If you like this, please consider making a donation with PayPal. From as little as $5, your support helps to do what I do and pay for its maintenance costs. Thank you! *Donate here
Written by: Jagger/Richard Recorded: Dynamic Sounds Studios, Kingston, Jamaica, Nov. 25-Dec. 21 1972; Rolling Stones Mobile, Stargroves, Newbury, England, Apr. 1974; Island Recording Studios, London, England, May 20-25 1974 *Data taken from Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012
The message of this song seems to follow logically from “If You Really Want to Be My Friend”, The difference lies in the way the frustration of having a relationship with an interfering woman is expressed. Here it is no longer the male half of the couple who is speaking, but one of his friends, who tells him that he has been trapped like a rat in a hole by this woman who knows his name and telephone number. The slang term short and curlies refers, of course, to the pubic hair and is used in the expression tohave somebody by the short and curlies to denote having a person under one’s complete control. From the very first line of the song, however, Jagger uses the even blunter equivalent: Too bad, she’s got you by the balls, before launching into a litany of reproaches: she crashed your car, she spent your money…
“Short and Curlies” was recorded in Jamaica during the Goats Head Soup sessions. This blues-rock number with a strong boogie-woogie accent was reworked in Munich and then at Mick Jagger’s house, Stargroves, before being finalized at Island Studios in London. The very good piano intro is played by Ian Stewart, who only played on tracks he liked, leaving Nicky Hopkins or Billy Preston the trouble of recording the ones that did not interest him. “Stu always did what he wanted to do,” confirms Keith. Having set up a boogie-woogie, indeed almost Dixieland, vibe, the pianist is joined almost immediately by Mick Taylor with a brilliant and very clear-toned slide guitar part, probably played on a Telecaster. Keith handles the rhythm guitar, on which he provides unwavering support, apparently leaving Mick Taylor to play lead, now with distortion.
Charlie Watts accompanies his bandmates with some excellent drumming, accentuating the shuffle rhythm with the help of Bill Wyman, the two of them very much at ease on this kind of track. As is Mick Jagger, whose performance again lives up to his reputation. He doubles himself in the vocal harmonies and is accompanied presumably by Keith. “Short and Curlies” is a good song that resembles the melody of “Midnight Rambler” (Let It Bleed, 1969) in places. It is a shame the Stones do not return to their roots more often.
