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Some Rolling Stones songs get released. Others apparently take the scenic route through the vault. It Won’t Be Long belongs firmly in the second category. Recorded in two different periods, in 1978 and again during the 1979 sessions in Nassau, the track never makes it onto an official Stones album, despite receiving enough attention to warrant another version. The later recording adds a reggae-tinged feel, extra keyboards and even xylophone, while Keith Richards contributes backing vocals. That makes this forgotten Jagger-Richards composition particularly curious: it isn’t just an abandoned studio fragment, but a song the Stones actually revisit before quietly leaving it behind.
Written by: Jagger/Richards Recorded: Pathé-Marconi Studios, Boulogne-Billancourt, France, June 21-July 7, late July-Aug. 25 and wept. 12-Oct- 19 1979 (Emotional Rescue sessions)
Long before deluxe editions and streaming made it easier to dig up unreleased gems, It Won’t Be Longquietly remained hidden in The Rolling Stones’ archives. Recorded during the Emotional Rescuesessions, this track reflects the band’s willingness to experiment with genre and mood—even if the final product never saw the light of day. While it never made the official album cut, It Won’t Be Longhas all the marks of a creative detour worth exploring: reggae undertones, layered keyboards, and even a xylophone adding a surreal, tropical vibe.
Keith on Vocals, Xylophone in the Mix
According to Martin Elliott’s book The Rolling Stones Complete Recording Sessions, two versions of It Won’t Be Long exist, recorded a year apart. While the core songwriting duo of Jagger and Richards carried the creative weight, Keith also added backing vocals to the mix—further blurring the lines between demo and fully fleshed-out track. The second version, tailored for Emotional Rescue, leaned into experimentation: hints of reggae, playful percussion, and a laid-back groove that contrasted with the band’s typical raw energy. While it may not have earned a spot on the album, the track offers a snapshot of a band still willing to push boundaries—even in their downtime. It’s a reminder that not every gem gets polished, but some still shine from the vault.
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