Rolling Stones songs: Melody
*Click for MORE ROLLING STONES SONGS 1962-PRESENT

My nose is on her trail/ I’m going to catch her by surprise/ Then I’m going to have the pleasure/ To roast that child alive…

Written by: Jagger/Richard
Recorded: Mobile Studio, Rotterdam, Holland, Jan. 23 1975; Atlantic Studios, NYC, USA, Jan-Feb. 1976
Guest musicians: Billy Preston (piano)
*Data taken from Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012

From Songfacts:
This is the only track on Black And Blue that was not recorded at Musicland in Munich. It was done in their mobile studio in Rotterdam in January 1975.

The album title is a popular one – other acts who have released records with this bruising label include Lou Rawls (1962), Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (1973), Gene Harris (1991), and Backstreet Boys (2000)

“Melody” is more of a jazz-themed song on an album that has a variety of styles, including reggae and funk. Charlie Watts used brushes on his drums.

Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings covered this song in 1998 with Peter Frampton playing the guitar solo. Which is interesting because Peter Frampton was among the auditioned guitarists jockeying for Mick Taylor’s old spot in The Rolling Stones.

Billy Preston played piano and organ, and sings lead on the track with Mick Jagger. The song was originally listed as “inspired by” Billy Preston, but when Wyman covered the song, he just straight credited it to Preston.

From the The Rolling Stones – All the Songs book:
Melody is the second name of a girl from whom, based on the narrator’s
experience, it is best to keep one’s distance. The protagonist has taken her
out dancing and she has thanked him by squandering his money and ending
up in the arms of his best friend. One day she leaves behind the wheel of his
car, taking his trailer home and even his Sunday boots with her. Since then
he has been searching for her relentlessly.
“Melody” started life as a melodic line of Billy Preston’s. It found its
final form with the help of Mick Jagger. “What it is, it sort of came out of
something that Billy [Preston] and I were messing around with, just piano
and voice. It’s got an incredible amount of overdub now, but down in the
nitty-gritty it’s really just a rhythm section and voice, very simple, sort of
four-to-the-bar kind of bass line and drums, sort of old-fashioned
rhythm.”
(Ref. rolling stones songs melody)