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Rolling Stones songs: Start Me Up (early version)
As released in the 2021 expanded edition of Tattoo You
My eyes dilate, my lips go green/ My hands are greasy/ She’s a mean, mean machine…
Written by: Jagger/Richard Recorded: EMI-Pathé Marconi Studios, Paris, France, Jan. 6-March 2 1978; Electric Lady Studios, New York, USA, June 10-Oct. 19 1979 *Data taken from Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012
More about Start Me Up (early version) by The Rolling Stones
Rolling Back the Engine: The Origins of Start Me Up
Start Me Up might feel like a song that’s always existed, but its journey was far from instant. Originally recorded in 1977 during the Some Girls sessions in Paris—the same day Miss You was laid down—the track began as a reggae experiment. Mick Jagger and the band gave it several takes with that island rhythm, but ultimately shelved it, unsatisfied with the results.
It wasn’t until 1981, when the Stones were assembling Tattoo You, that they dusted off the early takes. They returned to the second one—more raw and rock-focused—and shaped it into the anthemic hit we know today. Lyrically, it’s classic Jagger: sexually charged, not always coherent, but irresistibly catchy. “Spread out the oil, the gasoline / I walk smooth, ride in a mean, mean machine” doesn’t need to make perfect sense—it just sounds good. And with that iconic riff, it’s no wonder once it starts, it never stops.
Start Me Up Reignited: 2021 Deluxe Version Unleashed
In 2021, Tattoo You got a powerful reboot with its deluxe expanded edition, and among the standout gems was a newly released early version of Start Me Up. Far from the polished stadium rocker fans have known since 1981, this version captures the track in its raw, formative stage—looser, funkier, and infused with a rougher edge.
Originally recorded in 1977 during the Some Girls sessions, the song had initially taken on a reggae vibe before being shelved. Decades later, the 2021 release lets us hear how it began, revealing a different energy and groove. The unmistakable riff is still there, but with a grit that feels more garage band than global juggernaut.
For longtime fans and curious newcomers, the early Start Me Up offers a rare chance to hear The Rolling Stones mid-creation—before the polish, before the fame, just the fire that lit the fuse.
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