Question of the Week: What’s your favorite Rolling Stones song of all-time?

Local Spins’ Question of the Week (Aug. 26, 2021)

What’s your favorite Rolling Stones song of all-time?

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THE READER RESPONSES:

Paul Brewer – Charlie’s groove on “Honky Tonk Women” is so soulful and strong that I almost can’t take it. What is my favorite song by the Rolling Stones and why? My answer: Any song where Charlie sets and holds the groove. Now that he’s gone, The Rolling Stones are gone, too, in my opnion.

Drew Howard – My heroes are dying.

Brandon Simmons – Agreed on “Gimme Shelter.” Such a classic rhythm and arrangement. I like “Hang Fire” too, great upbeat song.

Greg S. Lewis – “Sympathy for the Devil.” Great lyrics by mick, but Keith’s bass lick with Charlie’s beat is a killer for me.

Dean Madonia – “Sympathy”

Josh Rose – My fave is “Far Away Eyes.” Love how bored Charlie is in the video. HAHA. The lyrics should be updated with more inclusive language, but it’s an amazing song.

James R. Murphy Jr. – I remember being out on a boat, just a small craft, with several people, transistor radio, playing loudly, “Satisfaction” while we all sing along with the “I can’t get no” part. It’s the summer of ’65, I’m nine years old. A lot of their songs remind me of summer. “Paint it, Black” came out in summer, as did “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Honky Tonk Women.” Their early singles remind me of summer, their albums remind me of winter. I’ve covered so many of their songs throughout the years, probably 20 or more. My all time, must play it loud favorite, though, is always “Gimme Shelter.” Turn it up. Louder than that. Louder.

Brent Godfrey – My favorite Rolling Stones song of all-time is “Wild Horses.”

Don Clapham — “Gimme Shelter” from the album “Let it Bleed.” From Richard’s opening riff to Merry Clayton’s iconic backing vocals, this anti-war, protest song mesmerizes me every time I hear it.

Angie Chase – “Angie”! Just a bit partial to that one.

Timmy Rodriguez – “Midnight Rambler.” The chaotic middle breakdown hooked me immediately and cemented my love for “Let it Bleed”. The drums are my favorite part of that song.

Lisa Oldham – My fav Rolling Stones song: “She’s a Rainbow”!

Matthew Farage – I liked a song of theirs called “Sweet Virginia.” It had more of a country sound going for it. As did “Dead Flowers.”

Andrew Ogrodzinski – So many great songs. Tough question. I like this cover version: Johnny Winter doing “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.”

Brian Haik – Impossible to pick 1 song. Favorite album is “Exile On Main Street,” followed by “Sticky Fingers.”

John Sinkevics – In my view, it’s hard to beat “Gimme Shelter” or “Wild Horses” — brilliantly written and arranged — but there are SO many terrific tracks to choose from there’s no wrong answer.

Steve Middendorp – Can’t pick just one. “Gimme Shelter” – the intro guitar leads, the groove and back up singing get me amped up everytime I hear it with no exception. “Sweet Virginia” – Love the harmonica/guitar fills, and the sweet, folky vocal melody makes me want to sing with Jagger everytime I hear it. My Dad might’ve agreed with you on “Wild Horses,” which I love too, but too slow to match my mood most of the time

AJ Dunning – Hard task, but have to say “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,” one of many Stones tracks that showcase all the elements that made them great. Solid/loose rhythm section, great vocal performance, and that guitar riff.

Rick Wylie – “Sympathy for the Devil.”

David Burns – That’s like asking which kid is your favorite?

Quinn Baldry – “Paint it Black.” That opening is so on point.

Andrew Millard – “Sympathy of the Devil” has long been my theme song. But “Gimme Shelter” works almost as well.

Mike Dodge – Tough one, seems like they had four or more eras in their style. I’m not sure I can even answer the question. I still listen to them all the time, just the other day I was thinking the song that might sum them up the best is “Rocks Off.” It’s got all the great elements of all the great Stones rockers: great opening riff, dirty street lyrics, heavy shift in the bridge, great hook at the end, Charlie’s playing back on the beat and then driving the beat, the horn section, great fade out guitar lines. Still, is it my favorite: It’s up there with so many more.

