WCSX Classic Cuts : It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It)
WCSX Classic Cuts
The Rolling Stones: “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It)”
The Hook: But we really like our new guitarist.
Album: It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll
Year: 1974
Writer: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
Stats: Peaked at number-16 on the Billboard Hot 100
The Background: “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll” is the title track of the final album that Stones guitarist Mick Taylor appears on as a member of the band. And while he appears in the video for it, he doesn’t play on it — that’s his future replacement, Ronnie Wood, on acoustic, while Keith Richards handles the electric. Wood is also said to have co-written it, though he never got credited for it. Mick Taylor gives his impression of the song.
Former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor on “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It)” OC:…rock ‘n roll song. :27
“I think Mick Jagger actually sat down and consciously said to himself, ‘I’m going to write a commercial rock ’n roll song,’ because I can actually remember him alluding to a couple of other bands that had hit singles out at the time with that kind of feel. Mick’s a bit like that, he thinks that way. He’s very conscious of what he feels has to be done. I think he really wanted to write a classic sort of rock and rock song. I always felt that that was a parody of a rock ’n roll song.”
