Login
Login

Brown Sugar (Rolling Stones song)

{{Short description|1971 single by The Rolling Stones}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Brown Sugar

| cover = BrownSugarUK45.jpg

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = the Rolling Stones

| album = Sticky Fingers

| B-side = "Bitch"/"Let It Rock" (UK)

| released = {{Start date|1971|04|16|df=y}}

| recorded = 2–4 December 1969

| studio = Muscle Shoals (Sheffield)

| venue =

| genre = {{Flatlist|

  • Hard rock{{cite book|title=High Fidelity Musical America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M489AQAAIAAJ|volume=22|year=1972|publisher=Billboard Pub.|page=106}}{{cite book|first=Mike|last=Jahn|title=Rock: from Elvis Presley to the Rolling Stones|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eq0UAQAAIAAJ|year=1973|publisher=Quadrangle|page=284|isbn=9780812903140}}
  • rock and roll{{cite book|author=The Rolling Stones|title=The Rolling Stones: Hot Rocks 1964–1971: Authentic Bass TAB Sheet Music Transcription|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UVDABgAAQBAJ&pg=PA1|date=14 April 2009|publisher=Alfred Music|isbn=978-1-4574-3336-8|page=2}}{{AllMusic | class= song| id= mt0028822072| label= The Rolling Stones – Brown Sugar| first= Richie| last= Unterberger| access-date= 19 September 2015}}
  • blues rock{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/brown-sugar-mt0010819670|publisher=All Music|title=The Rolling Stones Brown Sugar Composed by Mick Jagger / Keith Richards|first=Richie|last=Unterberger|access-date=24 April 2018}}
  • boogie rock{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1p6FCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA95|title=Counting Down the Rolling Stones: Their 100 Finest Songs|last=Beviglia|first=Jim|date=2015|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=9781442254473|page=95}}

}}

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=50}}

| label = Rolling Stones

| writer = Jagger–Richards

| producer = Jimmy Miller

| prev_title = Honky Tonk Women

| prev_year = 1969

| next_title = Wild Horses

| next_year = 1971

| misc = {{Audio sample |file=The_Rolling_Stones_-_Brown_Sugar.ogg |type=single}}

{{Extra album cover

| header = Alternative covers

| type = single

| cover =

| border =

| alt =

| caption = American single label

}}

}}

"Brown Sugar" is a song recorded by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. Written primarily by Mick Jagger, it is the opening track and lead single from their ninth studio album, Sticky Fingers (1971). It became a number one hit in both the United States and Canada. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, it charted at number two. In the United States, Billboard ranked it as the number 16 song for 1971.

Rolling Stone ranked it number 495 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2010, number 490 in 2004, and at number five on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time.[https://web.archive.org/web/20061228112835/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6596335/brown_sugar "Brown Sugar"]. Rolling Stone. 9 December 2004 (accessed 25 April 2007).

Inspiration and recording

Though credited to Jagger–Richards, "Brown Sugar" was primarily the work of Jagger, who wrote it sometime during the filming of Ned Kelly in 1969.{{Cite magazine|last=Wenner|first=Jann S.|date=1995-12-14|title=Mick Jagger Remembers|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/mick-jagger-remembers-92946/|access-date=2021-02-07|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}} According to Marsha Hunt, Jagger's girlfriend and the mother of his first child Karis, he wrote the song with her in mind.{{Cite book|last=Janovitz|first=Bill|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pljVYDHuv3wC&q=Real+Life+by+Marsha+Hunt+brown+sugar&pg=PA199|title=Rocks Off: 50 Tracks That Tell the Story of the Rolling Stones|date=2013-07-23|publisher=St. Martin's Publishing Group|isbn=978-1-250-02632-3|pages=199|language=en}} Former Ikette Claudia Lennear disputes this claim, saying that it was written about her.{{Cite web|last=Mastropolo|first=Frank|date=April 16, 2016|title=Revisiting the Rolling Stones' Controversial 'Brown Sugar'|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/rolling-stones-release-brown-sugar/|access-date=2021-02-07|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|language=en}} In 2014, Lennear told The Times that she is the subject of the song because she was dating Jagger when it was written.{{Cite news|last=Marsh|first=Stefanie|title=Me, Mick Jagger and the truth about Brown Sugar|newspaper=The Times|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list/profile/article/me-mick-jagger-and-the-truth-about-brown-sugar-0lddw3rht6m|date= February 25, 2014|access-date=April 25, 2021|issn=0140-0460}} Bill Wyman stated in his book Rolling with the Stones (2002) that the lyrics were partially inspired by Lennear.{{Cite web|title=Brown Sugar|url=http://www.timeisonourside.com/SOBrown.html|access-date=2021-04-25|website=timeisonourside.com}}

