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Rolling Stones unreleased: Armpit Blues
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Written by: Jagger/Richard
Recorded: EMI-Pathé Marconi Studios, Paris, France, Jan. 5-March 2 1978

From Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012:
A blues track as the title suggests with a sweet sounding harmonica, Ian Stewart’s inimitable piano and an authentic electric lead guitar all taking it in turn to go solo

Released in 1978, the Stones’ 14th British and 16th American studio album, Some Girls is considered one of their classic records. The album features a mix of rock, punk, and disco influences, and it includes iconic tracks like “Miss You” “Beast of Burden” and “Shattered”.

During the recording process of the album from October 1977 to February 1978 at EMI Pathé Marconi Studios in Boulogne-Billancourt, France (marked by the band’s rejuvenated energy and experimentation with different musical styles, where lead vocalist Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards served as the recording’s producers, with Chris Kimsey handling the engineering) the Stones recorded a significant amount of material, much of which didn’t make it onto the final album. Some of these unreleased tracks from the Some Girls sessions were later released on various compilations and deluxe editions of the album. Generally speaking, Jagger is credited with being Some Girls’ primary creative force.

The core band, now composed of Jagger, Richards, Wood, Charlie Watts, and Bill Wyman, played the majority of the instruments on a Rolling Stones album for the first time since 1968’s Beggars Banquet. In addition to saxophonist Mel Collins, Sugar Blue, Simon Kirke (who played percussion) and Ian McLagan, Wood’s Faces bandmate, who played keyboards, all contributed to various songs.

Richards felt that the studio musicians, such as Nicky Hopkins and Billy Preston, were “technically superior,” but this decision ultimately took the band out of their comfort zone and into experimental music. This is a rare Rolling Stones album on which the band’s piano player and road manager Ian Stewart didn’t appear because Jagger’s guitar contributions made him feel like piano would be unnecessary. The band ultimately recorded about 50 new songs, some of which appeared on the albums Emotional Rescue (1980) and Tattoo You (1981) in modified versions.

On November 21 2011, Some Girls was re-released as a 2-CD deluxe edition, featuring twelve songs that were originally recorded during the album’s two sessions (with the exception of “Tallahassee Lassie” from August-September 1978 and “We Had It All” from 1979)