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Rolling Stones unreleased: You Better Leave That Man Alone
Written by: Jagger/Richards Recorded: Studio Guillaume Tell, Suresnes, France, May-June 2002 (Forty Licks sessions) Guest musicians: Darryl Jones (bass), Chuck Leavell (keyboards)
You Better Leave That Man Alone might be unreleased, but it sounds like anything but a throwaway. Recorded during the Forty Licks sessions at Studio Guillaume Tell in France (May–June 2002), the track captures The Rolling Stones in a moment of gritty revival. There’s a raw swagger here—part blues stomp, part barroom threat—with Mick Jagger delivering the title line like a man you don’t want to cross. Backed by the always-reliable Darryl Jones on bass and the ever-smooth Chuck Leavell on keyboards, the song fuses vintage Stones attitude with a modern, muscular edge. Keith’s guitar bites, Charlie’s groove simmers, and the whole thing feels like a warning set to music. It may not have made the final cut, but this track proves that the Stones still had plenty of venom to spit in the 2000s—and they weren’t about to soften with age.
A Hidden Groove Worth Digging Up
While You Better Leave That Man Alonenever saw official release, it has all the ingredients of a classic Stones deep cut. Jagger’s vocal is sly and full of threat, while the rhythm section lays down a slinky, locked-in pulse. Chuck Leavell’s keyboards add soul and warmth, recalling the band’s Southern-tinged late-’70s work. It’s bluesy, bold, and brimming with personality. This isn’t just an unreleased track—it’s a buried treasure that shows how the band could still cook up magic long after their so-called golden era.
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