"Brown Sugar" was recorded over a three-day period at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama, from 2 to 4 December 1969. The song was not released until over a year later due to legal wranglings with the band's former label. At the request of guitarist Mick Taylor (who had joined the band as Brian Jones' replacement in July 1969), the Stones debuted the number live during the infamous concert at the Altamont Speedway on 6 December 1969.{{Cite web |last=Chiu |first=David |title=Altamont At 50: The Disastrous Concert That Brought The '60s To A Crashing Halt |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidchiu/2019/12/03/altamont-at-50-the-disastrous-concert-that-brought-the-60s-to-a-crashing-halt/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

In the liner notes to the compilation album Jump Back (1993), Jagger says, "The lyric was all to do with the dual combination of drugs and girls. This song was a very instant thing, a definite high point".Covach, John (2005), "Form in Rock Music: A Primer", in Stein, Deborah, Engaging Music: Essays in Music Analysis, New York: Oxford University Press, p. 74–75, {{ISBN|0-19-517010-5}} .

In a December 1995 Rolling Stone interview, Jagger spoke at length about the song, its inspiration, and its success, and credited himself with its lyrics. Keith Richards also credits Jagger with the song in his autobiography.{{Cite book|title=Life|last=Richards|first=Keith|publisher=Little, Brown|year=2010|isbn=978-0-316-03438-8|location=New York|pages=178}} Jagger attributed the success of the song to a "good groove". After noting that the lyrics could mean so many lewd subjects,{{Citation|last=mayerson|first=hy|title=Metamorphosis|date=2019-03-09|url=https://vimeo.com/322545607|access-date=10 March 2019}} he again noted that the combination of those subjects, the lyrical ambiguity was partially why the song was considered successful. He noted, "That makes it... the whole mess thrown in. God knows what I'm on about on that song. It's such a mishmash. All the nasty subjects in one go... I never would write that song now." When interviewer Jann Wenner asked him why, Jagger replied, "I would probably censor myself. I'd think, 'Oh God, I can't. I've got to stop. I can't just write raw like that.{{'"}}[https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/mick_jagger_remembers/page/5/ "Jagger Remembers"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091205235627/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/mick_jagger_remembers/page/5 |date=5 December 2009 }}. Rolling Stone. 14 December 1995.

An alternative version was recorded on 18 December 1970 at Olympic Studios in London during a birthday party for Richards and Bobby Keys. It features appearances by Al Kooper on piano, and Eric Clapton on slide guitar.{{Cite web|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=June 3, 2015|title=Rolling Stones Share 'Brown Sugar' Take With Eric Clapton|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rolling-stones-share-brown-sugar-alternate-take-with-eric-clapton-57895/|access-date=April 12, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}} The alternative version, which had previously been available only on bootleg recordings, was released in June 2015 on the Deluxe and Super Deluxe editions of the reissued Sticky Fingers album.{{Cite news|last=Britton|first=Luke Morgan|date=June 2, 2015|title=The Rolling Stones share unheard version of 'Brown Sugar' featuring Eric Clapton|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-rolling-stones-53-1211779|access-date=April 12, 2021|newspaper=NME|language=en-GB}}

Release

"Brown Sugar" was released in April 1971 as the first single from the album. While the US single featured only "Bitch" as the B-side, the British release also featured a live rendition of Chuck Berry's "Let It Rock", recorded at the University of Leeds during the 1971 tour of the United Kingdom.

The song is also the first single released on Rolling Stones Records (catalogue number RS-19100) and is one of two Rolling Stones songs (along with "Wild Horses") licensed to both the band and former manager Allen Klein (a result of various business disagreements), resulting in its inclusion on the compilation album Hot Rocks 1964–1971. "Brown Sugar" is also included on the most significant latter-day The Rolling Stones compilations, Jump Back, Forty Licks, and GRRR!.

To promote the song, the Rolling Stones performed on Top of the Pops with the performance taped sometime around late March 1971 and broadcast on 15 April and 6 May. They performed "Brown Sugar", "Wild Horses" and "Bitch" for the show's segment dedicated to albums, which was shown on 22 April 1971; due to BBC practices at the time, the performances were erased and all that remains is "Brown Sugar". Saxophone player Trevor Lawrence mimes to Bobby Keys' actual solo.

