Rolling Stones Unreleased: ‘Bent Green Needles’, Early Version of ‘Sweet Black Angel’ (1970)

By Marcelo Sonaglioni on March 15, 2025 • ( 2 Comments )

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Rolling Stones unreleased: Bent Green Needles

*Click for MORE STONES UNRELEASED TRACKS

*Early version of Sweet Black Angel
Also known as: Black Angel
Written by: Jagger/Richard
Recorded: March-May 1970, July-Oct.-Nov.-Dec. 1971, Jan.-March 1972: Rolling Stones Mobile (Nellcote, France), Stargroves (Newbury, England), Olympic Sound Studios (London, England), Sunset Sound and RCA Studios, Los Angeles, USA
Guest musicians: Jimmy Miller (percussion)

**More about Bent Green Needles by The Rolling Stones**

*By Marcelo Sonaglioni

rolling stones unreleased bent green needles 1970

The story of political activist Angela Davis took a dramatic turn on August 7, 1970, when a hostage situation erupted at a courthouse during the Soledad Brothers’ trial. The violent incident left four people dead, including Judge Harold Haley. The gun used in the attack had been purchased by Davis just days before, making her a prime suspect. With the FBI hot on her trail, she went into hiding, sparking a nationwide manhunt. She was eventually captured on October 13, 1970, and remained behind bars as she awaited trial.

Despite the serious charges, Davis’ arrest ignited a powerful wave of support across the U.S. and beyond. Activists, artists, and everyday citizens rallied in her defense, forming committees and organizing protests to demand her freedom. Her trial began on January 5, 1971, and after spending over a year imprisoned, she was acquitted and released in 1972.

Before her release, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards had already written Sweet Black Angel under its original title Bent Green Needles, an only-instrumental version that became available in different bootleg releases. Later on, with the added lyrics, the song painted Davis as both a fierce activist—“ain’t no singer, ain’t no star”—and a woman in peril, “a gal in chains.” Its chorus, “Free the sweet black slave,” underscores the urgency of her struggle. Despite controversial lines like “Ten little nigga,” the song was widely interpreted as a parody rather than an endorsement of offensive language.

The Rolling Stones’ tribute to Davis captures the era’s charged political atmosphere, blending raw emotion with social commentary. It stands as a rare instance of the band engaging directly with activism, using their music to amplify the cry for justice.

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