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Rolling Stones songs: Memo from Turner
You’ll still be in the circus when I’m laughing, laughing in my grave…
In 1968, Mick Jagger took a daring step beyond the stage, diving into the world of cinema with the film Performance. Portraying Turner, a reclusive rock star entangled in crime, drugs, and decadence, Jagger brought an edgy authenticity that blurred the line between his on-stage persona and his acting debut. The film’s soundtrack became a canvas for experimentation, with Jagger’s solo work on Memo from Turner standing out as a raw, provocative statement.
Behind the scenes, tensions ran high: relationships, rivalries, and creative clashes shaped the music as much as the film did. From the haunting slide guitar of Ry Cooder to the subtle contributions of Al Kooper and Jack Nitzsche, the soundtrack captured the reckless spirit of late-1960s rock. Performance and its music remain a fascinating glimpse of Jagger at a crossroads of fame, artistry, and rebellion. But hey, wait up, there’s more versions of the song…
More about Memo from Turner (Metamorphosis and Performance versions)
*By Marcelo Sonaglioni
Mick Jagger’s Leap into Film
In 1968 Mick Jagger stepped off the stage and into the world of cinema with Performance, co-directed by Donald Cammell and Nicolas Roeg. He played Turner, a former rock star whose isolated life intersects with a gangster on the run, Chas (James Fox). Living with Pherber (Anita Pallenberg) and Lucy (Michèle Breton) in a decadent Notting Hill apartment, Turner’s interactions reveal a strange chemistry between characters from completely different worlds.
The film’s narrative, heavy with drugs, crime, and sexual tension, offered Jagger a complex role that mirrored the shadowy allure of rock ’n’ roll. His portrayal of Turner fused cynicism, provocation, and vulnerability, creating a character that was both enigmatic and compelling, capturing the audience’s attention while setting the stage for one of rock music’s most intriguing solo singles.
The Story Behind Memo from Turner
Originally intended to feature full Rolling Stones involvement, the film’s soundtrack was complicated by personal conflicts and creative tensions. Anita Pallenberg’s relationships with Jagger and director Cammell caused Keith Richards to pull out of the project, leaving Mick to take the lead. Memo from Turner, credited to Jagger-Richards but largely written by Jagger with input from Cammell, became a defining solo moment. The song’s lyrics—edgy, confrontational, and reminiscent of Beat literature—capture the film’s atmosphere of rebellion and excess. In a pivotal scene, Turner performs the track to an astonished group of criminals, a moment that bridges Jagger’s cinematic and musical worlds while reinforcing his fearless persona.
Recording Versions and Musical Collaborators
Three versions of Memo from Turner exist, each showcasing different facets of the track. The first, recorded at Olympic Sound Studios in late 1968, featured Traffic members Stevie Winwood and Jim Capaldi, with Jack Nitzsche on piano. This version swung effortlessly, marked by Winwood’s Hammond B-3 organ and Capaldi’s precise drumming. The second, from November 17, 1968, included Al Kooper on guitar alongside Keith Richards, with Bill Wyman or Charlie Watts possibly contributing. This funky version eventually appeared on Metamorphosis (1975). The final and most celebrated version, released as a single in 1970, paired Jagger’s London vocals with Los Angeles instrumentals by Ry Cooder (slide guitar), Randy Newman (organ), and Gene Parsons (drums), creating a powerful, blues-infused statement. Its aggressive energy and lyrical sharpness made it a standout in Jagger’s early solo endeavors.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
Memo from Turner transcended its film origins, reappearing on Rolling Stones compilations and Jagger retrospectives, including The Very Best of Mick Jagger (2007). Its lyrics nod to William S. Burroughs’ The Soft Machine, embedding Beat generation influences into rock culture. Ronnie Wood later performed the song live in the late 1980s, and Martin Scorsese even featured the track in Goodfellas, cementing its cinematic and musical legacy. Beyond its technical brilliance, the song reflects a period of experimentation and boundary-pushing in Jagger’s career, a time when music, film, and personal drama intersected to create something uniquely raw and enduring.
Mick Jagger (2019): “Memo from Turner is like watching a total kind of video, a foreshadowing of MTV. It’s very cleverly done, although at the time I quite understand what Don wanted in that scene when he told me – it was sort of thrown in a bit last minute and wasn’t in the original parts of the scripts. It was a sequence that he added later”
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