Lee Chase – “Tumbling Dice.” I love how the guitars combined with Charlie’s pulse make the song’s tension suspend and stretch yet still nail the song down tight. The way Charlie and the band pick it up again after several “got to roll mes” floors me every time.

Stew Robinson – “Angie,” “Miss You” and “Sympathy For The Devil.” Mostly 70s stuff. Along with The Who were about to keep it going thru the 70s and rocked it.

Frank Tobin – “2000 Light Years from Home/” Lush, trippy, edgy, with a vicious guitar break to remind us that this is, after all, the world’s greatest rock and roll band…. love

Rich Emerson – “Lies.” Had the 8-track of that album and played it over and over as a young teenager.

Pam Olsen Vaillancourt – “Wild Horses,” the emotion in it. (Also, “Out of Tears,” for the same reason.) Decades apart, but actual feeling there when normally I don’t pick up much of that in their songs.

James Koelzer – The one that I am listening to.

Matt Nelson – “Can’t Always Get What You Want.”

John Nowak – “Tumblin Dice.” The laid-back groove on “Exile” is so fresh in the catalogue!! My favorite album by far.

Max L L Lockwood = John Nowak same! Had “Tumblin Dice” on repeat this week. “Can’t You Hear Mme Knockin” is up there, too.

Trina Dunning – So hard to pin down, but just about anything with Mick Taylor is excellent.

Bill Van Ess – “Brown Sugar,” it defines the Stones for me.

Jim Plasman – “She’s So Cold.” It was always fun skiing to that song at Cannonsburg.

Chris Jane – The opening to “Honky Tonk Women”

Brian Ferriby – The Rolling Stones, “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking”

Paul J Haagsman – Brian Ferriby: I agree with you on this one. The song was such an audio delight when I first heard it on “Sticky Fingers.” Truly a great musical change up for the Stones and an ongoing musical treasure.

Chad Michael Wedeven – Gun to my head: “We Love You.” Opened their brief psychedelic phase, great tune, great beat, John and Paul on harmonies.

Martin Marino – “Rock and a Hard Place.”

Steve Damstra – “Honky Tonk Women” or “Jumping Jack Flash” is what makes me think of the Stones!

Timmy Lee Vandyke – It’s almost impossible for me to pick, it depends on my mood. “Monkey Man” is one, “Tumbling Dice,” “Can’t You Hear Me Knockin,” but I listen to them all, they have always been a big influence on me..

John Loader – I’m a huge fan of “Sticky Fingers,” I’d have to go with “Wild Horses.”

Michelle Blanchard – “Gimme Shelter.” Reminds me of times gone by ….

Kim Masters – “Gimme Shelter.” Great song, but Merry Clayton’s backup vocals puts it on top!

Michael J Vizard – When I was 16 and got my first apartment with two other guys and we pooled our money to buy stuff (food, plates silverware etc..) We also each bought 1 45 rpm each and my pick (even though I’ve always been a Beatle fan…) was ‘Let’s Spend the Night Together.”

Daniel P Hudelson – “Paint It, Black.” Has an otherworldly vibe. Conveys deep loss. Unique for its time in 1966. Includes the Brian Jones flavour.

Andrew Weaver – Gotta be “Gimme Shelter.” Mostly because of the guitar effect that sounds like a horn. Also a big fan of “Tumbling Dice.”

Mary Ellen Murphy – “She’s a Rainbow,” because it’s brilliant. “Jigsaw Puzzle” because it’s even more brilliant.

Shane Tripp – My favorite is “Time Waits for No One.” I think it’s their most beautiful song, and Mick Taylor’s guitar solo makes me feel fuzzy inside.

Thomas Leonard Saxe – Shane Tripp: I am with you. It’s the Stones at their musical peak and Mick’s lyrics are as profound as he ever was.

