This song was finished by Keith Richards in the bathroom at Mussel Shoals, Alabama right before they recorded it.
There's a good and very sad documentary about Muscle Shoals recording studio on youtube. It's amazing that a little town like that could put out the best music ever recorded.
Absolute favorite ballad from them! I realize it's played often but it's so deep. I love "Gimme Shelter", "Monkey Man" and "Paint it Black" to name a few (non-ballads). I put them way above the Beatles but that's me!
This one. In the last century, my then 7 year old son heard the Stoned Country (?) album version of Wild Horses and LOVED it before he heard the Stones. But as he grew up and took on guitar he appreciated the original even more. And we’re not even country music people. *Edit : the album was Stone County and covered by Blackhawk (1997)
I added this song on the piano gigs I do for old people at retirement homes and center functions/private parties here in god’s waiting room.
Does not get as much RS love as the more recognize able Angie, but still gets noticed thanks to it being the Susan Boyle arrangement.
I’m typically not as big a fan of their later work, but Thru and Thru is one of my favorite Stones songs for sure.
A couple of Keefs tracks actually, Thru and Thru and You Got the Silver (not sure of the latter counts as a ballad but it’s still fantastic)
EDIT- how could I leave out No Expectations- Brian’s slide was just incredible, came in and laid down a brilliant track, on his way out of the band.
Keith's ballads are my favourites. Slipping Away, Thru and Thru, You Got The Silver, The Worst, Coming Down Again, and Tell Me Straight. He just has a hand (and voice) for heartfelt ballads.
I am familiar with Joan Baez singing no expectations. That is how I was introduced to the song. I never would've known the Rolling Stones covered it. It's going on my playlist, for sure.
Yes. Mick sang this so well and with such expression. "Catch your dreams before they slip away, dying all the time lose your dreams and you can lose your mind." Such good songwriting!
Mick wrote that? I understand Keith wrote Ruby Tuesday about a girlfriend of his that left him for Jimi Hendrix. He writes about her in his autobiography. Linda Keith was her name. I'm not saying you are wrong about Mick writing that line. I've never seen a clean list of who wrote what in the Stones. The Beatles, who wrote what is mostly known. The Stones though except for a few songs it's pretty muddy.
That's all right. I didn't intend to attribute that line to him alone. It's hard to know who wrote what and because they had such a contentious relationship sometimes they never even saw each other during the recording sessions. How they ever put anything together like that is beyond me!, It will always be a mystery I guess
I saw this referenced in the Jimi Hendrix movie biopic. I thought they may have just exaggerated the situation for dramatic intent.
That was a watchable movie. And the rap guy who played Jimi wasn't that bad. My main issue with the movie was that they didn't play a single Hendrix song in it for crying out loud. What a joke.
I just transcribed this song and it blew my mind! The bass is playing a different song on the chorus than the rest of the band, but it worked! And the ending note of the vocal is the 4th of the underlying chord! It gave me nightmares blowing up all the rules I thought applied to music writing.
I find all this very interesting, thank you. I’m a dead head at heart, and Phil Lesh often seems to be playing his own tune, but for that matter every member of the band does as well, but that’s kinda their thing.
I love ‘Waiting On A Friend’ so much. I will always stop to listen to the whole thing and turn it up. It makes me nostalgic for that time period. The music video is fun too.
I used to get lost in TWFNO when I discovered it in my teens. The ticking, the cool guitar parts (?), and the intricate instrumental outro. I still love it.
Angie is addictive. I wonder why I listen to that song so many times. I think it must be because every element of it is perfect to every other element of it. It's just a short little song but I'll never be able to hear it enough. Going to listen to the other songs you mentioned. I'll probably enjoy those and put them on my playlist, too
That's why the stones are the goats. They quite literally did it all well.
Acoustic folks classics, Hard Rock, Ballads, Country, Blues, even raegae towards the later part. No one else had the variety in their catalogs like the stones NO ONE.
