Record #0801: Harlem Shuffle / Had It With You – THE ROLLING STONES

Rolling Stones 38-05802 (original US release) USA, 26. February 1986
Words & Music by:  Side A – Bob Relf, Earl Nelson; Side B – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood
Musicians: Mick Jagger (lead and backing vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitars, piano, backing vocals), Ronnie Wood (guitars, steel guitar on side A, tenor sax, backing vocals), Bill Wyman (bass, synthesizer), Charlie Watts (drums), Ian Stewart (piano on side A), Chuck Leavell (keyboards on side A), Ivan Neville (bass, synthesizer, backing vocals), Philippe Saisse (keyboards), Anton Fig (shakers), Dan Collette (trumpet), Marku Ribas (percussion), Jimmy Cliff, Don Covay, Beverly D’Angelo, Kirsty McColl, Dolette McDonald, Janice Pendarvis, Patti Scialfa, Tom Waits (backing vocals on side A)
Recording sessions: Produced by Steve Lillywhite and the Glimmer Twins at RPM Studios, New York City, NY; Side A - between 16. July – 15. October 1985; Side B – between 10. September – 15. October 1985
Highest chart positions: US #5, US Rock #2, Canada #5, UK #13, Netherlands #5, Germany #11, Norway #6, Sweden #11, Finland #2 (for 3 weeks in April 1986 and held back by David Bowie’s “Absolute Beginners” on the top)

A fairly rare occasion: the Rolling Stones put a cover song on the A-side of their single. They haven’t done that much since the mid-60’s (yes, there are some others like “Time Is on My Side” in 1982).

There’s an impressive crew doing the backing vocals on side A!

“Harlem Shuffle” was originally recorded by duo Bob & Earl in 1963 (US #44, US R&B #44).

List price:  Very Good+ is $1,50, Near Mint is $3, same pricing for picture sleeves. Demo version (same track both sides) list prices $15 and $30 correspondingly. These are usually sold for 15-20 euros in eBay (record + picture sleeve).