‘Cookin’ Up’, Another Rolling Stones Unreleased Track (1982)

By Marcelo Sonaglioni on February 25, 2025

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Rolling Stones unreleased: Cookin’ Up

Also known as: What I Am Sayin’ Is True
Written by: Jagger/Richards
Recorded: EMI Pathé Marconi Studios, Paris, France, Nov-Dec. 1982 (Emotional Rescue sessions)
Guest musicians: Chuck Leavell (keyboards)

From Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012:
A real rocker that smacks along fortified by some boogie piano. Mick Jagger’s vocals can be heard in the background.

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rolling stones unreleased cookin' up 1982

The Rolling Stones had plenty of unreleased tracks from the Emotional Rescue sessions, and Cookin’ Up is one of those hidden gems. This one’s a real rocker, driven by a strong, punchy rhythm and a boogie-woogie piano that adds extra energy to the groove. It’s got that raw, no-nonsense feel that the Stones do so well—nothing overly polished, just straight-up rock and roll with a bit of grit.

Mick Jagger’s vocals are buried a bit in the mix, almost floating in the background, which gives the song a loose, jam-like quality. It sounds like the band was just having fun in the studio, letting the music take over without overthinking it. Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood lock in with some tight guitar work, adding that signature Stones swagger, while Charlie Watts keeps everything grounded with his steady, no-frills drumming.

Though Cookin’ Up never made it onto the final album, it’s got that unmistakable late-’70s Stones energy—somewhere between the slickness of Some Girls and the grittier, bluesier edge of Tattoo You. It’s easy to imagine this track fitting into their live set, maybe as a high-energy jam that gets the crowd moving.

Like many outtakes from this era, Cookin’ Up (available in bootlegs like The Virchov Tape, Undercover Reworked or Fully Finished Studio Outtakes, among others), remains an interesting snapshot of where the band was creatively at the time. The Emotional Rescue sessions had a mix of disco-influenced grooves, classic bluesy rockers, and experimental sounds, and this track sits firmly in the latter category. It might not have been a finished product, but it’s another example of the Stones effortlessly cranking out killer rock and roll, even when just messing around in the studio.

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