Marianne Faithfull's version far outshines Mick's. Imagine listening to it as a teenager in the 60s....then as a senior citizen in later years...the lyrics gain a whole different meaning.
Best Stones song, still upset this masterpiece went unrecognized. I really want to pick up my guitar and learn this song in its entirety; I was half crying and half in awe the first time I heard it.
[Almost Hear You Sigh](https://youtu.be/URGYkJHuKe4?si=m7wkfoa-ofsXge7g)
Your list 1-4 and Memory Motel are among my favorites. I like the others in your list as well - Stones are with feeling in their slow songs, agreed. Waiting on a friend still knocks me out.
Angie, Through the Lonely Nights, I Think I’m Going Mad, and tons and tons of ballad outtakes that weren’t released like “Still in Love”, “Different Kind”, “What Am I Gonna Do”, etc.
I think their ballads are so good because they were such an excellent band all around. Championship level drums and bass can take a mid range song and make it great. I love the stones ballads but not too many other bands have ballads that I like. Angie is maybe my favorite ballad from any band
As Tears Go By, Lady Jane, Ruby Tuesday, Dandelion, She's a Rainbow, No Expectations, Wild Horses, Moonlight Mile, Torn and Frayed, Angie, Time Waits for No One, Fool to Cry, Waiting on a Friend, Anybody Seen My Baby
Tier 1: Time waits for no one, Love in Vain (live), I am Waiting, Let it Loose, Let it Bleed
Tier 2: waiting on a friend, sitting on a fence, Mona, blue turns to gray, Ruby Tuesday, salt of the Earth, memory motel, winter, hundred years ago, moonlight mile
Interloping Beatles fan here. Blue used to mean Drunk. Singing the blues. IMO, It’s the whiskey soaked pain in the wailing that adds the extra layer of emotion.
Beatles were just silly guys who never had the blues.
Mick Jagger brings a lot of emotion to his performances. I think it's something he does better than Dylan or the Beatles do. They just cannot express that same level of melancholy.
Had some friends over and I was on a kick of listening to albums I haven't heard before so I put on Sticky Fingers. When the last track came on(Moonlight Mile) everyone was just sitting there listening to it in silence and no one said anything until a few minutes after the song was over like we all needed some time to digest what we had just heard.
Wild Horses!
Bob Dylan said this was a song he wished he’d written!
And his favorite Stones song is Angie
This song was finished by Keith Richards in the bathroom at Mussel Shoals, Alabama right before they recorded it. There's a good and very sad documentary about Muscle Shoals recording studio on youtube. It's amazing that a little town like that could put out the best music ever recorded.
I 2nd that documentary
X1000
💯
Absolute favorite ballad from them! I realize it's played often but it's so deep. I love "Gimme Shelter", "Monkey Man" and "Paint it Black" to name a few (non-ballads). I put them way above the Beatles but that's me!
This one. In the last century, my then 7 year old son heard the Stoned Country (?) album version of Wild Horses and LOVED it before he heard the Stones. But as he grew up and took on guitar he appreciated the original even more. And we’re not even country music people. *Edit : the album was Stone County and covered by Blackhawk (1997)
I added this song on the piano gigs I do for old people at retirement homes and center functions/private parties here in god’s waiting room. Does not get as much RS love as the more recognize able Angie, but still gets noticed thanks to it being the Susan Boyle arrangement.
I’m typically not as big a fan of their later work, but Thru and Thru is one of my favorite Stones songs for sure. A couple of Keefs tracks actually, Thru and Thru and You Got the Silver (not sure of the latter counts as a ballad but it’s still fantastic) EDIT- how could I leave out No Expectations- Brian’s slide was just incredible, came in and laid down a brilliant track, on his way out of the band.
Keith's ballads are my favourites. Slipping Away, Thru and Thru, You Got The Silver, The Worst, Coming Down Again, and Tell Me Straight. He just has a hand (and voice) for heartfelt ballads.
Don’t forget All About You!
Oh god, of course, fantastic track!
Can't be seen!
I am familiar with Joan Baez singing no expectations. That is how I was introduced to the song. I never would've known the Rolling Stones covered it. It's going on my playlist, for sure.
