Record #0798: It’s Only Rock’n’roll / Through the Lonely Nights – THE ROLLING STONES

Rolling Stones RS-19301 (original US release, Los Angeles pressing) USA, 26. July 1974
Words & Music by:  Side A – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards; Side B – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
Musicians: Mick Jagger (lead vocals), Keith Richards (lead guitar, backing vocals), Willie Weeks (bass on side A), Bill Wyman (bass on side B), Kenney Jones (drums on side A), Charlie Watts (drums on side B), Ron Wood (acoustic guitar on side A), Mick Taylor (guitar on side B), Ian Stewart (piano on side A), Nicky Hopkins (piano on side B)
Recording sessions: Side A – Produced by the Glimmer Twins at Ron Wood’s home in Richmond, UK, on 4.-6. December 1973 and at Mick Jagger’s home in Newbury, UK, on 10.-15. April 1974; Side B – Produced by Jimmy Miller at Island Recording Studios, London, UK 28. May 1974 onwards.
Highest chart positions: US #16, Canada #13, UK #10, Netherlands #13, Germany #36, Norway #8

Jagger recorded a demo version of “It’s Only Rock’n’roll” with Ron Wood (guitar and bass), Kenney Jones (drums) and David Bowie (backing vocals and handclaps) at Wood’s home studio. It was transferred to multitrack at Olympic Sound Studios in March 1974. Bowie’s part was not included in the final mix.

This was the first time Ronnie Wood played on the Rolling Stones’ release, though he wasn’t officially a member of the band, yet.

I’ve always loved the music video. It’s too funny towards the end when Watts drowns in the unexpected volume of bubbles.

List price:  Very Good+ is $2,50, Near Mint is $5. DJ copies are $20 and $30 correspondingly.