Like what you see? Help keep it going! This ad-free site runs on the support of readers like you. Your donation helps cover costs and keeps fresh content coming your way every day. Thank you!
What if one of the Rolling Stones’ later songs had an earlier life that almost nobody heard? Cried Out emerged during the band’s 2002 sessions in France, but instead of becoming another release, it quietly evolved into something more familiar: Laugh, I Nearly Died. That makes the unreleased track more than a forgotten outtake—it is a fascinating snapshot of a song still figuring out what it wanted to be. With Mick Jagger and Keith Richards behind it, “Cried Out” captures the Stones working through an idea before reshaping it for another album. Sometimes the discarded version is where the story gets really interesting.
*Early version of Laugh, I Nearly Died Written by: Jagger/Richard Recorded: Studio Guillaume Tell, Suresnes, France, May 13-June 7 2002 (Forty Licks sessions) Guest musicians: Darryl Jones (bass), Chuck Leavell (keyboards), Blondie Chaplin (percussion)
The Rolling Stones’ Cried Out: A Glimpse into an Unreleased Gem
In the spring of 2002 The Rolling Stones convened at Studio Guillaume Tell in Suresnes, France for the Forty Licks sessions. Among the tracks recorded was Cried Out, an unreleased song penned by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. This track, featuring Darryl Jones on bass, Chuck Leavell on keyboards and Blondie Chaplin on percussion, serves as an early version of Laugh, I Nearly Died, which would later appear on their 2005 album A Bigger Bang. Cried Out offers a raw and unpolished glimpse into the band’s creative process, showcasing the evolution of a song from its initial conception to its final form. The track’s somber tone and introspective lyrics hint at the emotional depth that would be fully realized in its successor.
From Cried Out to Laugh, I Nearly Died: The Evolution of a Song
The transformation from Cried Out to Laugh, I Nearly Died illustrates The Rolling Stones’ commitment to refining their music. While the first remains unreleased, its existence provides fans and music historians with valuable insight into the band’s songwriting and recording process. The progression of this track underscores the band’s ability to revisit and rework their material, ensuring that each song reaches its full potential before release. For enthusiasts eager to explore this unreleased piece, Cried Out can be found through dedicated Rolling Stones fan communities and archives.
Like what you see? Help keep it going! This site runs on the support of readers like you. Your donation helps cover costs and keeps fresh Rolling Stones content coming your way every day. Thank you!
Stones Data on Substack
