Inside The Rolling Stones’ Unreleased ‘John’s Jam’ (1972)

By Marcelo Sonaglioni on November 2, 2025 • ( 1 Comment )

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Rolling Stones unreleased: John’s Jam

Written by: Nanker/Phelge
Recorded: Rialto Theatre, Montreux. Switzerland, May 17-21 1972

From Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012:
John’s Jam is an instrumental kicked off by Charlie Watts’ drums and then the two guitarists drive solos past one another. Mick Taylor’s guitar playing a funky riff while Keith’s is much straighter.

*Click for MORE STONES UNRELEASED TRACKS

rolling stones unreleased john's jam 1972

John’s Jam: The Rolling Stones’ Forgotten Groove

*By Marcelo Sonaglioni

Buried deep within the band’s 1972 archives lies John’s Jam — a raw, unfiltered instrumental that captures The Rolling Stones at their freest and most spontaneous. Recorded at the Rialto Theatre in Montreux, Switzerland, during the same period as the Exile on Main St. sessions, the track is an unguarded snapshot of the band’s creative chemistry in full swing. There are no vocals, no polished overdubs, just a pure exchange of musical energy. Charlie Watts sets the tone with a crisp, driving beat, before Keith Richards and Mick Taylor trade electric guitar lines that dart, weave, and challenge each other in perfect balance. It’s the sound of musicians communicating without words — instinctively and joyfully.

A jam born from instinct

According to Martin Elliott’s book The Rolling Stones Complete Recording Sessions 1962–2012, John’s Jam opens with Watts’ unmistakable groove before Keith and Taylor lock into an improvised duel — one funky, the other fierce. The result is a rhythm-heavy, guitar-driven instrumental that feels more like a conversation than a composition. With no Mick Jagger vocals or lyrics to guide it, the piece highlights the often-overlooked musical bond between the Stones’ rhythm and lead guitarists.

A glimpse into their creative pulse

Though never officially released, John’s Jam stands as a testament to The Rolling Stones’ unmatched studio chemistry in the early ’70s. It’s easy to imagine the band warming up, experimenting, and letting inspiration flow freely during those sessions in Montreux. Like many of their unreleased gems, it’s not about perfection — it’s about capturing a moment. In John’s Jam, that moment is pure, unfiltered rock energy, preserved as a rare look into how the world’s greatest rock ’n’ roll band built its sound from the inside out.

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