In the United Kingdom, the single was originally issued in mono using a now-rarely heard bespoke mono mix. This mono mix has not been released on any compilation.

The song was first performed live during the free concert at Altamont, and was performed routinely during the Rolling Stones' 1970 European tour, occupying a prominent spot near the end of the set list even though audiences were unfamiliar with it. The band opened the shows of their infamous 1972 American tour with "Brown Sugar", and it has since become a Stones concert staple. However, Jagger has changed some of the more controversial lyrics when performing the song live. For example, the first verse line "I hear him whip the women just around midnight" has been replaced with "you should have heard him just around midnight."{{cite web |url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/10/14/rolling-stones-what-are-the-lyrics-to-brown-sugar-and-why-was-it-dropped-15420490/ |title=metro.co.uk |last=Kelly |first=Emma |date=14 October 2021 |website=metro.co.uk |publisher=Metro News |access-date=8 January 2024 |quote=}}

Critical reception

Writing for Sounds in 1971, Penny Valentine praised "Brown Sugar", stating that it was her "choice as the best track".{{Cite news|last=Valentine|first=Penny|date=17 April 1971|title=Rolling Stones: 'Brown Sugar'/'Bitch'/'Let It Rock' (Rolling Stones Records)|work=Sounds}} Cash Box described the song as returning to "the fresh blues sound of the team's pre-Satanic days" with a "sax break, gritty wailing and the unique stones rhythm work."{{cite news|title=CashBox Record Reviews|date=April 24, 1971|page=20|access-date=2021-12-10|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-04-24.pdf|newspaper=Cash Box}} Record World said that it "is firmly in [the Rolling Stones'] hallowed tradition of gritty, groovy music."{{cite magazine|title=Picks of the Week|magazine=Record World|date=April 24, 1971|page=1|accessdate=2023-04-22|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/71/RW-1971-04-24.pdf}} Writing for The Rag, rock critic Mike Saunders found the single to be the "only especially noteworthy" track of Sticky Fingers (1971).{{Cite news|last=Saunders|first=Mike|author-link=Mike Saunders (musician)|date=3 May 1971|title=The Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers (Rolling Stones Records COC 59100)|work=The Rag}}

The lyrical subject matter has been a point of interest and controversy.{{Cite magazine|last=Turman|first=Katherine|date=2020-06-30|title=Radio Pulled Violent Songs Off Air After 9/11 – But It Won't Reckon With Race|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/radio-race-music-problem-1022245/|access-date=2021-02-07|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}} Described by rock critic Robert Christgau as "a rocker so compelling that it discourages exegesis",{{cite book|first=Robert|last=Christgau|authorlink=Robert Christgau|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/music/stones-76.php|chapter=Rolling Stones|title=The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll|date=1976|via=robertchristgau.com|accessdate=24 June 2007}} the song's popularity has often overshadowed its provocative lyrics, which explore a number of controversial subjects, including slavery, interracial sex, cunnilingus, and drug use.{{cite web|last=Unterberger|first=Richie|title=The Rolling Stones 'Brown Sugar'|url={{AllMusic|class=song|id=t3052783|pure_url=yes}}|access-date=25 April 2007|date=2007|website=AllMusic}}

In 2021, the band announced that the song would be removed from the setlist of their US tour.{{cite web|first=Peony|last=Marwani|title=Mick Jagger addresses 'Brown Sugar' backlash: 'We provoked a lot of people'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/mick-jagger-brown-sugar-backlash-b2063074.html|website=The Independent|date=22 April 2022}}

Cover versions

Little Richard recorded a rendition of "Brown Sugar" for his album The King of Rock and Roll, released in 1971.{{Cite magazine|last1=Grow|first1=Kory|last2=Dolan|first2=Jon|last3=Leight|first3=Elias|last4=Doyle|first4=Patrick|last5=Hudak|first5=Joseph|date=2020-05-09|title=16 Great Little Richard Deep Cuts|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/little-richard-deep-cuts-996769/|access-date=2021-04-12|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}

Chart performance

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (1971)

