# Your favorite obscure Rolling Stones songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [June 12, 2022, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054 "2022-06-12T00:49:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2022, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/21 "2022-06-12T15:51:04Z")
Heck, for what it’s worth, I’ll throw in a third track from Sticky Fingers. Besides drugs (almost all tracks are somehow about drugs), the album’s main theme is world-weariness, best expressed in “Sway”, also rarely played. It has my favorite Mick Taylor guitar solo (he has two solos, the second is almost transcendental). [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wk0crTGCwfE/hqdefault.jpg "The Rolling Stones - Sway (Lyrics)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk0crTGCwfE) ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2022, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/22 "2022-06-12T15:58:19Z")
2 come to mind. 2000 Light Years From Home, the Stones going psychedelic for the first time. And Dandelion brings back memories of a summer romance I had while in high school. Once while DJing a small wedding reception, an older gentlemen asked me if I could play some country music, he was tired of the rock and roll. I played the closest thing I had to country, Far Away Eyes, the Stones foray into country music. He had never heard the song before and thought it was done by one of the greats of country music. Never told him it was done by a rock band from England. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2022, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/23 "2022-06-12T16:02:24Z")
I’ve read somewhere that despite Mick’s and Keith’s deep love for country music, they could never write a country song that wasn’t some kind of parody. It’s true if you think about it, certainly for “Far Away Eyes”, but also for “Dead Flowers”, “Dear Doctor” and “Sweet Virginia”. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2022, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/24 "2022-06-12T16:05:56Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > 2 come to mind 2 of my favorites. In fact, once I mention “Little T & A”, all 5 of my favorites have been mentioned in this thread! (Knocking is last one) ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2022, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/25 "2022-06-12T17:21:09Z")
i Am Waiting. One from their “Lady Jane” stylebook, sort of like a folk song, but with rough edges. It gets stuck in your brain after a couple of listens. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YJnMgZ1zSIU/maxresdefault.jpg "I Am Waiting (Mono)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJnMgZ1zSIU) ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2022, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/26 "2022-06-12T17:38:39Z")
Did the Stones decide to start playing “Out of Time” recently because it was prominently featured in _Once Upon a Time in Hollywood?_ Or is that just a coincidence? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2022, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/27 "2022-06-12T17:44:37Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > If I go by their concert setlist “She’s a Rainbow” at #144 would be my pick. Although I think a lot of Gen X would know the song due to its use in all those Apple commercials in the late 1990s. ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2022, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/28 "2022-06-12T18:11:36Z")
For a little bit of fun: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/lP_TmSqwXps/maxresdefault.jpg "Star Star (Remastered)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP_TmSqwXps) I just realized this thread is basically creating the ultimate Martin Scorsese soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2022, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/29 "2022-06-12T18:12:48Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > It’s true if you think about it, certainly for “Far Away Eyes”, but also for “Dead Flowers”, “Dear Doctor” and “Sweet Virginia”. I never really saw “Sweet Virginia” as a parody; to me, it comes across pretty straightforward. Same thing with “Dead Flowers”; the Townes Van Zandt cover version especially. Admittedly, there is a lot of humor in classic country music. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2022, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/30 "2022-06-12T18:18:06Z")
> [@SwissMan](#): > > I never really saw “Sweet Virginia” as a parody; to me, it comes across pretty straightforward. Same thing with “Dead Flowers”; the Townes Van Zandt cover version especially. Yeah, maybe parody is not the right word, but corporate country songs usually don’t cover themes like “Dead Flowers” and “Sweet Virginia” (hard drugs, that is). By the way, I was lucky enough to have seen Townes perform “Dead Flowers”. “Sticky Fingers” was his favorite album, just like mine. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/31 "2022-06-13T14:40:02Z")
I’ve always loved [“Factory Girl”](https://youtu.be/3hzlCHl7PWc) from _Beggars Banquet,_ ever since I first heard it in 1968. Interesting factoid: the fiddle solo is by Rick Grech, who played bass for the group Family at the time, and went on to be the bassist for Blind Faith. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/32 "2022-06-13T16:03:20Z")
The Stones’ 1963 cover of Bo Diddley’s “Road Runner” has been one of my favorite records since I came across it on a French import around 1980. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_M_ZIsADngQ/hqdefault.jpg "The Rolling Stones Road Runner") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M_ZIsADngQ) ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/33 "2022-06-13T16:16:43Z")
> [@SwissMan](#): > > Same thing with “Dead Flowers”; the Townes Van Zandt cover version especially. The Cowboy Junkies also did a terrific cover version of that song. I don’t think it’s on a studio record, maybe a live album or an EP? The first time I saw them in concert, way back on the Trinity Session tour, they performed it. As for the OT, I really like a couple of their more recent (well…since the 90s) tracks, “Jump on Top of Me” and “Don’t Stop.” The latter was one of the new tracks added to a career-spanning compilation to get folks who already had the other zillion songs on the disc to buy 'em again, but cynicism aside, it’s a gloriously wistful song, with a kickass guitar solo. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/34 "2022-06-13T16:22:17Z")
Two of my favorites appear back-to-back on their _More Hot Rocks_ compilation: “Child of the Moon” and “No Expectations.” The aforementioned “She’s a Rainbow” is another favorite that appears in that compilation. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/35 "2022-06-13T16:53:23Z")
I’ll add two that haven’t been mentioned yet. From the 60s: 2000 Man from Their Satanic Majesties Request From the 70s: Sister Morphine from Sticky Fingers (Does any other decade matter?) ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/36 "2022-06-13T18:10:50Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Heck, for what it’s worth, I’ll throw in a third track from Sticky Fingers. Besides drugs (almost all tracks are somehow about drugs), the album’s main theme is world-weariness, best expressed in “Sway”, also rarely played. It has my favorite Mick Taylor guitar solo (he has two solos, the second is almost transcendental). My favorite obscure is also from Sticky Fingers (possibly the best classic rock album of all time) – **I Got The Blues** (with one of the best organ solos ever. As a matter of fact, the album is full of great work by musicians who weren’t technically members of the band – sax, organ, horns…). Can’t You Hear Me Knocking, Sway, Bitch, Moonlight Mile…a masterpiece. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/37 "2022-06-13T18:40:43Z")
Another vote for _Moonlight Mile_. I like _Dead Flowers_ best but I consider it not too obscure to count here. Esp. given the number of covers. BTW: Best cover is by [The New Riders of the Purple Sage.](https://youtu.be/N39zST0CIE8?t=1449) ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/38 "2022-06-13T20:09:12Z")
“Memory Motel” is another great one. They released a video from the No Security live album featuring Dave Matthews duetting with Jagger on the track, and only later did I hear the version on Black & Blue. What a gorgeous melody. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/39 "2022-06-13T22:07:38Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > Interesting factoid: the fiddle solo is by Rick Grech, I thought it was Byron Berline? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054/40 "2022-06-13T22:12:32Z")
My copy of “The Rolling Stones: All The Songs” says it was Ric Grech. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-obscure-rolling-stones-songs/966054.md?page=3)