Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr Pay Tribute to Charlie Watts
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr took to social media to pay tribute to Charlie Watts, who passed away today (August 24) at age 80.
McCartney shared a front-facing video where he said, in part, “He was a lovely guy. I knew he was ill, but I didn’t know he was this ill. Lots of love to his family, his wife and kids and his extended family. And condolences to the Stones. A huge blow to them, because Charlie was a rock and a fantastic drummer.”
Paul on Charlie Watts ā¤ļø pic.twitter.com/rn2elK6cFE
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) August 24, 2021
Starr shared a brief message saying, “God bless Charlie Watts. Weāre going to miss you man. Peace and love to the family.” He also shared a candid photo of himself with Watts.
#God bless Charlie Watts weāre going to miss you man peace and love to the family Ringo šāļøšā¤ļøšš¶ā®ļø pic.twitter.com/3tSFg7EMQG
— #RingoStarr (@ringostarrmusic) August 24, 2021
— #RingoStarr (@ringostarrmusic) August 24, 2021
Rolling Stones: Their 50 Best Songs Ranked
50. āStop Breaking Downā – āExile on Main St.ā (1972)
ShareāStop Breaking Downā is one of two covers found on āExile on Main St.ā (Youāll see the other one later in this list.) The Stonesā take on this Robert Johnson classic serves as a great reminder of the bandās blues roots. Mick Jagger is, once again, dynamite on harmonica and Mick Taylorās slide work is āchefās kiss,ā as the kids say.
49. āAināt Too Proud to Begā – āItās Only Rock ān Rollā (1974)
ShareThis cover of the classic Temptations hit is loose, fun and infectious. Itās no wonder it was a top 20 hit for the Stones on the Billboard Hot 100.
48. āAs Tears Go Byā – āDecemberās Children (And Everybodyās)ā (1965)
ShareMick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote this tender track along with their manager Andrew Loog Oldham. While the song was originally recorded by Marianne Faithfull and released in June 1964, the Stones would record and release their own version in December 1965, which would become the bandās fifth top 10 single in the United States. āAs Tears Go Byā has been covered by a variety of other artists, including Nancy Sinatra and Avenged Sevenfold.
47. āMotherās Little Helperā – āAftermathā (1966)
ShareEchoing the themes of āthe problem that has no nameā in Betty Friedanās classic book āThe Feminine Mystique,ā āMotherās Little Helperā is the cautionary tale of the daily struggle of medicated housewives of the 1960s who werenāt satisfied with their lives. Itās a song that 50+ years later that still resonates, because sometimes, what a drag it is being a mom and a wife.
46. āYou Got Me Rockingā – āVoodoo Loungeā (1994)
ShareFrom the moment Charlie Wattsā drum fill kicks off āYou Got Me Rocking,ā itās difficult to not simply rock the f--- out. Itās nothing fancy, but there has never been anything wrong with meat-and-potatoes rock and roll.
45. āIām Freeā – āDecemberās Children (And Everybodyās)ā (1965)
ShareThere is an overall timelessness about the Rolling Stones, but there are certainly a number of songs from their early releases that simply just feel like the ā60s. āIām Freeā is definitely one of them. Perhaps you can attribute that to the tambourine. You just donāt hear a lot of tambourine anymore!
44. āGet Off of My Cloudā – āDecemberās Children (And Everybodyās)ā (1965)
ShareImagine writing an absolute classic like ā(I Canāt Get No) Satisfactionā and then being tasked with following it up. While the Stones were enjoying their success, the record company was looking at their collective watch and wondering what was next. What they got was āGet Off of My Cloud,ā a tune that is perhaps the most polite kiss-off in rock history.
43. āAnybody Seen My Baby?ā – āBridges to Babylonā (1997)
ShareThere is a lot going on with āAnybody Seen My Baby?ā related to its creation. Itās the only track from the Stones to feature sampling; in this case it was hip-hop artist Biz Markieās āA One Two.ā The song also famously features song credits for k.d. lang and Ben Mink for the chorus, because it resembled Langās 1992 track āConstant Craving.ā Oh, and an early 20-something Angelina Jolie is the star subject in the songās music video. You also canāt mention āAnybody Seen My Baby?ā without tipping a cap to Jamie Muhoberac, whose bassline truly is the backbone of this haunting tune.