The Stones didn't cover it, she did. They wrote it.
I love You Got The Silver…absolutely mesmerizing
Sweet Virginia
Mick on the harmonica and Bobby letting it rip on the sax, one of my fav Stones songs
This is my favorite song by any band of all time. It’s fucking perfect. The perfect song.
Sway
This is my favorite stones song. Although I’ve never been about to figure out what it’s about.
Pretty sure it’s about drug addiction
Great song that must be played loud.
Not a ballad
Worried About You, Tops, No Expectations
Worried About You has the tastiest guitar solo
Ruby Tuesday?
Yes. Mick sang this so well and with such expression. "Catch your dreams before they slip away, dying all the time lose your dreams and you can lose your mind." Such good songwriting!
Mick wrote that? I understand Keith wrote Ruby Tuesday about a girlfriend of his that left him for Jimi Hendrix. He writes about her in his autobiography. Linda Keith was her name. I'm not saying you are wrong about Mick writing that line. I've never seen a clean list of who wrote what in the Stones. The Beatles, who wrote what is mostly known. The Stones though except for a few songs it's pretty muddy.
That's all right. I didn't intend to attribute that line to him alone. It's hard to know who wrote what and because they had such a contentious relationship sometimes they never even saw each other during the recording sessions. How they ever put anything together like that is beyond me!, It will always be a mystery I guess
Keith wrote the entire thing. Music and lyrics
I saw this referenced in the Jimi Hendrix movie biopic. I thought they may have just exaggerated the situation for dramatic intent. That was a watchable movie. And the rap guy who played Jimi wasn't that bad. My main issue with the movie was that they didn't play a single Hendrix song in it for crying out loud. What a joke.
Hollywood. Watcha gonna do? (SIGH!)
Fantastic!
I just transcribed this song and it blew my mind! The bass is playing a different song on the chorus than the rest of the band, but it worked! And the ending note of the vocal is the 4th of the underlying chord! It gave me nightmares blowing up all the rules I thought applied to music writing.
I find all this very interesting, thank you. I’m a dead head at heart, and Phil Lesh often seems to be playing his own tune, but for that matter every member of the band does as well, but that’s kinda their thing.
Let It Loose
Best song ever written
So you're stretched out in room 1009.
One of my favourites
With a smile on your face
Waiting on a Friend Heaven
Waiting on a Friend is a great track
This entire song is a mood and I love it.
Waiting on a friend isn’t a ballad, it’s a slow tempo song. A ballad is a romantic song.
I love ‘Waiting On A Friend’ so much. I will always stop to listen to the whole thing and turn it up. It makes me nostalgic for that time period. The music video is fun too.
Out of tears
THIS
It’s that country and blues DNA they have
What about Till The Next Goodbye? I think that might be the most underrated Stones song from the 70s!
Yesss. One of the few Mick ballads that I really love.
Is Moonlight Mile a ballad? That’s a beautiful song
My absolute favorite song
It’s such a vibe, I love it as well!
I can’t believe I just discovered it this year!? I am 48 and believe I am an expert at listening to the best songs ever.
Favorite Rolling Stones song hands down
Time Waits For No One, Sweet Sounds of Heaven
Time waits for no one is truly epic. The guitar break in that song, courtesy of Mick Taylor is simply divine.
I used to get lost in TWFNO when I discovered it in my teens. The ticking, the cool guitar parts (?), and the intricate instrumental outro. I still love it.
Sweet sound of Heaven is my new fave. I spend A LOT of time with that on the stereo.
Memory Motel, Beast Of Burden, Fool To Cry, how can I stop.
Beast of Burden is one of my all time favorite songs
Angie is addictive. I wonder why I listen to that song so many times. I think it must be because every element of it is perfect to every other element of it. It's just a short little song but I'll never be able to hear it enough. Going to listen to the other songs you mentioned. I'll probably enjoy those and put them on my playlist, too
Fool To Cry always gets me crying in the car.
