By any metric, the British-born singer Mick Jagger of the blues-rock band The Rolling Stones is one of the best known and most recognizable artists in popular music. And he has been for some 50 years. And along the way, Jagger has shared his musical gifts not only with audiences but with other musicians, writing songs for other performers.
Here below, we wanted to explore three such examples. A trio of tracks that Jagger helped pen and bring to life but did not originally present to audiences at first. Indeed, these are three hit songs written but not originally performed by Mick Jagger.
“As Tears Go By” by Marianne Faithfull (Single, 1964)
This standalone single from 1964 by Marianne Faithfull was written by a triumvirate from The Rolling Stones, including guitarist Keith Richards, manager Andrew Loog Oldham and frontman Mick Jagger. And Faithfull’s version of the song hit No. 1 on the UK Singles chart. Later, The Rolling Stones cut their own rendition of the song for their 1965 LP December’s Children (And Everybody’s). And on the track, which is all about the singer’s longing for youth and newness, Faithfull sings,
It is the evening of the day
I sit and watch the children play
Smiling faces I can see
But not for me
I sit and watch as tears go by
My riches can’t buy everything
I want to hear the children sing
All I hear is the sound
Of rain falling on the ground
I sit and watch as tears go by
“Disease” by Matchbox Twenty from More Than You Think You Are (2002)
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there were few names in popular music hotter than Rob Thomas. As such, he was asked to co-write with many of the greats. And on one occasion, he co-wrote with Jagger for the artist’s 2001 solo album Goddess in the Doorway. Thomas sent Jagger two song options, including “Disease,” but Jagger sent the tune back with his own additions and said Thomas should keep it, adding, “It sounds like you. It’s your song.” So, Thomas kept the co-write for his band Matchbox Twenty. And on the breakup track, he sings,
Feels like you made a mistake
You made somebody’s heart break
But now I have to let you pay
I have to let you go
You left a stain
On every one of my good days
But I am stronger than you know
I have to let you go
“That Girl Belongs to Yesterday” by Gene Pitney (1964)
This song, which hit No. 7 on the UK Singles chart in 1964, was another written by both Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards. In fact, it was the first song written by the two to become a Top-10 hit in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the tune hit No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100, which was actually low for Gene Pitney, who had enjoyed a string of seven Top-40 hits until then. And on the number, the Hartford, Connecticut-born Pitney sings of heartbreak, offering,
Last night I needed you so bad
I was alone and feeling sad
But now that I recall
You left me after all
The only girl I’ve ever had
I never ever made you cry
No, no I didn’t even try
You promised you’d be true
You said you loved me too
My only girl told me a lie
And maybe there’ll come a day
When I can smile and say
She used to be my girl
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