42. āLove Is Strongā – āVoodoo Loungeā (1994)
ShareāLove Is Strongā marked a couple of firsts for the Stones: It was the first single from āVoodoo Lounge,ā and, more importantly, it was the bandās first single without Bill Wyman, the first lineup change in the band since Ronnie Wood joined in 1975. Despite the changes, the Stones stuck to what they did best on the track: sexy, hooky, blues-based rock, which led to them taking home the very first Best Rock Album Grammy Award in 1995.
41. āAll Down the Lineā – āExile on Main St.ā (1972)
ShareFor pretty much any other band, āAll Down the Lineā would be a single, but it was instead released as a b-side to āHappy.ā This could be due to the Stonesā messy legal battle with ABKCOās Allen Klein who alleged the band wrote āAll Down the Lineā and four other āExileā tunes while still under contract with ABKCO. Legal issues aside, itās an instant party of a track thanks to the trumpet and trombone work of Jim Price.
40. āShatteredā – āSome Girlsā (1978)
ShareāShatteredā was a cheeky tribute to New York City that still rings true today. (āPride and joy and greed and sex/Thatās what makes that town the best.ā) āShatteredā served as both the final single from āSome Girlsā and the final single of the ā70s from the Rolling Stones. If the band thought the ā60s were a wild ride, the ā70s was a whole new level. Also, kudos for the heavy use of the word āShadoobie.ā Frankly, itās just fun.
39. āDoom and Gloomā – āGRRR!ā (2012)
Share'GRRR!ā was the Rolling Stones compilation set released in honor of the bandās 50th anniversary. The set featured two new tracks, with the lead single being āDoom and Gloom.ā The track is two things: 1. A total banger of a rock tune and 2. A reminder that even five decades later, the Stones were more than capable of writing songs that any band would dream of writing.
38. āSheās a Rainbowā – āTheir Satanic Majesties Requestā (1967)
ShareLike the aforementioned āIām Free,ā āSheās a Rainbowā definitely feels like itās from the ā60s. Even if you just read the lyrics, you can feel the Summer of Love-ness of it all. (āShe comes in colors everywhere/She combs her hair/Sheās like a rainbow.ā) āSheās a Rainbowā is so buoyant it could warm the cold heart of even the biggest badass. The strings on the song were also arranged by some session guy named John Paul Jones. He went on to have an okay career.
37. āShake Your Hipsā – āExile on Main St.ā (1972)
ShareThe second cover from āExile,ā āShake Your Hipsā was originally recorded and released by Slim Harpo in 1966. It yet again serves as another example of the bandās love and respect for the blues. The minimalist production provides an interesting variance only three tracks into 'Exile,ā perhaps the Stonesā greatest masterpiece.
36. āSweet Black Angelā – āExile on Main St.ā (1972)
ShareThe Rolling Stones are far from being known as a āpoliticalā band, but āSweet Black Angelā is one of the few times the band made a political statement in their songs. The āExileā track served as a tribute to renowned civil rights activist Angela Davis who, at the time the song was written, was incarcerated on erroneous kidnapping and murder charges of which sheād later be found not guilty.
35. āStar Starā – āGoats Head Soupā (1973)
ShareWhenever someone writes the definitive history of ādiss tracks,ā there most certainly should be a section dedicated to āStar Star.ā A cut at groupies (and perhaps also former Jagger beau Carly Simon), the track was originally called āStarf---er,ā but Ahmet Ertegun, whose Atlantic Records distributed the Stonesā records back then, put a stop to that. Gee...donāt know why?
34. āRip This Jointā – āExile on Main St.ā (1972)
ShareA rockabilly jam that featured Jagger spitting lyrics at breakneck speed, āRip This Jointā is a wild tale about drugs and traveling across the southern United States as a foreigner. The songs features shoutouts to various cities from Tampa to Santa Fe as well as name dropping āThe Butter Queen,ā the nickname for famous groupie Barbara Cope. If you donāt know why Cope was called āThe Butter Queen,ā Google it yourself, but you might want to use the āIncognitoā tab and probably donāt do it while youāre in the office.