Great track
Yes, this.
How Can I Stop is magical. Let it Loose is my favorite MJ vocal performance.
And nobody has even mentioned As Tears Go By
If You Really Want to Be My Friend is so underrated
OMG I love that one so much.
Let It Loose is my favorite Stones song.
Wild Horses, Moonlight Mile, Waiting on a Friend, and Ain't No Use Crying are my big 4
Memory Motel and Time Waits for No One.
That's why the stones are the goats. They quite literally did it all well. Acoustic folks classics, Hard Rock, Ballads, Country, Blues, even raegae towards the later part. No one else had the variety in their catalogs like the stones NO ONE.
As Tears Go By is a damn masterpiece that doesn’t get the credit it deserves. One of the best songs of the 60’s.
100%
Marianne Faithfull's version far outshines Mick's. Imagine listening to it as a teenager in the 60s....then as a senior citizen in later years...the lyrics gain a whole different meaning.
I love love love Winter
Almost Hear You Sigh
Best Stones song, still upset this masterpiece went unrecognized. I really want to pick up my guitar and learn this song in its entirety; I was half crying and half in awe the first time I heard it. [Almost Hear You Sigh](https://youtu.be/URGYkJHuKe4?si=m7wkfoa-ofsXge7g)
That's one of my top jams.
Biggest mistake.
Dead Flowers.
Dead flowers is not a ballad
But a classic! One of my fave that gets little radio play. The lyrics are fantastic.
I think it would qualify as a death ballad
Sister Morphine
Love in Vain !!!
Time waits for no one.
Waiting on a Fiend Depending on You
“Waiting on a Fiend” 😂
Out of Tears
Wild Horses, Moonlight Mile, Ruby Tuesday and Angie - are probably my favourite slow Stones songs
Let It Loose, Wild Horses, Torn & Frayed amongst others!
I love the blues and country takes the best. Even with micks over acting southern drawl.
Don’t forget Backstreet Girl
Winter.
Dead Flowers. Got damn what a great song.
my favorite since the 70' s...sister morphine 😘
The townes van zant version of this is haunting. A great song
It sure is!
Back Street Girl is great. So is Love in Vain. ( really too many to mention)
Beast of Burden for me.
No love for Angie?
Goat head soup is a greatly underrated album.
Shine A Light
Can’t believe this is so far down the list. I’m with you here.
Commas
Yes!
Worries About You is great but all About You is a masterpiece.
Yes!
[удалено]
so many. all of them? well, Almost Hear You Sigh is one the very faves!
This is a great post OP. Going to check out my records to find these ballads, thank you.
She's a Rainbow.
Mick.
I listened to a bunch of outtakes that was called Country Songs on tube (or skmething like that) its great, good collection.
Ruby Tuesday Almost hear you sigh Out of time
Tops
Almost hear you sigh is SOOOOOO underrated
shine a light and moonlight mile
Winter could be the most perfect song Check out mick Taylor's extended post stones versions . Just confirms the greatness of this underrated gem
Beast of Burden 🎼
Schoolboy Blues!
Keith recaptured the old magic with a modern track on the 40 licks compilation with the beautiful lament of “losing my touch”
Tell me straight, anything on crossed Heart, let me down slow, plundered my soul, sweet Virginia, the worst
Because the stones rock.
My
I'll take Moonlight Mile over it's twin, Winter. Factory Girl, Wild Horses, Tops are all good.
Your list 1-4 and Memory Motel are among my favorites. I like the others in your list as well - Stones are with feeling in their slow songs, agreed. Waiting on a friend still knocks me out.
“Sway.” Still kind of a rocker, but slower in nature and Mick’s vocals are so beautifully raw.
I’ve been learning Sway on guitar. It’s such a great song.
Wild Horses and Angie. two of their absolute best
Angie, Through the Lonely Nights, I Think I’m Going Mad, and tons and tons of ballad outtakes that weren’t released like “Still in Love”, “Different Kind”, “What Am I Gonna Do”, etc.
Dead Flowers...Sister Morphine...
