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Rolling Stones unreleased: Make It Now
Written by: Jagger/Richards Recorded: Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin, Ireland, Nov-Dec. 1993; Sandymount Studios (Ronnie Wood’s house), St. Kildare, Ireland, July-Sept. 1993 Guest musicians: Darryl Jones (bass), Chuck Leavell (keyboards), Bernard Fowler (backing vocals)
From Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012: A delicate acoustic Keith Richards’ instrumental number including Chuck Leavell on piano. It had potential as proved by a second outtake from Ireland which has Jagger’s faint vocals. A third outtake allowed Keith Richards to come up with some lyrics and Chuck switched to organ and electric piano to accompany him. Producer Don Was felt Keith was in a very creative period, ready to experiment not being regimented in his views. He had a vibrant character unlike the Spinal Tap character painted by some journalists.
In late 1993 The Rolling Stones quietly crafted Make It Now, an unreleased track that captures a rare, intimate side of the band. Recorded across two Irish locations—Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin and Ronnie Wood’s Sandymount home studio in St. Kildare—the song features Keith Richards at the forefront with a delicate acoustic instrumental. The sessions, spanning July to December, included the talents of Darryl Jones on bass, Chuck Leavell on keyboards, and Bernard Fowler on backing vocals, giving the track a rich, textured sound despite its understated nature.
What stands out is Richards’ creative freedom: the outtakes reveal faint vocals from Mick Jagger and allow Keith to experiment with lyrics while Chuck moves seamlessly between organ, piano, and electric piano. Producer Don Was noted this period as a particularly inventive one for Richards, highlighting his vibrant personality and willingness to break free from routine, contrary to caricatures that sometimes paint him as rigid or overly eccentric.
Creativity and Collaboration Behind the Scenes
According to Martin Elliott’s book The Rolling Stones Complete Recording Sessions 1962–2012, Make It Now evolved through multiple outtakes that showcase the band’s collaborative spirit. One early version remained purely instrumental, while subsequent takes layered in vocals and inventive keyboard arrangements. Richards’ lyric development and Chuck Leavell’s adaptive accompaniment illustrate a moment when experimentation thrived without being constrained by commercial pressures. This unreleased track serves as a snapshot of the band at work in a fertile, exploratory period, blending subtle acoustic intimacy with the unmistakable Rolling Stones energy—a hidden gem waiting for discovery by fans who appreciate the nuance behind the legendary rock machinery.
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