IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N' ROLL
(But I Like It)
Mick Jagger - Keith Richards
The lead single from the album, IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N' ROLL. Chart: #16.
Time: Through the Lonely Nights. Flip Side: "Through the Lonely Nights".
Released in U.S.A. on July 26, 1974.
Recorded at "The Wick" in Richmond, London, England, (late 1973) and at Musicland, Munich, West Germany, March-April, 1974. Produced by The Glimmer Twins (Jagger/Richards). Engineered by Andy Johns and
Keith Harwood.
Although credited to Jagger/Richards, this song was actually written by Mick Jagger and Ron Wood. Glyn Johns actually was the producer on this and most of the album. Because of a previous agreement with the band that if he didn't finish it to the end, Glyn's name was removed from the project. He came in conflict with the Stones because they were taking forever to finish it. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards used the pseudonym 'The Glimmer Twins' for the first time as producers. Ron Wood was still a member ot The Faces when this was recorded. Two years later, he would join The Rolling Stones, replacing departed Mick Taylor. This was sort of an unschedule audition for the band!!! - Larry -
Mick Jagger - lead/backing vocals |
RON WOOD"That was recorded in my house in 1974. In Richmond. The original tape was made there in my studio with Willy Weeks on bass, Kenney Jones on drums, me on guitar, and David Bowie and Mick on vocals. And Keith said, 'I've taken the precaution of wiping all of your guitars.' And I said, 'Oh, mate. This is the guy I'm gonna have to spend some time with. I suppose I better get used to it.' I said, "But you forgot one thing, Keith. You forgot my 12 string." And he said, 'No. I left that on.' So that's still on there. It's still got a flavor of the original recording." CHARLIE WATTS"I didn't play drums on that, Kenny Jones did. I was in bed, sleeping at the time. They called Kenny Jones because he lived nearer to Richmond, it was done in a very beautiful house there that Ronnie used to own. Pete Townshend owns it now." |
MICK JAGGER - 1993:Jump Back liner notes
"The idea of the song has to do with our public persona at the time. I was getting a bit tired of people having a go, all that, 'oh, it's not as good as their last one' business. The single sleeve had a picture of me with a pen digging into me as if it were a sword. It was a lighthearted, anti-journalistic sort of thing."
MICK JAGGER
"I wrote it quickly one day...It's a bit rock 'n' roll revival in parts...but that was done quite subconsciously. It was originally done with just me and Ronnie Wood. David just happened to come by the studio when we were doing the vocal."
MICK JAGGER
"The title has been used a lot by journalists, the phrase has become a big thing. That version that's on there is the original version, which was recorded half in Ron Wood's basement, if I remember rightly. It was a demo. It's a very Chuck Berry song, but it's got a different feeling to it than a Chuck Berry song. You can't really do proper imitations of people. You always have to start out by imitating somebody. In painting, some famous artist always starts out by being an impressionist. And then they become the most famous abstract artist. Or an actor starts out by imitating someone else's style. And then you develop your own. And I think that's what happened with this band and all the musicians that have played in it. You start off with one thing, and then you mutate into another, but you still acknowledge the fact that these influences came from here and here and here. Because not everyone knows that. But you make this new amalgam. And out of all this different music, all out these Blues, out of all this Country music, out of all this Jazz and dance music and Reggae music, you know, you make something that's your own."
YOU TUBE STUDIO TRACK OFFICIAL VIDEO YOU TUBE LYRIC VIDEO YOU TUBE LIVE, 1975, The Vault, Los Angeles, California If I could stick my pen in my heart I would spill it all over the stage Would it satisfy ya, would it slide on by ya Would you think the boy is strange? Ain't he strange? If I could win ya, if I could sing ya A love song so divine Would it be enough for your cheating heart If I broke down and cried? If I cried? I said I know it's only rock 'n roll but I like it I know it's only rock'n roll but I like it, like it, yes, I do Oh, well, I like it, I like it, I like it I said can't you see that this old boy has been lonely? If I could stick a knife in my heart Suicide right on stage Would it be enough for your teenage lust Would it help to ease the pain? Ease your brain? If I could dig down deep in my heart Feelings would flood on the page Would it satisfy ya, would it slide on by ya Would ya think the boy's insane? He's insane I said I know it's only rock 'n roll but I like it I said I know it's only rock'n roll but I like it, like it, yes, I do Oh, well, I like it, I like it, I like it I said can't you see that this old boy has been a lonely? And do ya think that you're the only girl around? I bet you think that you're the only woman in town I said I know it's only rock 'n roll but I like it I said I know it's only rock 'n roll but I like it I said I know it's only rock 'n roll but I like it, like it, yes, I do Oh, well, I like it, I like it. I like it...