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Rolling Stones Songs: Harlem Shuffle

THE STONES SHAKE UP HARLEM SHUFFLE
Harlem Shuffle wasn’t born in a studio — it was born on the dance floor. The 1963 Bob & Earl classic oozed soul long before The Rolling Stones gave it their swagger in 1985. Keith Richards had been itching to cover it for years, and when he and Ronnie Wood started jamming, Mick Jagger jumped in — two takes later, boom! A funky, feel-good Stones groove that turned nostalgia into pure, hip-shaking magic.

You scratch just like a monkey/ Yeah you do real cool…

Written by: Relf/Nelson
Recorded: RPM Studios, NYC, July 16-Aug. 17 & Sept. 10-Oct. 15 1985; Right Track Studios, NYC, USA, Nov. 15-Dec. 5 1985
Guest musicians: Chuck Leavell and Ivan Neville (organ and synthesizer), Bobby Womack, Don Covay, Ivan Neville and Tom Waits (backing vocals)
*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 Harlem Shuffle

*By Marcelo Sonaglioni

Jamming in Harlem: From Dance Floors to Dirty Work

Harlem Shuffle wasn’t just a song—it was a movement. Originating as a dance craze in the ballrooms of 1950s and ’60s Harlem, this R&B classic made its way into the hearts of music lovers long before The Rolling Stones got their hands on it. The original version, recorded by Bob & Earl in 1963 (not 1969), became a UK hit in 1969 thanks to a reissue produced by none other than Barry White. It’s a track made for the dance floor, soaked in the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance.

Keith Richards had been obsessed with the tune for years—he even slipped it into demo tapes he gave Mick Jagger, hoping he’d bite. Turns out patience pays off. During a studio jam in 1985, Keith and Ron Wood were casually riffing when Mick strolled in and jumped on the mic. Two takes later, the Stones had a funky, swaggering cover on their hands—finally bringing Keith’s dream to life.

Funky Reinvention and Animated Cool

Harlem Shuffle became the first Stones single since 1974 not penned by Jagger-Richards (aside from live releases). It hit number one in New Zealand, cracked the U.S. top five, and reached number 13 in the UK. The track featured a who’s who of backing legends—Bobby Womack, Don Covay, Patti Scialfa, and even Tom Waits joined the party.

The music video added another layer of weirdness and brilliance. Mixing live action with edgy animation, it featured club-hopping cartoon cats drawn by Ralph Bakshi (Fritz the Cat) and John Kricfalusi (Ren and Stimpy). Trippy, playful, and just the right amount of sleazy, it stood out in MTV’s golden era.

The Stones hadn’t played Harlem Shuffle live since 1990—until it returned at their 2019 MetLife Stadium show in New Jersey. Jagger teased the crowd: “Anyone here from Queens? Staten Island? Harlem?” Then launched into a long-overdue revival of the groove-heavy classic. Proof that some jams just never go out of style.

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