rolling stones little t and a 1981Can You Hear the Music?

ROLLING STONES SONGS: ‘LITTLE T & A’ (1981)

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Rolling Stones songs: Little T & A
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MORE ROLLING STONES SONGS 1962-PRESENT

She’s my little rock’n’roll/ My tits and ass with soul, baby…

Also known as: Bulldog
Written by: Jagger/Richards
Recorded: Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas, Jan. 18-Feb. 12 1979
*Data taken from Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012

From Songfacts:
Keith Richards sang the lead vocal on this one. Said Richards: “It’s about every good time I’ve had with somebody I’d met for a night or two and never seen again.”
First recorded at the Emotional Rescue sessions in 1979, its working title was “Bulldog.”

This song is an interesting case where the title is never quite mentioned in the lyrics, but instead it’s “she’s my little rock & roll.” The title also gets written as “Little T & A.” The letters refer to “tits and ass,” naturally.

Since this song is a tribute to all rock groupies, there’s the 1970 documentary Groupies, all about just these such people, including the infamous Cynthia Plaster Caster. Groupies have an oft-misunderstood place in rock history; many of them present the defense that they serve an active role in providing what little nurturing a celebrity can have when they’re on the road staying in 200+ hotel rooms per year. Some of them, such as Sid Vicious’ FWB Nancy Spungen, become what many would call a surrogate “road wife,” traveling from city to city with the band.

And while we’re on groupies and the Stones, one of the most famous Stone-groupies is Chris O’Dell, who trysted with both Richards and Jagger amongst many others. And here’s a Telegraph article telling some of her story and announcing her biography. Yes, there she is right in the photo with Richards – she was one of the women Richards was singing about!

When the Stones toured in 1981, Jagger and Richards were not getting along and making some petty power plays. “Little T and A” was Richards’ showcase song on the setlist, and during the performances, he insisted that Jagger be off the stage.

From the Rolling Stones – All the Songs, The Story Behind Every Track book:
The lyrics of “Little T&A” (standing for tits and ass) are about “every good time I’ve had with somebody I’d met for a night or two and never seen again,” confided the song’s author, Keith, to Kurt Loder in 1981. Despite the mind-blowing riff crafted by Keith during the initial recording, the number was left off the final track listing for Emotional Rescue, a decision that was regrettable, to say the least. Two years later, the riff master reworked it for Tattoo You in a distinctly rockabilly style.