The Rolling Stones in 1964: Why ‘Carol’ Rocks

By Marcelo Sonaglioni on June 19, 2025

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Rolling Stones songs: Carol

Climb into my machine so we can groove on out/ I know some swinging little joint where we can jump and shout…

Written by: Berry
Recorded: Regent Sounds Studios, London, England, January 3 1964
*Data taken from Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012

*Click for MORE ROLLING STONES SONGS 1962-PRESENT

More about The Rolling Stones’ Version of Carol

*By Marcelo Sonaglioni

The Rolling Stones’ Charged Take on Chuck Berry’s Carol

Carol, like many of Chuck Berry’s classics, is a vibrant ode to teenage life — sleek cars, rock’n’roll dance halls, and the thrill of youthful romance. Released in 1958, it’s one of those tracks that helped cement Berry’s legendary status, reaching number 18 on the charts. When The Rolling Stones turned to Carol for their debut album in 1964, they injected it with a fresh surge of adrenaline. Recorded early in the sessions, alongside Route 66, their version amps up the energy with tight interplay between Keith Richards and Brian Jones on guitars. The rhythm section, driven by Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman, locks in perfectly, while Mick Jagger’s confident vocals set the stage ablaze — even without Ian Stewart’s piano, which was on Berry’s original. Overdubbed hand claps add that classic live feel, though the fade-out drags a bit awkwardly.

A Stage Staple and a Raw Rock Moment

Carol quickly became a crowd favorite for the Stones, evolving into one of their signature live numbers for years to come. Jimmy Page, who caught some of their early shows, recalls how raw and intense their take felt: “They did Carol and it sounds raw as fuck, they were really spitting it out. The whole vibe of it was just great. Carol was the sort of thing we’d been listening to for a number of years, and all of a sudden there’s a band of guys doing it in your living room. Amazing.”The song’s gritty vibe captured that feeling of a band channeling their heroes in real time. The Stones later immortalized this fiery energy on their 1970 live album Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!, delivering one of the finest live renditions of this Chuck Berry classic.

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