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Rolling Stones unreleased: Not the Way to Go
Written by: Jagger/Richard Recorded: EMI-Pathé Marconi Studios, Boulogne-Billancourt, France, Jan. 5-March 2 1978 ; RCA Studios, Hollywood, USA, Aug. 1978 (Some Girls sessions) Guest musicians: Ian McLagan (piano)
From Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012: A lively number with some West Indian influences. The organ rocks on a memorable chorus. After the American tour it was worked upon again. Two outtakes exist, one is faster than the other and has guide vocals on key changes.
Recorded in two phases during 1978—first at Pathé Marconi Studios in France, then later at RCA Studios in Hollywood—Not the Way to Go is one of those unreleased Rolling Stones tracks that carries surprising depth and character. Though it never made it onto the final Some Girls album, the track blends the band’s gritty swagger with a splash of West Indian flavor. It’s a lively number, and guest musician Ian McLagan shines with rocking organ lines that really come alive on the chorus.
Two known versions exist: one faster than the other, featuring guide vocals that map out the key changes, suggesting the band was still shaping the final structure. Interestingly, the Stones revisited the song after their U.S. tour, showing they saw real potential in it—even if it never reached a polished, releasable state. Still, it’s got all the raw elements of a classic Stones cut: rhythm, bite, and attitude.
Another Side of the Some Girls Sessions
What makes Not the Way to Go stand out is how it adds another layer to the eclectic soundscape of the Some Girls era. That album is already a wild mix of punk, disco, blues, and country—but this track adds a breezy island undertone that would’ve made it even more dynamic. The song’s unfinished nature doesn’t take away from its charm; instead, it offers fans a behind-the-scenes look at the Stones experimenting freely, stretching their style, and just jamming with groove. It’s a reminder that some of the band’s most intriguing moments lie not in the hits, but in the vault—waiting to be rediscovered and appreciated for what they could’ve been. (Ref. Rolling Stones 1978 unreleased)
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