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Rolling Stones Songs: Everybody Needs Somebody to Love
When The Rolling Stones discovered Everybody Needs Somebody To Love they didn’t just pick another soul song from across the Atlantic—they grabbed it, shook it up, and turned it into a messy, thrilling explosion of attitude. Originally associated with Solomon Burke, the track gave the young Stones the perfect playground for Mick Jagger’s wild vocals, Keith Richards’ gritty guitar and the band’s love for American R&B. Of course, the Stones being the Stones, they couldn’t simply leave a great song alone. They had to rough it up, add some swagger, and make it sound like it had been waiting for them all along.
When the sun goes down/ Ain’t nobody else around…
Written by: Russell/Burke/Wexler Recorded: RCA Studios, Hollywood, USA, Nov. 2 1964
Mick Jagger: vocals, tambourine Keith Richards: guitar, backing vocals Brian Jones: guitar Bill Wyman: bass Charlie Watts: drums Guest musicians: Ian Stewart (piano)
More about The Rolling Stones’ take on Everybody Needs Somebody to Love
*By Marcelo Sonaglioni
Everybody Needs Somebody To Love: The Stones Turn Soul Into Rock ’N’ Roll Fire
Few songs in the early Rolling Stones catalog capture the band’s ability to transform American rhythm and blues into something uniquely their own like Everybody Needs Somebody to Love. Originally recorded by Solomon Burke in 1964, the song became one of the most memorable covers from the Stones’ formative years, appearing as the opening track on The Rolling Stones No. 2 in the UK and The Rolling Stones, Now! in the US. Rather than simply reproduce Burke’s soul classic, the group injected it with explosive guitars, gospel intensity, and the raw energy that defined their early sound. A curious studio mistake resulted in two completely different versions being released, creating one of the most fascinating recording stories in the band’s history. The song’s combination of spiritual passion, romantic urgency, and rock attitude remains a defining example of the Stones’ talent for reinventing their influences.
From Solomon Burke to The Rolling Stones
Everybody Needs Somebody to Love was originally recorded by Solomon Burke at Atlantic Records on May 28, 1964, under the production of Bert Berns. The song is credited to Solomon Burke, Bert Berns, and Jerry Wexler, although Burke always maintained that he wrote it alone, claiming he had sung it in church as a child before presenting it during the Atlantic recording session. Jerry Wexler, however, insisted that the track was a three-way collaboration.
Burke’s version became an important soul recording, although it achieved only moderate commercial success, reaching number 58 on the US charts and missing the Top 40. Its real legacy came through the many artists who later recorded it, helping establish it as a soul standard. The song was eventually ranked number 429 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
The Rolling Stones recorded their version on November 2, 1964, during a period when the group was rapidly developing their own interpretation of American blues and soul. As usual, they did not simply copy their influences; they reshaped them into louder, rougher, guitar-driven performances.
Two Versions, One Accidental Release
The recording history of Everybody Needs Somebody to Love became unusual because two completely different studio versions were released. The version intended for international release appeared on The Rolling Stones No. 2 in Britain and lasted 5:05, while the shorter 2:58 version appeared on The Rolling Stones, Now! in the United States, apparently due to a mistake somewhere in the release process.
The longer British version is a powerful rhythm and blues journey built around Bill Wyman’s descending bass riff and Charlie Watts’ driving drums. Mick Jagger delivers the song like a gospel preacher transformed into a rock frontman, mixing spoken declarations with passionate cries of “I need you, you, you.” The performance also features backing vocals from the group, hand claps, tambourine, and an atmosphere that feels spontaneous and almost like a live revival.
At the time, it was the longest song the six British musicians had recorded. John Lennon reportedly praised the album but commented that he did not like five-minute songs. Despite its length, the track never loses momentum because the repeated groove creates a hypnotic effect.
A Different American Interpretation
The US version on The Rolling Stones, Now! presents a noticeably different character. Although the tempo is similar, the arrangement is tighter, faster, and more focused on a direct soul feeling. Instead of beginning with the bass-driven approach of the UK recording, this version opens with sharper guitar work and places more emphasis on vocal harmonies.
The recording has a stronger Motown influence, with prominent hand claps, more reverb, and a more polished atmosphere. The vocals are less controlled, with some rough harmonies and imperfections, but those flaws add to the excitement and youthful spirit of the performance.
The UK version was recorded at RCA Studios with David Hassinger at the controls, producing a rich and balanced sound that preserved the Stones’ rock identity. Keith Richards played lead guitar on his 1959 Gibson Les Paul, while Brian Jones handled rhythm guitar on his Vox Teardrop, both using Fender Showman amps. Ian Stewart contributed piano, adding another layer to the rhythm-heavy arrangement.
Legacy Beyond the Studio
Over the decades Everybody Needs Somebody to Love continued to live through countless interpretations. Among the most notable versions are those by Wilson Pickett, Dusty Springfield, The 13th Floor Elevators, Jerry Garcia Band, The Blues Brothers, and Thee Midniters.
The Stones also reunited with Solomon Burke to perform the song during their Licks World Tour on November 2, 2002, at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles. That performance was later released on the Live Licksalbum in November 2004.
Adding another chapter to the song’s connection with Burke, Mick Jagger performed Everybody Needs Somebody to Love at the 2011 Grammy Awards as a tribute to the soul legend, who had died on October 10, 2010.
More than just a cover, the Stones’ version represents a moment when the band was learning how to take American soul traditions and turn them into something louder, wilder, and unmistakably theirs. Whether heard through the extended British version or the compact American release, the song remains a celebration of everything that made early Rolling Stones recordings so exciting: urgency, attitude, and a deep love for the music that inspired them.
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