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I ain’t seen my baby/ And the evening sun goin’ down…
Written by: Marion Walter Jacobs Recorded: British Grove Studios, London, England, Dec. 11, 14–15 2015 Guest musicians: Darryl Jones (bass), Chuck Leavell (piano), Matt Clifford (keyboards) *Data taken from Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012
From the The Rolling Stones – All the Songs book: “I Got to Go” is another composition by Little Walter (spelled “I Gotta Go” by the Stones). Recorded on April 28, 1955, it came out on the Checker Records label as the B-side of “Roller Coaster,” an instrumental by Bo Diddley (Elias McDaniel) that made it onto the R&B charts (reaching number 6). Sticking to their decision to do cover versions of lesser-known blues by the great names of the past, the Rolling Stones were right to choose the B-side of Little Walter’s single. The lyrics relate to a man who is saying goodbye to his woman after a night of love. He’s blue because he must leave both her and the town. He compares his situation and the sadness he’s feeling to the setting sun and the moon rising up in the sky.
The first three songs recorded on December 11, the first day of the sessions, are all by Little Walter. Clearly, the Stones have a great admiration for this musician, and they prove it with this hugely dynamic cover version of “I Gotta Go.” Driven by Charlie Watts’s amazing drumming, a mixture of rock and jazz, we are reminded that he is considered one of the best in his field. Mick Jagger, too, demonstrates here that over the years he has become one of the best blues harmonica players. He is not afraid to measure himself against the famous Little Walter.
Even if Jagger does not quite reach those heights, he is still an excellent interpreter, going so far as to take three personal solos! His singing does not lag behind, confirming that, at over seventy years of age, the Stones singer still has plenty of power in reserve! Darryl Jones keeps up the rhythm with his muscular bass playing, framed by the two guitars of Keith Richards and Ron Wood, the latter taking on Jagger with a short solo (around 2:22). “I Gotta Go” proves that the Rolling Stones are able to put a smile on our faces.
