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Rolling Stones unreleased:Bulldog
Snarling out of the shadows of the Emotional Rescue sessions, Bulldog captures the Rolling Stones at their most raw and restless. Recorded in early 1979 at Compass Point Studios, this unreleased track is the gritty prototype of Little T & A, driven by Keith Richards’ swaggering vocals and a biting guitar riff that refuses to behave. With echoes of She’s So Cold in its sarcastic opening and Ron Wood’s sharp pedal steel slicing through the mix, Bulldog feels less like a discarded outtake and more like a secret snapshot—proof of a band detoxing, defiant, and still dangerous.
*Early version of Little T & A Written by: Jagger/Richards Recorded: Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas, Jan. 18-Feb. 12 1979 (Emotional Rescue sessions)
From Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012: Mick Jagger’s frustrations on She’s So Cold were satisfied by Keith Richards’ “bitch who keeps bitching”, “the snitcher who keeps snitching” and “the juice that keeps pumping”. He also acknowledged that the dealers were squaling as he was off heroin. Prices must have nose-dived! … Keith takes the lead vocals on what as initially a song labelled Bulldog. The instrumental outtake has a She’s So Cold style opening and pronounced pedal steel slide guitar played by Ron Wood. There’s anothe rlonger outtake with unfinished lyrics but with the guitar riff opening.
The Rolling Stones Unleashed: Tracing the Bite of Bulldog
In the creative chaos of the Emotional Rescue sessions at Compass Point Studios in early 1979, the Rolling Stones stumbled upon a track that growled with raw energy—Bulldog. Initially an unreleased instrumental led by Keith Richards, the song would eventually evolve into Little T & A. With its biting guitar riff and aggressive tone, Bulldog offered a gritty contrast to the more polished material from the same era. The opening carries the sarcastic swagger of She’s So Cold, while Ron Wood’s pedal steel slide guitar adds a sharp, almost feral edge. Though the lyrics remained unfinished in its rougher takes, the attitude was unmistakable. This wasn’t just another studio jam—it was a snapshot of a band in transition, playing with fire and distortion. Keith’s vocals give it an unmistakable stamp of rawness, channeling both humor and edge in a way that defined the band’s late-‘70s mood.
Frustration, Detox, and a Riff That Snarled
According to Martin Elliott, Keith Richards channeled Mick Jagger’s emotional frustration—lingering from She’s So Cold—into snarling lyrical jabs. Lines like “the snitcher who keeps snitching” gave voice to their collective defiance. Keith, newly clean from heroin, even joked that drug prices must have crashed since his dealers were “squealing.” That irreverent energy bleeds into Bulldog, which captures a chaotic but focused moment in time. Though it never saw an official release, the track’s bones—especially the chugging riff and barbed tone—formed the foundation of Little T & A. This isn’t just a discarded idea—it’s a raw Stones artifact that bares its teeth and refuses to be forgotten.
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