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Rolling Stones songs: We’re Wastin’ Time
BIG JIM AND THE HIDDEN HELPERS The real magic behind We’re Wastin’ Time might not have been the Stones at all, but session players like Big Jim Sullivan. This guy rocked a rare two-string guitar and often teamed up with Jimmy Page—Page took the rock tracks, Jim handled the country vibes. Funny thing is, Sullivan thought these were just demos and had no clue some ended up on official releases. And in the U.S., the track didn’t even make the Metamorphosis! compilation!
Well nothing that we’re learning/ While the hands keep turning…
Written by: Jagger/Richard Recorded: Regent, IBC and Decca Studios, London, England, July 1-10 1964 Guest musicians: Jimmy Page (guitar), John McLaughlin (guitar), Jim Sullivan (guitar), Joe Moretti (bass), Andy White (drums) *Data taken from Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012
More about We’re Wastin’ Time by The Rolling Stones
A Forgotten Gem in the Shadows
Of all the demo-style tracks Mick Jagger and Keith Richards churned out in the mid-1960s, We’re Wastin’ Time might just be the one that slips through the cracks most easily. Unlike the fiery blues-rock cuts that defined the Stones, this tune leans heavily into a twee, British Invasion pop mood, laced with a sleepy, almost melancholic charm. The melody drifts more than it drives, while the lyrics suggest a couple haunted by old relationships and unable to move forward.
Jagger’s vocal is surprisingly earnest—rich with reverb and more passionate than many of the other demos of the era. Beneath his delivery, the guitars chime with a curious jingle, sliding gently into near-waltz time. It’s not quite rock, not quite country, but a hybrid that feels like it wandered across the Atlantic and landed awkwardly in England. In that sense, We’re Wastin’ Time captures both promise and uncertainty.
Behind the Studio Walls
The recording sessions that produced songs like this were far from glamorous. Renting studio space in the mid-’60s cost just four pounds ten shillings for three hours, and producers often leaned on session players to polish raw material. Jack Good held down arranging duties at Decca, while other major labels like EMI and Phillips/Fontana kept their own houses busy. Smaller studios such as Regent, Olympic, and De Lane Lea also became creative hubs, where young musicians often needed seasoned professionals to bring their half-formed ideas to life.
Big Jim and the Mystery Players
Though the precise lineup behind We’re Wastin’ Time is hazy, stories suggest session ace Big Jim Sullivan may have been involved. Known for his two-string guitar—reportedly the only one in Britain at the time—Sullivan worked on Jagger/Richards demos but never realized some would appear on official releases. He later recalled splitting duties with Jimmy Page, with Page taking the rock-leaning tracks while Sullivan handled the country-tinged ones. Together, they shaped raw sketches into fuller songs, though We’re Wastin’ Time ultimately didn’t even make the U.S. version of Metamorphosis.
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