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Rolling Stonesunreleased: Honky Tonk Women (early version)
Before it became one of the most recognizable riffs in rock history Honky Tonk Women already existed in a rougher, looser universe where nothing was fully settled and everything felt dangerously alive. Recorded in the 1969 creative rush, this early version leans into a more unpolished energy, where blues instincts collide with lyrical experimentation and the band sound like they’re still chasing the final shape of the song rather than presenting it. There’s a playful tension running through it—half barroom swagger, half wandering sketch—where even the most iconic ideas feel like they’re still under construction. It’s less a finished hit and more a snapshot of a band in motion, shaping chaos into style before anyone knew just how timeless it would become.
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 is the version that includes the original “Strollin’ on the boulevards of Paris/ As naked as the day that I will die…” verse Written by: Jagger/Richard
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 Stewarthammering 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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