An Early Take of The Rolling Stones ‘Honky Tonk Women’ (1969)

By Marcelo Sonaglioni on May 15, 2025

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Rolling Stones Unreleased: Honky Tonk Women (early version)

Recorded: Olympic Sound Studios, London, England, Feb. 9-March 31 1969
Guest musicians: Ian Stewart (piano), Mick Taylor (guitar), Jimmy Miller (cowbell), Nanette Newman and maybe one member of Reparata and The Delrons (backing vocals)

*This includes the “Strollin’ on the boulevards of Paris/ As naked as the day that I will die…” verse
Written by: Jagger/Richard

*Click for MORE STONES UNRELEASED TRACKS

rolling stones unreleased honky tonk women early version 1969

A Raw Glimpse into the Making of a Classic

Before Honky Tonk Women became the swaggering hit we know, there was a grittier, unreleased version brimming with different lyrics and raw energy. Tracked between February and March 1969 at Olympic Sound Studios in London, this early take pulls back the curtain on The Rolling Stones’ creative process. Featuring the evocative line “Strollin’ on the boulevards of Paris / As naked as the day that I will die…”, the lyrics explore a looser, more poetic direction than the familiar single. It’s a version where experimentation took precedence and the band leaned into their bluesy instincts. The chemistry is electric, with Mick Jagger’s vocals full of swagger and suggestion. This isn’t just a rough draft—it’s a parallel universe version of one of their most iconic songs, offering an alternate lens into a pivotal moment of the band’s 1969 transformation.

Guest Musicians and the Studio Vibe

The session featured Stones regular Ian Stewart hammering out boogie-woogie lines on the piano, while Jimmy Miller—best known as their producer—added a steady cowbell pulse. Guitar duties were shared with Mick Taylor, newly integrated into the band and already bringing his melodic sensibility. Backing vocals added a soulful texture, contributed by Nanette Newman and possibly a member of Reparata and The Delrons.

The Jagger/Richards Spark in Progress

Penned by the unstoppable Jagger/Richards duo, this version of Honky Tonk Women captures the song in transition—part honky-tonk, part Parisian daydream. It’s a fascinating artifact that reveals how the Stones honed their signature blend of sleaze, swagger, and storytelling. Unreleased but unforgettable, this track shows the song before the dust settled—still wild, still wandering.

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