TOP 10 MICK JAGGER ROLLING STONES SONGS

John Minihan, Hulton Archive, Getty Images

As the Rolling Stones‘ frontman for the past 50 years, Mick Jagger has had the opportunity to show off many different sides. There was the skinny white bluesman in the first part of the ’60s, the swaggering devil of the later part of the decade, the preening rock star he portrayed throughout most of the ’70s, the disco cat of the late ’70s and the rock ‘n’ roll survivor he’s played for the past 30 or so years. He’s rock’s most famous frontman/singer, a role he still cherishes and defends every time he’s onstage. The Stones have always been greater than the sum of their parts, but it’s the individual components that keep them moving. Our list of the Top 10 Mick Jagger Rolling Stones Songs showcases the man who just might be their most important ingredient.

10

'Time Is on My Side'

From: '12 X 5' (1964)

 

 

Unlike the other cuts on our list of the Top 10 Mick Jagger Rolling Stones Songs, the singer didn't have a hand in writing 'Time Is on My Side.' None of the Stones did. The band's first Top 10 U.S. hit was recorded by R&B singer Irma Thomas earlier the same year; they were undoubtedly influenced by her version, especially Jagger, who checks in with his first truly great vocal, nailing the soulful edge infused with a side of gospel.

Hear 'Time Is on My Side'

 

 

9

'Midnight Rambler'

From: 'Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!' (1970)

 

 

The studio version of 'Midnight Rambler' (from 1969's 'Let It Bleed') falls in place with the rest of the album's bluesy doom. But the song takes on an even more menacing tone during the concert version found on the Stones' best live album, 'Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!' The band drags out the song to almost 10 minutes on 'Ya-Ya's,' and Jagger crawls into the cut's dirtiest corners, writhing his way to some sort of release by song's end. It's the closest he ever got to channeling the troubled spirits of the legendary bluesmen he worshiped.

Hear 'Midnight Rambler'

 

 

8

'Let's Spend the Night Together'

From: 'Between the Buttons' (1967)

 

 

The Rolling Stones were just revving up to their most creative period when they recorded this single (originally the B-side of the No. 1 'Ruby Tuesday') in late 1966. The Stones were beginning to find their own voice, and Jagger, particularly, stopped copying American blues and R&B singers and started working within the natural tone of his vocals. 'Let's Spend the Night Together' drips with sexy urgency.

Hear 'Let's Spend the Night Together'

 

 

7

'Fool to Cry'

From: 'Black and Blue' (1976)

 

 

We don't have many nice things to say about 'Black and Blue,' the lazy 1976 album the Stones recorded between 'It's Only Rock 'n' Roll' and 'Some Girls.' But this plaintive ballad (and Top 10 hit, a testament to the band's strong but sagging chart prowess at the time) features one of Jagger's most emotionally stirring and powering performances. For years he tried to ace the sweet, simmering soul of American R&B artists. On 'Fool to Cry' he nearly got there.

Hear 'Fool to Cry'

 

 

6

'Tumbling Dice'

From: 'Exile on Main St.' (1972)

 

 

The Stones' classic 'Exile on Main St.' album was famously made in a drug-fueled haze that brought the finished recordings down to a sludgy, murky crawl. It's absolutely brilliant at times, even if the details are hard to pick out. We love Jagger's performance throughout the LP, but he's at his most swaggering on the album's hit single, 'Tumbling Dice.' You may not be able to hear it clearly, but the band's confidence overflows here.

Hear 'Tumbling Dice'

 

 

5

'Start Me Up'

From: 'Tattoo You' (1981)

 

 

As they were heading into the '80s, the Stones had very little left to prove. Which is why so many of their records from the past 30 years are so lazy and boring. But 1981's 'Tattoo You,' their last truly great album, features some of the band's best songs. Many were pulled together from mid-'70s sessions, when Jagger wore his rock-star crown with one eye on the competition. He sings 'Start Me Up,' the LP's best song, with defensive authority.

Hear 'Start Me Up'

 

 

4

'Miss You'

From: 'Some Girls' (1978)

 

 

After a few years of creative and personal missteps, sluggish albums and dwindling inspiration, the Stones took a more defensive path to their music (also see No. 5 on our list of the Top 10 Mick Jagger Rolling Stones Songs). 'Some Girls' was a counter blow to both punk and disco, which were cutting into the band's profits and influence. On 'Miss You,' the album's hit single, Jagger strikes a disco pose like a natural, checking in with one of his all-time best performances.

