Mick Taylor on ‘Time Waits For No One’ (1974): “The Best on That Album…”

By Marcelo Sonaglioni on March 1, 2025

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Rolling Stones Quotes: Mick Taylor on ‘Time Waits For No One’ (1974)

“The best one on that album – for a guitar solo, anyway – is Time Waits for No One, which is the first song we recorded for It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll. We hadn’t seen each other for about 3 months, and it was done in one or two takes. We had done a bit of a layoff because we’d finished an American tour, and everybody went to different parts of the globe and had a rest. I went to Brazil, which is possibly why there is a little Latin influence there.”

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Even after all these years, Mick Taylor’s searing guitar solo on Time Waits for No One is widely regarded as his finest moment—so much so that it even influenced Carlos Santana. Some believe Taylor’s recent visit to Brazil at the time may have shaped the song’s Latin-inspired sound. Released in 1974, the track became a standout on the Rolling Stones’ 1979 compilation Time Waits for No One – Anthology 1971-1977, solidifying its significance. However, a later release (Sucking in the Seventies) controversially featured a shortened version, proving that even an edited form couldn’t diminish its impact.

This six-minute masterpiece was a dynamic collaboration between Mick Jagger and Mick Taylor, with Charlie Watts providing a steady drumbeat. Percussionist Ray Cooper (best known for his work with Elton John) subtly enhanced the track with tambourine, while Nicky Hopkins’ exquisite piano flourished throughout its six-and-a-half-minute runtime. The song also marked the pinnacle of Taylor’s time with the Stones. Frustrated by the lack of songwriting recognition under Jagger and Richards, he eventually departed. Though he later found success with solo work and collaborations with Jack Bruce and Bob Dylan, Time Waits for No One remains a defining showcase of his brilliance.

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