Daniel W Dawe – It’s a very tough choice, but “Wild Horses” for me. Teri and I danced to this song in 1976 at our high school homecoming. A couple years later we saw them together at Folsom Field on the Some Girls tour, my favorite all time concert.

Bruce E. Matthews – “Monkey Man”

Ernie Clark – “Honky Tonk Women.” Charlie sets the groove for the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band of all time’s detour through the country.

Ned Rouse – “Ruby Tuesday.”

Dave Adams – “Monkey Man.” The piano intro and build up is great and I love the guitar riff. Mick is at the top of his game. A close second and third are “Gimme Shelter” and “Sympathy for the Devil.”

Scott Stefanski – Boy, tough one indeed. Toss up with “Brown Sugar,” “Bitch,” “Ruby Tuesday,” or “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking.” If pressed, I guess I’d go with “Waiting On A Friend,” that one gets me in the feels.

Paul Wyatt – Next to impossible. “Shine a Light.”

Cheryl Sundberg – My favorite is…whichever song I am listening to in the moment!

Lee Chase – “Tumbling Dice.” I love how the guitars combined with Charlie’s pulse make the song’s tension suspend and stretch yet still nail the song down tight. The way Charlie and the band pick it up again after several “got to roll mes” floors me every time.

Mark DeWitt – “Gimme Shelter” or “Shattered.” Tough to decide.

Scott Steiner – Just one, hmm. “Live With Me” or maybe “Under my Thumb” or .. .too hard to pick one.
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Chad Stanton – “Time Waits For No One.” Keyboard and guitar and drums of the highest order! It’s mesmerizing.

Roger Kintner – This is way too tough. I’m going with “Sympathy For The Devil”. Mr. Watts carries this song from the get-go.

Deb Roelofs – “Cry To Me,” “Midnight Rambler.”

Jack Leaver – I don’t believe I can answer that one. My favorite ballads are: “No Expectations,” “Wild Horses” and “Coming Down Again.”

Thomas Hanley – “Start me up.”

Mark Sellers – “Can’t You Hear Me Knockin,” “Waiting On A Friend” and then there are 20-30 others that are tied for a very close second.

Joshua Burge – “Can’t You Heaer Me Knokin’” was the first song I listened to after hearing of his passing.

Rick Slachta – “Stray Cat Blues” from “Beggars Banquet” has been a longtime favorite.

Hugo Claudin – The Rolling Stones, “Sympathy For The Devil.” The beginning percussion …

Steve Talaga – “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” I first heard it at a fun college party and it will always bring with it an air of nostalgia for me.

John Barnes – “Street Fighting Man.” Because it’s eternal.

Jon Miner – “Miss You.” It was that period of my life.

Jason Roseboom – “Gimme Shelter” is probably my favorite song….by any band. Love “Salt of the Earth” too.

Pete Kehoe – “Dead Flowers.” One of my all-time faves. So many great country influenced tunes from the Stones, but the Graham Parsons influenced tunes were my favorite. Great era in their melding of so many American styles. They just ate it all at the banquet and out came soooo many great things. A great analogy for American music itself: We ate it all, and out came everything, but differently and wonderfully. Had the Beatles enjoyed 50-plus years together, I’m sure they would have accomplished as much if not more. Not denigrating the Beatles at ALL

Mitch Mileski – “My Connection”

Dave Stanton – My latest go to is “Child Of The Moon.”

James S. Gemmell – “Cherry oh Baby” off the “Black & Blue” album.

Tricia Boot – “Loving Cup” is so good, and so underrated. “Time is On My Side” another great one.

Jerry Davis – “Satisfaction.” It brings back youthful memories and images, and a smile. You hear the guitar line now as you read this.

Terry Johnston – “Honky Tonk Women.” The first taste of that Richards-Taylor twin-guitar talents.

Allen Slowik – There is not one I don’t like. There are too many to pick one. Even to pick one album would be very difficult but as a youngster I was

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