Hear 'Miss You'

 

 

3

'Jumpin' Jack Flash'

From: 1968 single

 

 

Keith Richards' stinging riff drives 'Jumpin' Jack Flash,' but it's Jagger's strutting vocal that steers it. Following a brief trip into paisley-colored pyschedelia, the band charged back hard in 1968, sparking a creative burst that hasn't been matched by anyone since. 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' kicks off this fertile period, with Jagger renewed and ready for a fight.

Hear 'Jumpin' Jack Flash'

 

 

2

'Gimme Shelter'

From: 'Let It Bleed' (1969)

 

 

All of the elements come together on 'Gimme Shelter,' the anchor and lead track to one of the Stones' greatest albums: the ghostly intro riff, the thundering kick of the song's main melody, Merry Clayton's storming backing vocals. And then there's Jagger's deceiving indifference to the impending apocalypse. At first he sings with a reporter's objective sway, eventually turning hostile before resigning to his fate. Brilliant.

Hear 'Gimme Shelter'

 

 

1

'Sympathy for the Devil'

From: 'Beggars Banquet' (1968)

 

 

Stemming from the same sessions that yielded 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' (see No. 3 on our list of the Top 10 Mick Jagger Rolling Stones Songs), 'Beggars Banquet' marks the band's most inspired, and inspiring, era. The album is filled with some of rock's most blazing moments -- none as dramatic or as menacing as the LP opener, 'Sympathy for the Devil.' The music builds over a sinister rhythm, and Jimmy Miller's production boils with anticipation. But it's Jagger who keeps it all burning. He sings like a man possessed.

Hear 'Sympathy for the Devil'

 

EXCLUSIVE: METALLICA GUITARIST KIRK HAMMETT DISCUSSES 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF ‘KILL ‘EM ALL’

On July 25, 1983, Metallica released their debut studio album, ‘Kill ‘Em All.’ Initially, ‘Kill ‘Em All’ was not commercially successful, but 30 years later it is regarded as one of the best thrash metal albums of all time. Its rawness and speed are unmatched, and guitarist Kirk Hammett gives us a better understanding of why it is such a gritty album.

In an exclusive conversation with Loudwire, Hammett describes the recording of ‘Kill ‘Em All’ as follows: “The way we did it was just like, we go in there, do it, knock it out, next. Go in there, do it, knock it out, next. Go in there, do it, knock it out, next. There wasn’t a lot of time to second guess anything. It was all just about going for it.”

The shredder goes on, “In retrospect, I think that was probably a savior for us because if we did have more time to work on that album, it wouldn’t have sounded the way it does. When I think of ‘Kill ‘Em All,’ I think of it being very visceral. We weren’t second guessing ourselves because we didn’t have time to do that. It was just something that we went for.”

For Hammett, this was all a blur, partly because he joined Metallica right before recording started, replacingDave Mustaine. It was also a blur, though, due to the fact that the band was living up to its ‘Alcoholica’ nickname. “The whole recording process is kind of foggy because we were drinking so much vodka and just about any other alcoholic beverage we could get our hands on back then,” the axeman reflects.

There’s no doubt the sound of ‘Kill ‘Em All’ stems from the fast-paced mentality that went into recording the album. When paired up with Metallica’s legendary balls-to-the-wall attitude, fans get one of the thrashiest albums ever created that has stood — and always will stand — the test of time.

While today (July 25) marks the actual 30th anniversary of the release of ‘Kill ‘Em All,’ the band celebrated the milestone with a surprise performance of the entire album at their Orion Music + More festival in June. Check out footage of that gig here, and see a classic performance of ‘Seek & Destroy’ featuring the classic Metallica lineup of Hammett, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich and the late Cliff Burton below:

Metallica Perform ‘Seek & Destroy’

TRACK-BY-TRACK BREAKDOWN OF 'KILL 'EM ALL'

METALLICA, ‘KILL ‘EM ALL’ – ALBUM OVERVIEW

Megaforce Records

They are fully engrained in mainstream music today, but in the early ‘80s Metallica were a young band helping pioneer speed/thrash metal, which back then was raw, intense and downright dangerous. Their debut album ‘Kill ‘Em All’ changed everything for many music fans.

