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Rolling Stones unreleased: Tell Her How It Is

Buried deep in the Sticky Fingers sessions, Tell Her How It Is captures the Rolling Stones at a creative crossroads in 1970. Raw, muscular, and slightly uneasy, the track reveals a band pushing its sound while questioning its own instincts. Recorded between Olympic Sound Studios and Mick Jagger’s Stargroves mansion, it highlights the growing influence of Mick Taylor, whose wah-wah guitar cuts sharply against Keith Richards’ churning riffs. Unreleased but far from forgotten, the song carries the tension of experimentation—familiar yet unsettling, driven hard by Charlie Watts’ relentless drumming.

*A version of the also unreleased Potted Shrimp with vocals
Written by: Jagger/Richard
Recorded: Olympic Sound Studios, London and Mobile Record Unit, Stargroves, Newbury (Mick Jagger’s house), March-May 1970 (Sticky Fingers sessions)
Guest musicians: Nicky Hopkins (piano), Stephen Stills (guitar)

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Rolling Stones’ Hidden Gem: Tell Her How It Is (1970)

Tell Her How It Is, an unreleased track from the 1970 Sticky Fingers sessions, represents a fascinating moment in the Rolling Stones’ creative process. The song, originally recorded at Olympic Sound Studios and Mick Jagger’s Stargroves mansion, features a unique blend of musicianship, including the rhythmic riffs of Keith Richards and the expressive wah-wah lead guitar by Mick Taylor. The track’s familiar riff, one that Richards feared might have been subconsciously lifted, adds an intriguing layer of uncertainty to the session. This period of recording saw the band experimenting heavily, influenced by new elements in their sound, particularly Taylor’s contribution. The result is a track with a heavy, rock-infused rhythm that stands apart from typical Stones’ material, thanks in part to Charlie Watts’ relentless drumming, which pushes the pace.

Guest Musicians and Sonic Evolution

The involvement of guest musicians, like Nicky Hopkins on piano and Stephen Stills on guitar, further elevated the song’s musical complexity. The powerful combination of these players, especially Taylor’s wah-wah lead, gives Tell Her How It Is a distinctive sound, making it a hidden treasure for Rolling Stones fans eager to hear the band stretch beyond their usual boundaries. The track remains one of the many unreleased gems from the band’s iconic 1970 sessions and has appeared on bootlegs such as Fully Finished Studio Outtakes and Silver Lining: 60 Dirty Licks Through the Years.

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