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Rolling Stones unreleased: Jiving Sister Fanny (alternate take)
The Rolling Stones’ Jiving Sister Fanny has always had the kind of rough-edged charm that makes unreleased Stones material worth digging for, but this 1969 alternate take adds another reason to listen closely. Mick Taylor was still finding his place in the band, yet his guitar already sounds like someone who had no intention of quietly filling a vacant chair. Add Nicky Hopkins’ electric piano and suddenly a supposedly secondary take starts making a rather convincing case for itself. Recorded at Olympic Sound Studios during a pivotal period, “Jiving Sister Fanny” captures the Stones evolving in real time—with Taylor helping push the groove somewhere considerably more interesting.
Written by: Jagger/Richard Recorded: Olympic Sound Studios, London and Mobile Record Unit, Stargroves (Mick Jagger’s house), Newbury, England, March-May 1970 Guest musicians: Nicky Hopkins (piano)
Mick Taylor: The Unsung Force Behind the Stones’ Groove
When Mick Taylor stepped into the Rolling Stones’ chaotic orbit to replace the late Brian Jones, he didn’t just fill a vacancy—he reshaped the sound. His fiery guitar on Jiving Sister Fanny immediately announced his arrival, slicing through the track with a precision and energy that turned heads. While the song still carries the official songwriting stamp of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Taylor’s influence is undeniable. Layered atop his guitar, Nicky Hopkins’ electric piano injects extra swing and character, creating a vibrant interplay between instruments.
Taylor’s contributions often went uncredited—Stones tradition dictated it—but his fingerprints on the band’s evolving sound are everywhere. Tracks like this alternate take ofJiving Sister Fannyserve as bootleg favorites for fans hunting gems on compilations such as Hillside Blues, The Trident Mixes, or Through the Past Starkly, and many more, proving his role in the Stones’ gritty reinvention.
Hidden Gems and Lasting Impact
Though Taylor rarely got formal songwriting credit—his only official nod was on Ventilator Blues from Exile on Main St. (1972)—his musicianship shaped countless tracks. Jiving Sister Fanny stands as a testament to that creative spark, blending blues grit with raw, kinetic energy. Even today, bootleg collectors cherish these performances for the way Taylor elevated the Stones’ live and recorded output, adding textures and solos that made the songs richer and more dynamic. His understated brilliance helped push the band beyond their early blues framework, leaving a legacy that casual listeners may miss but diehard fans will always celebrate.
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