Before ‘Kill ‘Em All’ was their 1982 demo ‘No Life ‘Til Leather.’ Recorded at Chateau East Studio in Tuscin, California, the lineup for the 7 track demo was James Hetfield (vocals, guitar), Dave Mustaine (guitar), Ron McGovney (bass) and Lars Ulrich (drums). All the songs from the demo would appear on ‘Kill ‘Em All,’ with ‘The Mechanix’ being reworked into ‘The Four Horsemen.’

That demo drew the attention of concert promoters/record store owners John and Marsha Zazula (known as Johnny and Marsha Z.) By this time McGovney had been replaced by Cliff Burton. The Zazulas agreed to manage the young band, and sent them $1500 to come from California to New York. Metallica loaded up their gear and made the cross-country trek. The group actually stayed with the Zazulas at first, but some rowdy behavior got them banished to sleeping in their rehearsal area in the Music Building. Anthrax also rehearsed in the same building.

Rowdy behavior and heavy drinking also got Dave Mustaine kicked out of the band before they started recording their debut. For a band that loved to party and was known as ‘Alcoholica,’ it must really have been excessive for the rest of the band to want to fire Mustaine. He was unceremoniously booted from the group and put on a bus back to California. He was replaced by former Exodus axeman Kirk Hammett.

Not finding any labels that would sign Metallica, the Zazulas started their own label, Megaforce Records. ‘Kill ‘Em All’ was recorded at Music America Studios in Rochester, N.Y. by producer Paul Curcio. Even though he was no longer in the band, Mustaine received writing credit on several songs that he had written or co-written before his exit.

The band planned on calling their debut ‘Metal Up Your Ass,’ but the label persuaded them to change it. They created a great t-shirt with that title and a knife emerging from a toilet, which would later turn into a stage prop.

Released on July 25, 1983, ‘Kill ‘Em All’ didn’t make much of a mark commercially at the time. Artistically, though, it broke ground on the new genre of thrash metal, and ended up being a hugely influential record. It eventually attained commercial success as well, selling over three million copies to-date.

’Kill ‘Em All’ Track by Track

’Hit The Lights’

This was the first song Hetfield and Ulrich worked on after forming Metallica. It dates back to Hetfield’s pre-Metallica band Leather Charm. A version of it appeared on the first Metal Blade compilation ‘Metal Massacre’ in 1982. The first pressing of that collection erroneously spelled the band’s name as “Mettallica.” ‘Hit The Lights’ was used as the opening song for many early Metallica shows.

’The Four Horsemen’

Originally appearing on the ‘No Life ‘Til Leather’ demo as ‘The Mechanix,’ the band reworked the Mustaine-penned track into ‘The Four Horsemen.’ The new lyrics were based on the apocalypse and the end of the world, and Metallica has been called ‘The Four Horsemen.’ Mustaine used his version of ‘The Mechanix’ on Megadeth’s debut album ‘Killing Is My Business…And Business Is Good,’ shortening the title to ‘Mechanix.’

’Motorbreath’

This is the only song in Metallica’s history to have only James Hetfield listed as the songwriter, ‘Motorbreath,’ an obvious homage to Motorhead, is also the shortest song on ‘Kill ‘Em All,’ clocking in at just over three minutes. It also appeared on ‘No Life ‘Til Leather,’ with the lyrics possibly referring to speed or cocaine.

’Jump in the Fire’

The original version of ‘Jump In The Fire’ was written by Mustaine and appeared on ‘No Life ‘Til Leather.’ Hetfield rewrote the lyrics, changing them from sexual themes to Satan’s point of view of people doing things to doom them to hell. The track was released as a single internationally, also including live versions of ’Seek & Destroy’ and ‘Phantom Lord.’ Ulrich has claimed in various interviews over the years that ‘Jump in the Fire’ was inspired by Iron Maiden’s ‘Run To The Hills.’

’(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth’

This would begin the Metallica tradition of instrumentals, which they included on each of their first four albums. It’s mainly a bass solo by Burton, with some drum work by Ulrich. It showcases Burton’s superior musicianship, utilizing elements of classical, jazz and metal. It’s also the only song in the Metallica catalog without a James Hetfield songwriting credit.

