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Hidden deep within the Emotional Rescue sessions, What’s the Matter? offers a rare glimpse of The Rolling Stones at their most unfiltered. Recorded in 1979 at Compass Point Studios, this unreleased track trades polish for pure feel, leaning into the band’s blues roots with a loose, rolling groove. Instead of chasing perfection, the Stones let the moment lead—capturing a sound that feels spontaneous, raw, and alive. With smoky guitars, subtle harmonica, and Mick Jagger guiding the flow in real time, the track plays like a late-night jam caught on tape. It may not have made the final album, but that’s exactly what makes it fascinating—a hidden fragment of the Stones still exploring their edge.
Written by: Jagger/Richards Recorded: Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas, Jan.18-Feb. 12 1979 (Emotional Rescue sessions)
From Martin Elliott’s book The Rolling Stones Complete Recording Sessions 1962-2012: What’s the Matter? is acceptable as an outtake. The guitar work is bluesy and is accompanied by presumably an overdubbed harp and an Ian Stewart Nashville piano. Mick Jagger can be heard prompting the band on scale changes.
Unearthing a Forgotten Groove: The Rolling Stones’ What’s the Matter?
Buried in the depths of the Emotional Rescue sessions lies a bluesy curiosity titled What’s the Matter?—an unreleased Rolling Stones track that captures the raw spontaneity of a band still exploring the edges of their identity in 1979. Recorded at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas between January 18 and February 12, the song never made the final album cut, but remains a noteworthy piece of their creative puzzle during that era.
Driven by a sultry, rootsy guitar tone, What’s the Matter? leans into the Stones’ blues foundation with conviction. The track is anchored by unmistakable slide-infused riffs and a rhythm that rolls rather than rocks—evidence of the group’s effortless blend of groove and grit.
Loose groove and studio spontaneity
A likely overdubbed harmonica howls in the background, weaving through the verses with a ghostly touch, while Ian Stewart’s Nashville-style piano keeps things grounded, adding warmth and Southern character to the mix. Mick Jagger, in the thick of it all, isn’t just performing—he’s leading (“Tell me, tell me, tell me what’s the matter?”, he sings) Caught on tape prompting the band through chord shifts and scale changes, his vocal presence feels both commanding and exploratory, hinting at the informal, jam-like nature of the session. His delivery lacks polish but oozes authenticity, echoing the Stones’ early blues club days when structure bowed to feel.
A raw outtake worth discovering
Though What’s the Matter? remains an outtake, it’s far from forgettable. It doesn’t boast the radio-readiness of Emotional Rescue’s title track or the experimental flair of Dance (Pt. 1) but its charm lies in its looseness. This is the Stones peeling back the layers—unfiltered, blues-drenched, and still figuring it all out. For fans and collectors, it’s a dusty gem worth digging up.
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