The Rolling Stones’ hit song that almost never happened

By 1981, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were barely talking, having differing opinions on the direction of The Rolling Stones. Making new music together seemed out of the question, but they were booked on a world tour, and needed an album to tour behind. That’s when engineer Chris Kimsey stepped in to save the day, poring over forgotten outtakes from the band’s previous sessions to cobble together what would become the Tattoo You album. The lead track, “Start Me Up,” was the biggest surprise to Keith Richards, who had written it as a reggae song but never liked what he heard when it was recorded. But, Kimsey found a diamond in the rough: when Richards and Charlie Watts briefly went into the rockin’ version we fans have come to know in one of those forgotten sessions. That outtake, after a little polishing, became one of the biggest hits of the Stones’ career, and it’s a miracle it was ever found to begin with. Get into the story in this episode of the Behind The Song podcast.

Music Producer: Christian Lane
Video Director: Eva Empleo

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About Janda:
Behind The Song podcast host and creator Janda Lane is a radio DJ at WDRV-FM in Chicago, the city she calls home with her husband and podcast partner, Christian Lane, and their two cats, Ollie and Liam.

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[wombatwilly]

Fan since 66.This was great thank you!

[BethanyWooton]

Why on earth is this channel not much bigger i love Jandas voice and shes a great storyteller

[c.e.anderson]

You HAVE to speak to the beat turnaround in the intro. Classic.
It catches the ear and you reach for the volumn knob.

[xrandy]

"Start Me Up" is great but "Worried About You" is the true gem on Tattoo You. One of the best Stones songs ever.

[bobshred]

Only just discovered your channel. I'm loving the stories!

[bigfish]

Tremendous job Janda...Thanks again for sharing the insight to this amazing album!!!

[katk]

Thanks for the background on this. A nice leftover is right. But I liked hearing Charlie and Keith put the rock spin on it. Great Episode and keep em coming! Kat

[timothygrace]

Yet another superb fountain of rock and roll knowledge! Who would have know this classic germinated as a reggae tune? I’ll endeavor to try my own bathroom reverb version one of these mornings. Fantastic, Janda! 😊

[kenozyuk]

Lots of bits I didn't know here. "Tattoo You" was such a massive album and tour. Will never forget first reading about it in the Trib at my grandparent's house on Kimball Ave.

[christineoster]

Nice job, Janda. I always like hearing these background stories

[FinnBjerke]

32 likes pr hour ? pretty good you deserve it

[garthkolbeck]

They used to play all the songs together at once too ... I can't get me up no can't always get what some girls want hang fire waiting on a devil on down the line off the hook
Listen to some of that tour, there's a lot if roughs

[JackKirbyFan]

Greatest rock and roll band? I think that's subjective but can't argue the point either. However, I will say the Beatles were the most important band in rock and roll history.

[philipdru]

In my opinion, Keith's perfect riff! In fact, perhaps the greatest riff in rock 'n roll history; it's the rock 'n roll equivalent to Beethoven's 5th. They were not booked for a world tour, only a U.S. Tour.