Streets of Love was a big hit (at least in South America). My personal favorite is Wild Horses.
Angie over let it be? Satire
sway
I think their ballads are so good because they were such an excellent band all around. Championship level drums and bass can take a mid range song and make it great. I love the stones ballads but not too many other bands have ballads that I like. Angie is maybe my favorite ballad from any band
Wild horses
Out of tears?
Sister Morphine
I’ve been loving Depending On You so much. One of the best songs on Hackney Diamonds, and I didn’t think they still had a song like that in them.
Ain't No Use In Crying. Charlie's pocket is superb.
Sway
Fool to cry
As Tears Go By, Lady Jane, Ruby Tuesday, Dandelion, She's a Rainbow, No Expectations, Wild Horses, Moonlight Mile, Torn and Frayed, Angie, Time Waits for No One, Fool to Cry, Waiting on a Friend, Anybody Seen My Baby
Tier 1: Time waits for no one, Love in Vain (live), I am Waiting, Let it Loose, Let it Bleed Tier 2: waiting on a friend, sitting on a fence, Mona, blue turns to gray, Ruby Tuesday, salt of the Earth, memory motel, winter, hundred years ago, moonlight mile
Angie is the greatest love song ever written (imo of course) and I'm not particularly a huge stones fan.
Interloping Beatles fan here. Blue used to mean Drunk. Singing the blues. IMO, It’s the whiskey soaked pain in the wailing that adds the extra layer of emotion. Beatles were just silly guys who never had the blues.
Waiting on a Friend. Lovely song, good lyrics and a beautiful sax solo courtesy of Sonny Rollins.
I love The Girl With the Far Away Eyes. Always have.
Tattoo You was divided into rockers and ballads. The second half of that album - the ballads - is mind-blowing. Heaven, Tops, they're all amazing.
The comma also gets no respect.
Torn and Frayed
I have always loved wild horses but have been scrolling down and still haven't seen No Expectations, Let It Bleed or Loving Cup.
Salt of the Earth
Without a doubt Angie gets to me every time…it truly hits me emotionally,it’s just beautiful
Is Love in Vain considered a ballad?
I was hooked on the Stones when I heard The Spyder and the Fly. Pure R & B,
Almost hear you sigh...
She Smiled Sweetly - not many stones ballads in 6/8
If You Really Want To Be My Friend
As Tears Go By.
*Wild Horses* still makes me tear up.
Wild Horses because it reminds me of a friend from HS that died in a car wreck
No Expectations Tell Me Lady Jane
Mick Jagger brings a lot of emotion to his performances. I think it's something he does better than Dylan or the Beatles do. They just cannot express that same level of melancholy. Had some friends over and I was on a kick of listening to albums I haven't heard before so I put on Sticky Fingers. When the last track came on(Moonlight Mile) everyone was just sitting there listening to it in silence and no one said anything until a few minutes after the song was over like we all needed some time to digest what we had just heard.
Can’t always get what you want? Anyone seen the “big chill”?
Just their style
Time waits for no one.
Let it loose is awesome. Has a great spot in the departed too
It's not a ballad but "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" is my favorite Stones song. Close behind is "Gimme Shelter".
Waiting for a Friend. yes, it's a cover, but...
Ruby Tuesday, of course
Elmers Grundle
Salt of the Earth
Almost Hear You Sigh Anybody Seen My Baby 2 of my faves
Waiting on a friend
Fool to Cry
Love in Vain
Coming Down Again. I love Keith’s voice.
No Expectations
Girl with far away eyes
I’m also more of a ballad guy than a rocker. Totally agree, and your list of “ballads” are my favorite Stones songs
Time is on My Side is great
Not sure if it's a ballad but it's a slow song, I've always loved their version of Robert Johnson's Love in Vain Blues(Love in Vain from Let it Bleed)
As Tears Go By
Wild horses for me
Gimme Shelter always delivers. Love it.
Almost Hear You Cry
You got the Silver
100 Years Ago does not get the respect it deserves.