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Rolling Stonessongs: Good Times, Bad Times
A BLUESY GEM WITH ITS OWN TWIST Good Times, Bad Times showed up first on the 12×5 album back in ’64, and later made it onto Big Hits: High Tide and Green Grass—probably more about boosting royalties than proving it was a classic. Lyrically, Jagger keeps it real, singing about messy love and the need for trust when things get rough. And nope, don’t confuse it with Led Zeppelin’s track—this one’s pure early Stones, soaked in their blues obsession.
There’s gotta be trust in this world/ Or it won’t get very far/ Well, trust in someone/ Or there’s gonna be war…
More about Good Times, Bad Times by The Rolling Stones
Good Times, Bad Times: The Stones Finding Their Groove
Before the Rolling Stones fully locked into their signature blues-rock style, they were busy experimenting with their B-sides. Between 1963 and 1964, the band used these tracks as a kind of testing ground, slowly shaping their sound and songwriting voice. One such experiment was Good Times, Bad Times, released as the B-side to It’s All Over Now in both the U.K. and the U.S. Though not a standout track in their catalog, it marked an important step forward. Compared to earlier efforts like Stoned and Little By Little, the song showed a noticeable leap in maturity and focus.
Even more crucially, it was the first original tune from the Jagger–Richards duo to pull directly from the acoustic traditions of American rural blues, rather than the more urban, electrified R&B style. In hindsight, this track planted seeds that would eventually blossom into the Stones’ trademark sound.
Good Times, Bad Times: A Bluesy First Step
Good Times, Bad Times isn’t the kind of track that’ll blow your mind, but it’s a fascinating peek at the Stones still finding their feet. What really jumps out is the opening guitar riff—cycling through unexpected chords instead of sticking to the usual 12-bar blues formula. It’s a bold move, even if the song doesn’t fully chase that idea down.
Keith Richards drives the tune on a 12-string Harmony 1270 acoustic, and the riffs he pulls off echo legends like Blind Willie McTell and Leadbelly. Brian Jones adds his harmonica magic, slipping in with the kind of flair that was already becoming his trademark.
The rhythm section keeps things grounded—Bill Wyman’s bass is subtle to the point of being hard to catch, while Charlie Watts mostly sticks to the bass drum, though his timing isn’t always razor sharp. Still, the whole package feels like the Stones sketching out their future.
The Stones Stirring Things Up
Back in the early ’60s, the Rolling Stones weren’t just playing the blues—they were shaking up the system. Andrew Oldham, their clever young manager, made sure of that. He pushed the band as the scruffy, dangerous alternative to the clean-cut Beatles, and the press ate it up. Headlines like “Beatle Your Rolling Stone Hair” warned kids not to copy the band’s wild styles, but of course, that only made the Stones cooler. Even Charlie Watts got a nickname out of it—Oldham dubbed him the “Beau Brummell” for his sharp fashion sense.
Amid all this publicity noise, Mick Jagger was out front, singing with that unmistakable swagger about believing in something bigger. Behind the scenes, Jagger and Richards were stretching their songwriting muscles, slowly breaking free from just covering blues standards. Tracks like Good Times, Bad Timesshowed the band could push boundaries while still keeping their bluesy roots alive.
Good Times, Bad Times: Early Stones Spirit
Good Times, Bad Times might wander a bit musically, but it shines with the Stones’ deep love for American blues. Mick Jagger’s lyrics lean into the highs and lows of a shaky romance, stressing that trust still matters when hard times roll in. First heard on the 12×5 album in 1964, the track later popped up on Big Hits: High Tide and Green Grass—likely more for royalties than glory. And just to clear the air: this Stones tune has nothing to do with Led Zeppelin’s debut track of the same name.
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