Heart of Stone (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Heart of Stone


Artist = Rolling Stones
from Album = The Rolling Stones, Now!
Released = 19 December 1964
Format =
Recorded = 2 November 1964
Genre = Blues, R&B
Length = 2:50
Label = Decca (UK)
London (US)
Writer = Jagger/Richards
Producer = Andrew Loog Oldham
Chart position =

• #19 (US)

Last single = "Little Red Rooster"
(1964)
This single = "Heart of Stone"
(1964)
Next single = "The Last Time"
(1965) |

"Heart Of Stone" is a song by the English rock 'n roll band the Rolling Stones.

Inspiration

Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "Heart of Stone" is a inspired by the blues and R&B, being one of their first compositions released as a lead single.

In his review, Richie Unterberger says, "'Heart of Stone' [is] a slow and soulful, dramatic ballad with the kind of vaguely discordant, droning guitars heard on many an early Rolling Stones slow number. What was impressive was how the Jagger/Richards song, though similar in some respect to American soul ballads of the period... was not explicitly derivative of any one blues or soul song that they were covering on their mid-60s records. The lilt of the verses owed something to country music and the mournful harmonies heard on the latter part of the verses added to the overall feeling of melancholy moodiness." [Unterberger, Richie. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=33:jbfwxx9sldse The Rolling Stones "Heart of Stone"] . "allmusic". 2007 (accessed 1 July 2007).]

The song sees the singer discuss his life as a womanizer, and how one girl in particular won't break his heart;

Recording and release

Recording began on 2 November 1964 at Los Angeles' RCA Studios with Jagger singing, Richards and Brian Jones on guitars, Bill Wyman on bass, and Charlie Watts on drums. Jack Nitzsche performs tambourine and piano.

"Heart of Stone" was released in December 1964, and became their second Top 20 hit in the US, reaching #19. The song was released the following February on the US album "The Rolling Stones, Now!", but was not given a UK release until "Out of Our Heads" in September 1965 . It was later included on the compilation discs "Hot Rocks" and "Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass)".

A longer version in 1975 on the album "Metamorphosis" had been recorded on 21-23 July 1964 with Jimmy Page on guitar and Clem Cattini on drums, probably as a demo.

The British post-punk group The Mekons covered the song on their 1988 album "So Good It Hurts", twisting the song's impact with female vocals provided by Sally Timms. The Allman Brothers Band convered the song on their 2003 album "Hittin' the Note". Sonic's Rendezvous Band has also played the song.

References

External links

* [http://www.rollingstones.com/discog/index.php?v=so&a=1&id=16 Complete Official Lyrics]