33. āTorn and Frayedā – āExile on Main St.ā (1972)
ShareāTorn and Frayedā paints the picture of a journeyman guitarist traveling from town to town but it easily could be a metaphor for how any band could feel during a long, grueling tour. The tune leans into the Stonesā country influences, which is appropriate considering Gram Parsons famously visited the Villa NellcĆ“te mansion while the band recorded āExileā in its basement.
32. āLoving Cupā – āExile on Main St.ā (1972)
ShareThe Rolling Stones will forever be that ābad boyā alternative to The Beatles, but even bad boys can be really sweet and romantic as evident from āLoving Cup.ā Many of us would openly swoon if someone said theyād ālove to spill the beans with you till dawn.ā Also, this track wouldnāt be the same without Nicky Hopkins on piano, who is both the heart and backbone of the song.
31. āSweet Virginiaā – āExile on Main St.ā (1972)
ShareThe Stones have more than a little love affair with country music (and various references to drugs.) āSweet Virginiaā sees both of those interests collide along with Mick Jaggerās harmonica and the late Bobby Keysā brilliant saxophone. Get used to seeing more of these elements later in the list.
30. āSalt of the Earthā – āBeggars Banquetā (1968)
ShareA tender ode to the working class, āSalt of the Earthā closes out āBeggars Banquetā on a poignant note. The song took on increased poignancy when Mick Jagger and Keith Richards performed it at āThe Concert For New York City,ā the all-star benefit show at Madison Square Garden in honor of NYCās police and fire fighters following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
29. āLive with Meā – āGet Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! The Rolling Stones in Concertā (1970)
ShareThat undeniable bass line! By the way, that was Keith Richards, not Bill Wyman, playing bass on this song. The track notably is the first song the Stones recorded with new guitarist Mick Taylor, who replaced a fired Brian Jones, and the first song to feature Bobby Keys on saxophone. The chemistry between the guitars of Richards and Taylor was just incredible, bordering on telepathic.
28. āAngieā – āGoats Head Soupā (1973)
ShareSome of the most devastating love songs are about love that just wasnāt meant to be even though two people really put in the effort. Many people often experience this at some point in life, and once that experience is in the rearview, a song like āAngieā just hits differently. Crossroads are hard to deal with, but this beautiful ballad, written primarily by Keith Richards, offers a lot of comfort. After all, āThey canāt say we never tried.ā
27. āBitchā – āSticky Fingersā (1971)
ShareIf you make a playlist of awesome rock songs with killer brass sections and āBitchā isnāt on there, that playlist is simply incomplete. Credit is due to Bobby Keys and Jim Price, both of whom should show up mutiple times on any such list. If you take away their saxophone and trumpet tracks from āBitch,ā the song just isnāt the same. The Rolling Stones are one of the greatest bands of all time for many reasons, but one of those was how they surrounded themselves with the right cast of musicians on the studio. Keef, once again, shines and is the reason why the songās original tempo increased.
26. āSwayā – āSticky Fingersā (1971)
ShareāDid you ever wake up to find/A day that broke up your mind?/Destroyed your notion of circular time?ā If you presented those lyrics to someone who isnāt familiar with the Rolling Stones, they might think it was the opening verse of a song written during lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic. āSwayā is primarily the work of Mick Jagger and Mick Taylor, even though the song is credited to Jagger/Richards. Taylorās guitar work is the perfect partner to Jaggerās, at times, dramatic vocals, and āSwayā marks the first time Jagger lent his own guitar work to a track.
25. āRocks Offā – āExile on Main St.ā (1972)
ShareThe first of 18 tracks on āExile,ā āRock Offā is an incredibly dark and filthy song to set the tone for a truly epic double album. To put it bluntly: The song is about a drug addict (like with a heroin problem) whoās having problems performing sexually because of said drug problems. Despite the grizzly subject matter, the songās organized chaos ā from the overlapping vocals in the chorus to the distorted bridge ā adds up to a type of magic that, really, only the Rolling Stones could create.
