Waiting on a Friend

Recording of "Waiting on a Friend" (as 'Waiting for a Friend') began in late 1972 through early 1973 in Kingston, Jamaica, during the Goats Head Soup sessions. In the liner notes to 1993's compilation album Jump Back, Mick Jagger said, "We all liked it at the time but it didn't have any lyrics, so there we were... The lyric I added is very gentle and loving, about friendships in the band." Jagger also had stated that the 1981 lyrics were contemplated for a future possible video, making the song the first Rolling Stones single to be packaged as a possible video for the emerging MTV channel.

The lyrics see a more mature side of singer Jagger represented. He speaks of setting aside women and vices in favor of making some sense of his life and finding the virtues inherent in true friendship:

{{cquote|Don't need a whore, I don't need no booze, don't need a virgin priest. But I need someone I can cry to, I need someone to protect.}}

The song is noted for its dreamy qualities brought on by the soft guitars, smooth rhythm, and Jagger's lilting refrain of "doo-doo-doo". Veteran Stones collaborator Nicky Hopkins performs the track's running piano.Janovitz, Bill. [{{AllMusic|class=song|id=t2766888|pure_url=yes}} The Rolling Stones "Waiting on a Friend"]. allmusic. 2007 (accessed 19 May 2007). The Stones hired jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins to perform the solo on this song, as well as two other songs on the album. On his contribution to the track, Jagger said in 1985:

"I had a lot of trepidation about working with Sonny Rollins. This guy's a giant of the saxophone. Charlie said, 'He's never going to want to play on a Rolling Stones record!' I said, 'Yes he is going to want to.' And he did and he was wonderful. I said, 'Would you like me to stay out there in the studio?' He said, 'Yeah, you tell me where you want me to play and DANCE the part out.' So I did that. And that's very important: communication in hand, dance, whatever. You don't have to do a whole ballet, but sometimes that movement of the shoulder tells the guy to kick in on the beat."{{cite web |title=Tattoo You |url=http://www.timeisonourside.com/lpTattoo.html |work=Time Is On Our Side |access-date=13 December 2009}}

Additional percussion, comprising claves, cabasa, güiro and conga, by Michael Carabello, was added during overdub sessions in April and June 1981, as well as acoustic guitar by Jagger.{{cite web |title=The Complete Works of the Rolling Stones – Database |url=http://www.nzentgraf.de/books/tcw/works1.htm |publisher=Nzentgraf.de |access-date=7 November 2015}}

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The video, shot on 2 July 1981,{{cn|date=July 2021}} directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg (who also directed their 1968 special The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus), became very popular on MTV. Matching the song's lyrics, Jagger is seen waiting for Keith Richards in the doorway of an apartment block, with Peter Tosh sitting on the steps. The building, at 96–98 St. Mark's Place in Manhattan, is notable for having also appeared on the cover of Led Zeppelin's 1975 album Physical Graffiti. The two then walk down the street and enter the St. Mark's Bar & Grill where the other three band members are already drinking. Ronnie Wood appears in the video, although he was not a musician on the original recording.{{cite magazine |title=Stones LP, Tour Due Soon |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/stones-lp-tour-due-soon-232450/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=20 August 1981 |access-date=22 April 2020}} Jagger sings the song to Richards and the video concludes with the band setting up for a gig at the back of the bar, largely ignored by the other patrons.{{YouTube|MKLVmBOOqVU|The Rolling Stones - Waiting On A Friend - OFFICIAL PROMO}}

Released as the second single after "Start Me Up", "Waiting on a Friend" became a radio staple in the US, where it reached {{thinspace|No.|13}} on the singles chart in early 1982. It did not fare as well in Europe, reaching a modest {{thinspace|No.|50}} on the UK Singles Chart but as high as {{thinspace|No.|9}} in the Netherlands.

Billboard called it a "ballad that has a subtle honky tonk feeling" and a "tasty contrast" to the Rolling Stones' previous single "Start Me Up".{{cite magazine |title=Top Single Picks |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bSQEAAAAMBAJ |magazine=Billboard |date=28 November 1981 |page=75}} Record World said that "Jagger's magnetíc vocal, Sonny Rollins sax phrases and the hypnotic chorus make this one of the Stones most enticing pieces in recent memory."{{cite magazine |title=Hits of the Week |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/80s/81/RW-1981-11-28.pdf |magazine=Record World |date=28 November 1981 |page=1 |access-date=2 March 2023}}

"Waiting on a Friend" was included on the Stones' compilation albums Rewind (1971–1984) (1984), Jump Back (1993), and GRRR! (2012). A 1981 live performance of the song featured on the concert film Let's Spend the Night Together (1983). A 1997 performance with saxophonist Joshua Redman was recorded during the Bridges to Babylon Tour and released in 1998 on the live album No Security and the concert film Bridges to Babylon Tour '97–98.

The Rolling Stones

• Mick Jagger – lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
• Keith Richards – lead and rhythm guitar
• Bill Wyman – bass guitar
• Charlie Watts – drums

Additional musicians

• Mick Taylor - rhythm and lead guitar
• Nicky Hopkins – piano
• Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone
• Michael Carabello – güiro, claves, cabasa and congas

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{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Australia|artist=The Rolling Stones|title=Waiting on a Friend|award=Gold|certyear=2023|access-date=30 November 2023}}

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{{reflist}}

{{The Rolling Stones}}

{{The Rolling Stones singles}}

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Category:The Rolling Stones songs

Category:1981 singles

Category:1982 singles

Category:Songs about friendship

Category:Songs written by Jagger–Richards

Category:Song recordings produced by Jagger–Richards

Category:Music videos directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg

Category:1972 songs