’Whiplash’

The band’s first single is a thrash metal classic. The lyrics talk about the joy of headbanging, and the songs’s intensity and fast tempo lends itself perfectly to that pastime. In 2005, Motorhead won a Grammy for their version of the song, which was recorded for the tribute album ‘Metallic Attack: The Ultimate Tribute.’

’Phantom Lord’

Named after one of Hetfield’s former bands, ‘Phantom Lord’ also appeared on ‘No Life ‘Til Leather.’ The song, written by Hetfield and Ulrich, has a storyline of two heavy metal beasts battling it out. It is considered the most musically mature song on ‘Kill ‘Em All.’

’No Remorse’

The origins of this song go back to the earliest days of Metallica, back when Ron McGovney and Lloyd Grant were still in the band. Riffs from a couple of songs from that era were lifted and combined in the creation of ‘No Remorse.’ The lyrics are anti-war, talking about how people don’t feel remorse, sorrow or repent during war.

’Seek & Destroy’

Probably the most popular and well-known song from the album, ‘Seek & Destroy’ has been a staple of Metallica concerts throughout their career, and continues to be a mainstay. Metallica was heavily influenced by New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) bands, and this song has clear Diamond Head and Saxon influences. ‘Seek & Destroy’ has been covered countless times over the years and been used as entrance music by several professional wrestlers.

’Metal Militia’

The album’s closing track is pure speed metal, the fastest song on ‘Kill ‘Em All’ and possibly their fastest song altogether. It portrays the band as the militia, spreading their message of metal across the land.

The 1988 reissue of ‘Kill ‘Em All’ also included the Diamond Head cover ‘Am I Evil’ along with ‘Blitzkrieg,’ originally done by the band of the same name.

METALLICA POST OFFICIAL VIDEO RECAP OF ‘SECRET’ COMIC-CON SHOW

When Metallica were in San Diego last week to promote their upcoming 3D movie ‘Metallica Through the Never,’ they also played a ‘secret’ show at the Spreckels Theatre that night (July 19). They have now posted an official video recap of that gig (watch above).

The 24-minute video includes footage of the band’s rehearsal and their performance of ‘Seek and Destroy’ from the secret show. You’ll also see drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist Kirk Hammett briefly swap instruments. They play with a lot of enthusiasm, but not a lot of skill, and quickly go back to their regular places on stage.

‘Metallica Through the Never’ is a 3D movie that combines a traditional cinematic plot with concert footage of the metal giants performing.

In an interview with Hitfix, director Nimrod Antal talked about the vision for the film. “Tonally and within the film structure — with the atmosphere of the film — there were certainly certain songs that played well into our hands. We stayed real faithful to the band’s set-list and tried to form a narrative we could weave into the concert,” Antal said. “The band’s persona, their energy and certainly the love they have for what they do, those made their way into the film. I’m very proud of it.”

‘Metallica Through the Never’ can be seen in IMAX theaters beginning on Sept. 27 followed by a wider release on Oct. 4. Pre-orders for tickets are available here.

METALLICA REVEAL NEW TRAILER AND POSTER FOR ‘THROUGH THE NEVER’

The buzz surrounding Metallica‘s upcoming concert film ‘Through the Never’ continues to grow. Last night (July 19), the band revealed a second trailer for the movie, as well as its poster.

“It’s here, @Metallica Through The Never trailer/film poster. @IMAX 3D on 9/27! #MetallicaMovie,” the bandtweeted, along with the embedded poster and a link to the film’s website. Both the trailer and the artwork, which features star Dane DeHaan wearing a hoodie and a leather jacket, with a Metallica-themed kerchief covering the lower half of his face, are downloadable.

DeHaan plays Trip, a fresh-faced roadie sent out on a mission to recover something the band needs from one of its trucks that has run out of gas in the middle of a city shortly before a concert. “My whole life I’ve been waiting for that moment when it all starts to make sense,” he says in the trailer’s voice-over as ‘Enter Sandman’ plays. “Another night, another show. I do what they tell me. I go where they send me. But sometimes the moment that changes everything is the one you never see coming.”

However, the seemingly easy task turns – as expected for anything Metallica does – dark. Trip gets caught up in the middle of a riot, with the brutality of the events underscored by Metallica’s music.

‘Through the Never’ will be released on Sept. 27 at IMAX 3D theaters, with a general release date of Oct. 4. Advance tickets can be purchased at the film’s website.