!Peak
position

Australia

| style="text-align:center;"|5

{{single chart|Austria|10|artist=The Rolling Stones|song=Brown Sugar|access-date=17 June 2016}}
{{single chart|Belgium (Flanders)|7|artist=The Rolling Stones|song=Brown Sugar|access-date=17 June 2016}}
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|1|artist=The Rolling Stones|song=Honky Tonk Women|chartid=5385|access-date=17 June 2016}}
align="left" |Finland (Soumen Virallinen){{cite book |last=Nyman |first=Jake |title=Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja |publisher=Tammi |year=2005 |isbn=951-31-2503-3 |edition=1st |location=Helsinki |page=240|language=fi}}

|style="text-align:center;"|11

{{single chart|Germany|4|artist=The Rolling Stones|song=Brown Sugar|songid=191|access-date=17 June 2016}}
{{single chart|Ireland2|2|artist=The Rolling Stones|song=Brown Sugar|access-date=18 June 2016}}
align="left"|New Zealand (Listener){{cite web |url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qartistid=27#n_view_location |title=Flavour of new zealand – search listener |website=Flavourofnz.co.nz |access-date=3 October 2016 |archive-date=26 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326202558/http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qartistid=27#n_view_location |url-status=dead }}

| style="text-align:center;"|11

{{single chart|Norway|4|artist=The Rolling Stones|song=Brown Sugar|access-date=17 June 2016}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|1|artist=The Rolling Stones|song=Brown Sugar|access-date=17 June 2016}}
Rhodesia (Lyons Maid){{cite book |last=Kimberley |first=C |title=Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book |year=2000 |page=32|language=en}}

| style="text-align:center;"|7

South Africa{{Cite web|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sa_charts_1969_1989_songs_(A-B).html|title=South African Rock Lists Website – SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs (A-B)|website=rock.co.za}}

| style="text-align:center;"|20

align="left"|Spain Singles Chart{{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st|date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}

| style="text-align:center;"|5

Sweden (Tio i Topp){{Cite book |last1=Hallberg |first1=Eric |title=Eric Hallberg, Ulf Henningsson presenterar Tio i topp med de utslagna på försök: 1961 - 74 |last2=Henningsson |first2=Ulf |publisher=Premium Publishing |year=1998 |isbn=919727125X |location= |pages=313}}

| style="text-align:center;"|11

{{single chart|Switzerland|1|artist=The Rolling Stones|song=Brown Sugar|access-date=17 June 2016}}
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|2|artist=Rolling Stones|song=Brown Sugar|access-date=17 June 2016}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=The Rolling Stones|song=Brown Sugar|access-date=17 June 2016}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
align="left"|Chart (1971)

! style="text-align:center;"|Rank

Australia{{cite web|url=http://www.austchartbook.com.au/ |title=Australian Chart Book |website=Austchartbook.com.au |access-date=3 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305064644/http://www.austchartbook.com.au/ |archive-date=5 March 2016 |df=dmy }}{{Failed verification|date=January 2018}}

| style="text-align:center;"|38

Canada{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.7590&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 |title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |access-date=3 October 2016}}

| style="text-align:center;"|3

Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{Cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1971&cat=s|title=Dutch Charts|website=dutchcharts.nl}}

|align="center"|22

US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1971.htm |title=Top 100 Hits of 1971/Top 100 Songs of 1971 |website=Musicoutfitters.com |access-date=3 October 2016}}

| style="text-align:center;"|18

US Cash Box{{cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1971YESP.html |title=Cash Box YE Pop Singles – 1971 |website=Tropicalglen.com |date=15 December 1971 |access-date=3 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006205612/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1971YESP.html |archive-date=6 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}

| style="text-align:center;"|38

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1974|certyear=2023|access-date=30 November 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Silver|relyear=1974|certyear=1975|title=Brown Sugar|artist=Rolling Stones|note=Physical|access-date=6 June 2020|certref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2004|certyear=2025|title=Brown Sugar|artist=Rolling Stones|id=1112-44-1|note=Digital|access-date=17 March 2025|refname="bpidig"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

Personnel

The Rolling Stones{{cite web |title=Sticky Fingers Liner Notes |url=http://albumlinernotes.com/Sticky_Fingers.html |website=Album Liner Notes |access-date=7 August 2019}}

Additional personnel

  • Ian Stewart – piano
  • Bobby Keys – tenor saxophone{{Cite web|url=https://www.saxontheweb.net/Rock_n_Roll/RockSax14.html|title=Sax on the Web > Rock&Roll > Classic Solos – Transcripts|website=saxontheweb.net}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

{{Sticky Fingers}}

{{The Rolling Stones singles}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1971 singles

Category:The Rolling Stones songs

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Number-one singles in the Netherlands

Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland

Category:Songs written by Jagger–Richards

Category:Song recordings produced by Jimmy Miller

Category:Songs about heroin

Category:Songs about New Orleans

Category:British hard rock songs

Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles

Category:Race-related controversies in music

Category:Songs about American slavery

Category:British rock-and-roll songs