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Not every forgotten Rolling Stones recording is an unfinished masterpiece—sometimes it’s simply a glimpse of the band’s musical roots having a great time. Their unreleased take on Jenny, Jenny isn’t about reinventing Little Richard’s rock ‘n’ roll classic; it’s about reconnecting with the energy that inspired them in the first place. During the 1975 Black and Blue era rehearsals, The Rolling Stones slipped effortlessly into a song that had already earned its place in rock history, proving that even while preparing for a massive tour, they couldn’t resist paying tribute to one of their earliest influences. Some warm-ups are far more interesting than the main event.
Written by: Richard Penniman/Enotris Johnson Recorded: Warhol Church Estate, Montauk, NY, USA. Rehearsals for the upcoming North American tour, late Apr-May 4 1975 Guest musicians: Billy Preston (piano)
The Rolling Stones revisit a Little Richard classic
By the spring of 1975 The Rolling Stones were deep into rehearsals at the Warhol Church Estate in Montauk, New York, preparing for what would become their highly anticipated North American tour. As was often the case during these relaxed but productive sessions, the band drifted between polishing familiar material and paying tribute to the artists who had shaped their musical DNA. One of the songs they revisited was Jenny, Jenny the explosive Little Richard classic that had helped redefine rock ‘n’ roll nearly two decades earlier. Joined by Billy Preston on piano, the Stones approached the number with the loose energy of a rehearsal rather than a formal recording session. It never progressed beyond the vaults, but the performance offers another fascinating glimpse into the band’s long-standing affection for the pioneers of American rock and rhythm and blues. Sometimes the best way to warm up for a major tour is by borrowing a page from one of rock’s original rule-breakers.
From Little Richard to the Stones
Written by Richard Penniman—better known as Little Richard—and Enotris Johnson, Jenny, Jenny was first recorded and released in 1957, becoming one of the standout tracks on Little Richard’s debut album, Here’s Little Richard. The original recording featured Little Richard alongside the accomplished musicians at Cosimo Matassa’s J&M Recording Studio in New Orleans, including drummer Earl Palmer and saxophonists Lee Allen and Alvin ‘Red’ Tyler. Their driving performance helped transform Jenny, Jenny into one of the era’s defining high-energy rockers, blending rhythm and blues with an unmistakable sense of urgency.
A song that refused to disappear
Unlike many hits that remained tied to a single moment in time, Jenny, Jenny kept returning throughout Little Richard’s career. He re-recorded the song several times, beginning with a new studio version for the 1966 album The Incredible Little Richard Sings His Greatest Hits – Live!. Another live performance appeared on the 1967 release Little Richard’s Greatest Hits: Recorded Live!, while an additional studio remake was included on Mr. Big, featuring fresh recordings of classics originally revisited during 1964–1965 sessions. Yet another version surfaced on the 1976 album Little Richard Live.
The Stones’ unreleased rehearsal recording fits naturally into that continuing legacy. Rather than reinventing the song, they celebrated one of rock’s foundational recordings while reminding listeners just how deeply Little Richard’s influence ran through their own music. After all, when your musical heroes wrote the blueprint, there’s really no shame in borrowing it for rehearsal.
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