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Rolling Stones unreleased:When I Call Your Name
AROLLING STONES’ UNRELEASED MOTOWN GROOVE When I Call Your Name is pure Stones magic off the radar. Laid down in France during the 2002 Forty Licks sessions, it grooves with a lazy, hypnotic Motown vibe while keeping that classic Stones swagger. Ronnie Wood’s guitar shines, Darryl Jones, Chuck Leavell, and Blondie Chaplin lock in the rhythm, and Jagger/Richards’ songwriting sparkles. Smooth, loose, and effortlessly cool, it’s the kind of unreleased track that makes fans wish it had hit the charts.
Written by: Jagger/Richard Recorded: Studio Guillaume Tell, Suresnes, France, May 13-June 7 2002 (Forty Licks sessions) Guest musicians: Darryl Jones (bass), Chuck Leavell (keyboards), Blondie Chaplin (percussion)
Tucked away from the spotlight, When I Call Your Name is one of those Rolling Stones tracks that makes fans wonder how it never saw an official release. Recorded in France during the Forty Licks sessions of May and June 2002, the song blends a lazy, almost hypnotic Motown groove with that unmistakable Stones swagger. It’s a curious hybrid: smooth but never polished, loose yet confident, like the band was enjoying the freedom of not aiming for the charts.
Ronnie Wood steals the show here with tasteful, understated guitar lines that give the track its bite, while Mick Jagger and Keith Richards bring their trademark energy as songwriters. Add in Darryl Jones holding down the bassline, Chuck Leavell’s subtle keyboard textures, and Blondie Chaplin’s percussion, and you’ve got a cut that feels both relaxed and infectious—classic Stones with a soulful twist.
The Magic of An Unreleased Gem
Part of the fascination with When I Call Your Name is how effortlessly the Stones manage to channel a Motown vibe without losing their rock ’n’ roll edge. It’s not a track overloaded with production or polish; instead, it thrives on space, groove, and a kind of laid-back charm that only comes when a band is truly comfortable. For fans, it’s more than just an outtake—it’s a reminder of how deep the Stones’ vault really goes. Hidden away since 2002, the song reflects the chemistry of a band that never stops experimenting, even decades into their career. Hearing it now feels like stumbling across a time capsule: a snapshot of the Stones stretching out, jamming freely, and proving once again that even their “leftovers” can sound like pure gold.
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