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Rolling Stones unreleased:Silver Train (alternate take)
Some songs are polished until they shine. Others become even more fascinating because they aren’t. Theis alternate take of Silver Trainoffers a rare chance to hear a familiar recording before every rough edge was sanded down—assuming anyone in the band actually wanted smooth edges in the first place. These early versions often reveal small details, different performances, and musical ideas that disappeared before the final release. Rather than simply being a curiosity for collectors, this 1972 recording opens a window into the creative process, showing how The Rolling Stones shaped one of the bluesiest tracks from the Goats Head Soup sessions.
Written by: Jagger/Richard Recorded: Mobile Recording Unit, Stargroves (Mick Jagger’s house) and Olympic Studios, London, Oct. 17 1970-Jan. 1971; Island Recording Studios, London, May 28 1973 onwards
Riding the Blues: The Evolution and Influence of Silver Train
Before it rolled onto Goats Head Soup, Silver Train had already made its first stop—at London’s Olympic Sound Studios in October 1970. That early version captured the Rolling Stones at their bluesiest, laying down a raw, unfiltered take that would eventually evolve into the track fans know today. By the spring of 1973, the Stones revisited the song, tightening its edges and breathing new life into its blues-soaked rhythms.
Interestingly Silver Train bears a striking similarity to All Down the Line, hinting that both tracks may have emerged from the same fertile creative stretch in the late ’60s or early ’70s. With its rich imagery and unmistakable groove, it stands as another example of how the Stones turned storytelling into swaggering rock and roll.
How Johnny Winter Gave ‘Silver Train’ a Second Life
Before it ever made it onto Goats Head Soup, Silver Train got a shot of adrenaline thanks to Johnny Winter, who recorded his own fiery version during the sessions for Still Alive and Well, released just before the Stones’ own. His gritty, blues-drenched take on the song didn’t just do it justice—it lit a fire under the Stones. Inspired by Winter’s raw energy, the band circled back to their own version, polishing and tightening it until it was ready for the spotlight. That unexpected boost from a fellow artist helped turn The Rolling Stones’ Silver Train into more than just a deep cut—it became a standout moment in the Stones’ ’70s run.
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