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THE Rolling Stones released the album ‘It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll’ on October 16, 1974. It is the 12th studio album in the UK and 14th in the US. This was the last Rolling album for guitarist Mick Taylor (he played 7 out of 10 tracks only) and the songwriting and recording of the album’s title track has ties to Taylor’s successor, Ronnie Wood.
It also marks the 10th anniversary since the band’s debut album. This album has a different rock sound compared to the band’s previous albums, more funk and soulful inspired by the Goats Head Soup album. The album reached No. 1 in the US and No. 2 in the UK. This album went platinum.
Ronnie Wood, a longtime friend of the band members, grew closer to the Rolling Stones during these sessions after he was invited by Mick Taylor to play on his debut album, I’ve Got My Own Album to Do. Taylor spent some time recording and hanging out at Ronnie’s house, The Wick. On one occasion, Richards was asked to come over one night by Wood’s wife, Krissy, to join them at the guitarist’s house.
While there, Richards recorded several tracks with Wood and became close friends, with Richards staying over at Wood’s house. Jagger then mixed it into the lead single and the album’s title track, “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll”, which was the first to be recorded. Wood did well on that track with Jagger.
Work on the album It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll began following the Rolling Stones’ European tour in the fall of 1973. Production began in November at Musicland Studios, Munic in Germany. The album marked the Rolling Stones’ first venture as a producer since Their Satanic Majesties Request, and the first for Jagger and Richards to use the name “The Glimmer Twins”. The album had 2 singles: “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It)” (July 26, 1974) and Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” (October 25, 1974).
Track list: (1). If You Can’t Rock Me, (2). Ain’t Too Proud to Beg, (3). It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It), (4). Till the Next Goodbye, (5). Time Waits for No One, (6). Luxury, (7). Dance Little Sister, (8). If You Really Want to Be My Friend, (9). Short and Curlies, (10). Fingerprint File
The Rolling Stones personnel: • Mick Jagger – lead and backing vocals; guitar on “It’s Only Rock and Roll”; electric guitar on “Fingerprint File”, • Keith Richards – electric and acoustic guitar, backing vocals; bass guitar on “If You Can’t Rock Me”, • Mick Taylor – electric, acoustic, twelve–string acoustic and slide guitar, backing vocals; synthesizer on “Time Waits for No One”, congas on “Dance Little Sister”; bass guitar on “Fingerprint File”, • Bill Wyman – bass guitar; synthesizer on “Fingerprint File”, • Charlie Watts – drums
Additional personnel: • Nicky Hopkins – piano on “Till the Next Goodbye”, “Time Waits for No One”, “Luxury”, “If You Really Want to Be My Friend”, and “Fingerprint File”, • Billy Preston – piano on “If You Can’t Rock Me”, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”, “Fingerprint File”, clavinet on “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”, “Fingerprint File”, organ on “If You Really Want to Be My Friend”, • Ian Stewart – piano on “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll”, “Dance Little Sister” and “Short and Curlies”, • Ray Cooper – percussion, • Blue Magic – backing vocals on “If You Really Want to Be My Friend”, • Charlie Jolly – tabla on “Fingerprint File”, • Ed Leach – cowbell on “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”
Basic track on “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It)”: • Kenney Jones – drums, • Willie Weeks – bass guitar, • David Bowie – backing vocals, • Ronnie Wood – twelve–string acoustic guitar, backing vocals. [sources/photo special]
