‘Tall and Slender Blondes’: Unreleased Rolling Stones from 1978

By Marcelo Sonaglioni on April 10, 2025

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Rolling Stones unreleased: Tall and Slender Blondes

Also known as: Silver Coated Tails
Written by: Jagger/Richards
Recorded: EMI Pathé-Marconi Studios, Boulogne-Billancourt, France, Oct-Dec. 1977; Jan-March 1978

From Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012:
An instrumental track with a happy refrain slighthly reggae in nature.

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Rolling Stones Unreleased: Tall and Slender Blondes

Here’s a real hidden gem from the vaults: Tall and Slender Blondes, an unreleased Rolling Stones instrumental from the Some Girls sessions. Also known under the working title Silver Coated Tails, this track was recorded between late 1977 and early 1978 at EMI Pathé-Marconi Studios in Boulogne-Billancourt, France—right when the band was reinventing themselves for a new era.

Unlike the gritty rock and punk energy that defined Some Girls, this outtake has a totally different vibe. It’s got a cheerful, almost carefree rhythm that leans slightly into reggae territory. There’s no Jagger vocal on this one—it’s all instrumental, which gives the band space to stretch out and just enjoy the groove. The refrain is catchy and light, giving off an easygoing feel that contrasts the more aggressive tone of the album that eventually made it to stores.

Written by the classic duo of Jagger and Richards, Tall and Slender Blondes might not have been meant as a centerpiece track, but it definitely shows the Stones experimenting and having fun in the studio. During these sessions, the band was exploring everything—from disco and punk to country and reggae—and this track sits nicely in that exploratory phase. (Ref. Rolling Stones unreleased 1978)

It’s no surprise this one never made the final Some Girls lineup, which was tightly packed with hits and attitude. Still, for fans and collectors, it’s a fascinating listen. It offers a different side of the Stones in ’77-’78—relaxed, rhythm-driven, and still full of surprises. (Ref. Rolling Stones unreleased 1978)

If you’re digging into their unreleased material, Tall and Slender Blondes is one of those cool, off-the-map tracks that gives you a fresh angle on the band’s creative process during one of their most iconic periods.

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