Honky Tonk Women - The Pogues
  • Kirka: 1975 7", LP: V/A: Huippuhittejä 2, as 'Huonot Naiset'
  • Korner, Alexis: 1979 CD: V/A: Got My Mojo Working, 1994 (live?).
  • LaCosta: (Capitol).
  • Mahal, Taj : 1999 CD Blue Light Boogie
  • Meters 1978 LP: Trick Bag.
  • Milsap, Ronnie: 1979 LP: Live. Hits of... .
  • Montgomery, Bobby : 7" Vault V 960 (US) c/w 'I'm Your Steppin' Stone'
  • Nelson, Rick & The Stone Canyon Band: LP: Rudy The Fifth.
  • Nelson, Ricky: 1983-5 Live.
  • Nelson, Willie: 1985 LP: Half Nelson. With Leon Russell.
  • New Riders Of The Purple Sage: 1971 CD: + Vintage Riders, '91.
  • Parsons, Gram: 1976 LP rarities compilation Sleepless Nights
  • Peltz: 1995 CD: V/A: Perfectly Stoned. Norway.
  • Pogues, The: 1988 CD, CD EP: Essential, CD. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah..., CD EP.
  • Prince, TAFKA 1995 CD: The Park: Volume Two, Live. Bootleg.
  • Schleicher, Peter: 1979 LP, 1994 CD: Hart Auf Hart. as 'Die Beisl Hua'
  • Songrise Orchestra: 1994-5 CD: The Music Of The Rolling Stones : 16 Instr. Hits. EEC. Instr.
  • Sonics, The: 1978 LP: Sounds Of The Rolling Stones.
  • Steel Mill: 1971 LP: Springsteen: All Those Years, 10 LP. Live Medley. Boot.
  • Turner, Ike & Tina: 7" & LP: Live In Paris. Live. + 1969 LP
  • Walker, Charlie: 1970 7" EPIC 5-10565 U.S.
  • West, Leslie: 1975 LP: The Great Fatsby. w/ Mick Jagger.
  • Williams Jr., Hank: 1987 CD: Born To Boogie.
  • Wood, Ron & Bo Diddley: 1987 LP-CD: Live At The Ritz, '92. Live.

more covers at Secondhandsongs.comBrowse more covers

'You Can't Always Get What You Want' was covered by :

  • Allison, Luther : 2001 V/A CD Gimme Shelter Vol. 1 (17 covers of RS classics)
  • Brown, Greg: 1993 CD EP - promo-only Sky Ranch Records, France
  • Def Leppard: 1992 CD EP 'Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad' / B-side
  • Franklin, Aretha: 1981 LP Love All the Hurt Away
  • Guaraldi, Vince: 1971 LP Oaxaca
  • Ituana : 2006 CD 'Bossa n' Stones, Vol. 2'
  • Middler, Bette: 1980 LP live Divine Madness - medley
  • Milteau, Jean-Jacques, with Ron Smyth (vocal) : 2008 CD Soul Conversation
  • Rusted Root: 1998 CD eponymous 4th album
  • Steel Pulse: 2001 from 'Paint It Black: A Reggae Tribute to the Rolling Stones' V/A CD
  • Sunchild : 1997 CD Barefoot & Live

more covers at Secondhandsongs.comBrowse more covers

The Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Women US sheet music
Honky Tonk Women [Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]

Recorded March & May-June 1969 at Olympic Sound Studios, London.
Producer: Jimmy Miller
Engineer: Glyn Johns
Mick Jagger: lead vocals
Keith Richards: rhythm and lead electric guitars, background vocals
Mick Taylor: rhythm guitar
Bill Wyman: bass
Charlie Watts: drums
Ian Stewart: piano
Jimmy Miller: cowbell
Doris Troy, Reparata & The Delrons: background vocals
charts peak release date 7" single B-side
The Rolling Stones UK Singles Discography 1 July 4, 1969 Decca F.12952 You Can't Always Get What You Want
[Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]
The Rolling Stones USA Singles Discography 1 July 11, 1969 London 910

Honky Tonk Women
[Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]

I met a gin soaked, bar-room queen in Memphis,
She tried to take me upstairs for a ride.
She had to heave me right across her shoulder
The Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Women Italian sheet music'Cause I just can't seem to drink you off my mind.

It's the honky tonk women
Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues.

I laid a divorcee in New York City,
I had to put up some kind of a fight.
The lady then she covered me with roses,
She blew my nose and then she blew my mind.

It's the honky tonk women
Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues.

(Yeah!) It's the honky tonk women.
Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues.

(Yeah!) It's the honky tonk women.
Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues.



The Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Women UK sheet music
You Can't Always Get What You Want
[Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]

Recorded November 16 & 17, 1968 at at London's Olympic Sound Studios, London.
Producer: Jimmy Miller
Arranger: The Rolling Stones
Mick Jagger: lead vocals
Keith Richards: acoustic & electric guitar
Bill Wyman: bass
Jimmy Miller: drums
Al Kooper: French horn, piano & organ
Rocky Dijon: maracas & congas
Madeline Bell, Nanette Newman [Workman], Doris Troy & the London Bach Choir: background vocals
charts peak release date 7" single A-side
The Rolling Stones USA Singles Discography 42 July 11, 1969 London 910 Honky Tonk Women [Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]

First released on 'Let It Bleed' in 1969, 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' was recorded on 16 and 17 November 1968 at London's Olympic Sound Studios. Brian Jones ran into Al Kooper outside the studio during a break in the recording and invited him in to play on the track. Kooper became a main contributor to the song, whereas Jones didn't play on the cut.
Of the song, Jagger said in 2003, " 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' was something I just played on the acoustic guitar - one of those bedroom songs. It proved to be quite difficult to record because Charlie couldn't play the groove and so Jimmy Miller had to play the drums. I'd also had this idea of having a choir, probably a gospel choir, on the track, but there wasn't one around at that point. Jack Nitzsche, or somebody, said that we could get the London Bach Choir and we said, 'That will be a laugh.'"
In 2003, Charlie Watts said of Jimmy Miller: "he wasn't a great drummer, but he was great at playing drums on records, which is a completely different thing. 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' is a great drum track. Jimmy actually made me stop and think again about the way I played drums in the studio and I became a much better drummer in the studio thanks to him."


'You Can't Always Get What You Want' was reissued in 1973 as the B-side of the late single 'Sad Day' [Decca F 13404].

You Can't Always Get What You Want
[Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]

I saw her today at a reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she would meet her connection
At her feet was her footloose man

Chorus
The Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Women African PSNo, you can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
And if you try sometime you find
You get what you need

I saw her today at the reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she was gonna meet her connection
At her feet was, footloose man

Chorus

And I went down to the demonstration
To get my fair share of abuse
Singin', 'We're gonna vent our frustration
If we don't, we're gonna blow a 50-amp fuse'
Sing it to me, now

Chorus
The Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Women Swedish sheet music
I went down to the Chelsea drugstore
To get your prescription filled
I was standin' in line with Mr. Jimmy
A-man, did he look pretty ill

We decided that we would have a soda
My favorite flavor, cherry red
I sung my song to Mr. Jimmy
Yeah, and he said one word to me, and that was 'dead'
I said to him

Chorus

I saw her today at the reception
In her glass was a bleeding man
She was practiced at the art of deception
Well, I could tell by her blood-stained hands
Say it!

Chorus
(Instrumental & choir to end fade)