24. āRuby Tuesdayā – āBetween the Buttonsā (1967)
ShareWant a surefire way to help a song go to number one? Make it the flip side of a single that radio is too afraid to play! āRuby Tuesdayā was released as a double A-side with āLetās Spend the Night Togetherā as the lead single. Since āRuby Tuesdayā was the less-randy of the two tracks, many stations were more comfortable playing the sweet ballad, whose lyrics were penned by Keith Richards. The song would go on to be the Stonesā fourth number one single on the Billboard Hot 100.
23. āLetās Spend the Night Togetherā – āBetween the Buttonsā (1967)
ShareHindsight is a funny thing. A song like āLetās Spend the Night Togetherā is practically puritanical by the standards of the 2020s. Alas, it was nothing short of scandalous when it was first released in 1967 and would infamously be changed to āLetās Spend Some Time Togetherā when the Stones performed it on āThe Ed Sullivan Show.ā (Seeing Mick Jagger dramatically roll his eyes when singing the altered lyric is still funny, though.) However, good for Mick for making the evening a two-way street, if you know what I mean. (āIāll satisfy your every need (your every need)/And now I know you will satisfy me.ā)
22. “Paint It Black” – ‘Aftermath’ (1966)
ShareThe Stones have many songs about love lost, but none of them are as dark as the appropriately titled "Paint It Black." Besides the general bleak nature of the song, Brian Jones' sitar playing is clearly one of the track's standout aspects. The track would go on to be the Stones' third song to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
21. āDead Flowersā – āSticky Fingersā (1971)
ShareCountry and drugs return in full force on āDead Flowers,ā a brooding, bitter tune that is also remarkably catchy. Those elements shouldnāt work this well, but they just do on āDead Flowers.ā It goes without saying, but āAnd I wonāt forget to put roses on your graveā still remains one of the most subtly brutal burns in the Stones catalog.
20. āShine a Lightā – āExile on Main St.ā (1972)
ShareāShine a Lightā is as heartbreaking as it is grand. The song serves as a tribute to late guitarist Brian Jones, and while released on āExileā in 1972, Mick Jagger had started writing the song back in 1968 when Jones was still in the band, but his drug use was becoming an increasing problem. From top to bottom, the lyrics are gripping and touching and resonate with anyone who has lost a loved one at a young age, especially from substance issues.
19. āMoonlight Mileā – āSticky Fingersā (1971)
ShareThe idea that life on the road is glamorous is painfully put in place on āMoonlight Mile,ā the moving closing track to āSticky Fingers.ā (The Rolling Stones sure had a knack for ending an album on an emotional note, didnāt they?) Sure, performing before fans is amazing, but that time between shows traveling town to town is often lonely and cold. (āThe sound of strangers sending nothing to my mind/Just another mad, mad day on the road.ā) Guitarist Mick Taylor, pianist Jim Price and Paul Buckmasterās string arrangement put the songās emotional weight on their back and really carried this track home.
18. āCanāt You Hear Me Knockingā – āSticky Fingersā (1971)
ShareIf thereās one lesson to be learned from āCanāt You Hear Me Knockingā itās to always keep the tape rolling because you never know what you could capture. The songās iconic instrumental jam at the end wasnāt even planned; the Stones and their incredible cast of session musicians didnāt even realize that they were being recorded until after the fact. Saxophonist Bobby Keys had many great moments on Rolling Stones tracks, but his work on āCanāt You Hear Me Knockingā could easily be his finest moment of them all.
17. āWaiting on a Friendā – āTattoo Youā (1981)
ShareNot all love songs are about romantic love, and āWaiting On A Friendā might be the greatest example of that. The second single off 1981ās āTattoo You,ā the lyrics for āWaiting On A Friendā were penned by Mick Jagger about the friendships within the Stones: āDonāt need a whore, donāt need no booze. Donāt need a virgin priest, but I need someone I can cry to. I need someone to protect.ā If youāre lucky, youāve got a friend that fits these lyrics, and you know full well that that friendship is one of the greatest loves of your life.
