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Rolling Stones unreleased: Identification

Hidden in the shadows of the Undercover sessions, Identification captures The Rolling Stones at a restless turning point in 1982 Paris. Surrounded by new technology and shifting musical trends, the band began reshaping their sound with synth textures, drum machines, and a looser studio approach. Yet beneath the experimentation, the familiar Jagger–Richards tension still fueled the creative spark. This unreleased track offers more than a discarded idea—it’s a snapshot of evolution in motion. Raw, exploratory, and slightly unpredictable, Identification reveals how the Stones pushed forward without losing their edge, blending instinct with innovation at a crucial moment in their long career.

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Written by: Jagger/Richards
Recorded: EMI Pathé Marconi Studios, Boulogne-Billancourt, France, Dec. 1982 (Undercover sessions)
Guest musicians: Jim Barber (guitar, bass)/Chuck Leavell (keyboards)

A shifting pulse in Paris

When The Rolling Stones settled into EMI Pathé Marconi Studios in Paris during 1982, they stepped into more than just another recording space—they entered a creative crossroads. The sleek, modern studio, already a fixture in their career, offered the perfect environment for the band to break from familiar patterns and dive into the experimental energy of the early ’80s. Although the resulting sessions fed into what would become Undercover (1983), their significance reached far beyond the album itself. The Paris atmosphere, paired with cutting-edge equipment, pushed the Stones toward sounds that blended their rock roots with the era’s emerging electronic textures.

New experiments, old tensions

The band found themselves in a moment of transition, still navigating the evolving relationship between Mick Jagger and Keith Richards as they shaped new ideas. Their partnership—always electric, sometimes volatile—formed the backdrop for a burst of creativity that embraced unfamiliar tools. Working closely with producer Chris Kimsey, they leaned into rhythms and textures that departed from their traditional approach. Synthesizers entered the sonic palette, drum machines drove fresh patterns, and experimental studio techniques reshaped the way tracks were constructed.

Not everything created in those rooms made the final cut of Undercover, yet the unused material remains a vivid reminder of a band willing to evolve even after two decades on the world stage. The Paris sessions captured a version of the Stones both restless and fearless—artists adapting to a new musical climate without surrendering the force of their identity.

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