Honky Tonk Women

 Listen Now
RS Cover Reprints
Buy the Album at Rhino.com

Written by: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
Produced by: Jimmy Miller
Released: July '69 on London
Charts: 15 weeks
Top spot: No. 1

Jagger and Richards came up with "Honky Tonk Women" on a South American vacation, using their paramours, Marianne Faithfull and Anita Pallenberg, as sounding boards. Returning to the studio in May 1969 with pure-rock lyrics such as "I met a gin-soaked barroom queen in Memphis," the Stones recorded it in five hours. "Honky Tonk" marked the debut of Mick Taylor, who overdubbed in a guitar part; producer Jimmy Miller added some crucial cow bell, which shaped the song's strip-club bump and grind.

Appears on: Let It Bleed (ABKCO) >

Next: Take Me To The River

Back to RS 500 Albums!
Back to RS 500 Songs!