16. āMiss Youā – āSome Girlsā (1978)
ShareSome could argue that the Rolling Stones ā one of the greatest rock bands of all time ā are the keepers of one of the best disco songs of all time, too. Unlike Mick Jagger walking in Central Park and singing after dark, that thought isn't crazy. It might be the hookiest hook Mick and Keith ever wrote, truth be told.
15. āHappyā – āExile on Main St.ā (1972)
ShareThe most successful song from the Stones where Keith Richards sang lead vocals, āHappyā happened, according to Keef, ābecause I was for one time early for a [recording] session.ā Itās a good thing Richards was early that one time: āHappyā has become a significant part of the Stonesā setlist and has been played live by the band over 500 times, per Setlist.fm. On top of his vocals and guitar work, Richards pulled triple duty by playing bass, too.
14. āYou Canāt Always Get What You Wantā – āLet It Bleedā (1969)
ShareDespite how Dick and Berry from āHigh Fidelityā feel about this songās association with āThe Big Chill,ā āYou Canāt Always Get What You Wantā has remained one of the Rolling Stonesā biggest showstoppers for 50 years and for good reason. The ethereal sounds of the London Bach Choir provided a unique juxtaposition to the Rolling Stones closing out not only this album but the ā60s themselves, a decade that brought both profound change and pain. The ā70s were on the horizon, and while so much was uncertain, one thing that wasnāt was how somehow, weād all figure out how to get what we need.
13. āBeast of Burdenā – āSome Girlsā (1978)
ShareLetās just cut to the chase: āBeast of Burdenā is sexy as hell. Itās the perfect combination of lust, romance and general coolness, which is one of many ways to simply describe the Rolling Stones as a band. Itās a casual groove but itās in no way sloppy. It truly is rough enough, tough enough, rich enough and in love enough.
12. āItās Only Rock ān Roll (But I Like It)ā – āItās Only Rock ān Rollā (1974)
ShareIf the rock genre had some sort of keynote address, āItās Only Rock ān Roll (But I Like It)ā would likely be it, or at least be a firm contender. It has attitude for days, great guitars and a killer rhythm track. What more could you really want? Someone to stick a pen in their heart and spill it all over a stage?! People donāt choose rock and roll; it chooses them. This track understands that. And they like it. (Yes, they do!)
11. āWild Horsesā – āSticky Fingersā (1971)
ShareThe Rolling Stones have plenty of ballads in their quiver, but āWild Horsesā is the bandās best that hits your heartās bullseye every single time. How could it not? āNo sweeping exits or offstage lines/Could make me feel bitter or treat you unkind.ā Youād have to be a damn cyborg not to feel that!
10. āTumbling Diceā – āExile on Main St.ā (1972)
ShareThe lead/most commercially successful single from āExile,ā āTumbling Diceā is easily the coolest song that relies on gambling and love as metaphors. Mick Taylor is on bass here, with Mick Jagger picking up rhythm duties. (Keef, of course, is on lead.) Charlie Wattsās drumming is minimalist perfection. The track is put over the top thanks to the sublime backing vocals of Clydie King, Venetta Fields and Sherlie Matthews.
9. āMidnight Ramblerā – āGet Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! The Rolling Stones in Concertā (1970)
ShareEasily one of the best straight-forward blues tracks written by Jagger and Richards, āMidnight Ramblerā opens up side two of 'Let It Bleedā and serves as another example of Jagger being incredibly underrated on the harmonica. While the studio version is outstanding, the live version on āGet Yer Ya-Ya's Out!ā is pure blues jam heaven.
8. āBrown Sugarā – āSticky Fingersā (1971)
ShareLetās get this out of the way: Thereās no way in hell lyrics like this would fly today. Itās something Mick Jagger recognized in an interview with āRolling Stoneā published in 1995 where he said, āGod 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.ā Lyrical content aside, the track would become the Stonesā sixth number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 thanks in large part to its incredible groove. No wonder itās the song the band has played the second-most times in concert, which leads perfectly into...
7. āJumpinā Jack Flashā – āThrough the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)ā (1968)
ShareThe song the Rolling Stones have played the most live is āJumpinā Jack Flash.ā (Per Setlist.fm, theyāve played this absolute gem more than 1,100 times.) The track marked a welcome return to form following the very of-the-era āTheir Satanic Majesties Request.ā Not to say a band isnāt allowed to experiment with their sound, but blues-based Rolling Stones will always be superior to anything else they do. And if youāre looking for any further evidence, āJumpinā Jack Flashā has been covered by a bunch of other artists from Tina Turner to Aretha Franklin to Peter Frampton.
6. āHonky Tonk Womenā – āThrough the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)ā (1969)
ShareGod...bless...cowbell and producer Jimmy Millerās playing of the instrument that kicks off this classic tune. While weāre at it, bless the women that maybe inspired this song, too. (Particularly the one that blew Mick Jaggerās nose and then his mind. Thatās both thoughtful and...letās just say thorough.) While the song was born from more country influences as evident from āCountry Honkā featured on āLet It Bleed,ā āHonky Tonk Womenā is just leaps and bounds better and a testament of what can happen when you simply play around with a song idea.
5. āStreet Fighting Manā – āBeggars Banquetā (1968)
ShareInspired by various anti-war demonstrations that occurred around the world in 1968, āStreet Fighting Manā is the Rolling Stones at their most visceral. Despite being about protests in the ā60s, its message and attitude still apply to countless movements that have played out in streets the world over in the decades since its release. There is a timelessness to many Rolling Stones songs, but āStreet Fighting Manā might be the most universal track in their entire catalog. Props to Brian Jones for his sitar and tamboura work, which truly adds a unique layer and texture to an already potent track.
4. āStart Me Upā – āTattoo Youā (1981)
ShareOne second. Thatās all you need to pick out āStart Me Upā; by 0:01, you know exactly what youāre listening to. Itās one of the bandās most radio-friendly tunes in their entire catalog, perhaps the most radio-friendly. This fact is incredibly ironic considering they inexplicably snuck the lyric āYou make a dead man cumā past censors. Or at least that lyric wasnāt considered the scandal that āLetās Spend The Night Togetherā was 14 years prior. Regardless, what an iconic riff from Keith Richards!
3. āSympathy for the Devilā – āBeggars Banquetā (1968)
ShareāSympathy for the Devilā and its storytelling of tragic moments in history from the perspective of the devil never really gets enough credit for how clever it is. The Stones were criticized for their behavior and the content of their lyrics from pretty much the jump, but instead of complaining about their critics, they decided to hold a mirror at them instead. Sure, the song is playful in that very British wink-and-a-nod sort of way about Satan, but the way it turns the tables on a hypnotic wave of āwoo woosā is nothing short of brilliant.
2. ā(I Canāt Get No) Satisfactionā – āOut of Our Headsā (1965)
Shareā(I Canāt Get No) Satisfactionā is about as legendary as the story of how Keith Richards wrote the songās classic riff while still half-asleep. The preferred music of younger generations may have changed over time, but the frustrations are still pretty much the same. (Older generations are out of touch, everyone keeps telling me what to do, I canāt get laid, etc.) If you could pick just one thing ā(I Canāt Get No) Satisfactionā did really well ā which is admittedly an incredibly daunting task - it was establish an angst anthem blueprint for future younger artists to follow. Sure, there has been some evolution over the decades, but you can almost always find the root of those works in ā(I Canāt Get No) Satisfaction.ā
1. āGimme Shelterā – āLet It Bleedā (1969)
ShareMany things add up to āGimme Shelterā being the greatest Rolling Stones song ever. For starters, itās one of the greatest opening tracks ever and kicks off āLet It Bleedā in dramatic fashion. It also features the most iconic rock vocal solo ever thanks to Merry Claytonās fervent delivery. (Her voice breaking when she belts out the final line of āRape, Murderā will forever send chills up and down spines.) Perhaps most importantly is that āGimme Shelterā is somehow over 50 years later more relevant and poignant now than it was when first released. In an age when multiple mass shootings happen nearly every single week in the United States, a line like āItās just a shot awayā cuts remarkably deep, and itās difficult not to think of it with every piece of breaking news or memorial hashtag. āGimme Shelterā is a desperate plea for peace in the face of seemingly non-stop violence. Maybe one day, weāll find the love the song speaks of as it comes to a close.