My Dream Set List for the Rolling Stones
After having finally seen the Rolling Stones live (a few months ago), I have not been able to stop thinking about what I would have them play if I could make up their set list. Not to sound ungrateful, but the concert I saw wasn’t chock-a-block with my favorite songs. There is only one song from that show that I carried over onto my dream list (Back of My Hand).
Actually, I started to make two lists, because I couldn’t decide between a blues show and a more mixed bag. But when I’d written out my lists, I realized that they were both only half a set. So I mixed them back together. As a set list, this is a real mess, but it’s pretend, so get over it.
You’ll note that there are a lot of covers on this list. I like hearing the Stones do covers. I think it makes them work harder. One of them is a song they have never, to my knowledge, covered, but a girl can dream.
If I made this list again next year, it would probably be different, but, hey, that’s listmaking for you. If this inspires someone to go listen to one of these songs, my job is done.
(All songs by Jagger/Richards unless otherwise noted)
The Set
Rip This Joint (Exile on Main St., 1971): The fastest tempo ever recorded by the Stones. Great opener.
I Just Want to Make Love to You: in the original recording, Mick practically blows out the speakers with his energy. He overpowered the recording equipment, which gave the song a sort of out-of-control sound. These days, they’ve slowed it down and taken it back to its blues roots. Which version do I want to hear? Both, of course! (Written by Willie Dixon)
Ain’t Too Proud to Beg (It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll, 1974): When the Stones do it, it’s hard to imagine its origins as a Motown girl-group number.
Heart of Glass (Blondie, Parallel Lines, 1981): The Stones have never actually covered this song, but I suggested it to tangleofthorns for her fantasy “Stones cover songs sung by women” playlist, and now I really want to hear them do it. (Written by D. Harry/C. Stein)
Emotional Rescue (Emotional Rescue,1980): This is the first Stones song that really impinged on my consciousness, although I’m sure I heard others before this. It played on the radio constantly the last summer I went to camp. I found it amusing to listen to then, and I still do. All that falsetto! And then Mick saying “I am your knight in shining armor, coming to your emotional rescue,” and talking about riding an Arab over the desert, all in his best “Ja loves ya, mon” Jamaican accent. Weird.
Factory Girl (Beggar’s Banquet, 1968): kind of an oddball song, which is probably why I like it. Dark Satanic Mills meets Appalachian rock.
The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man: A silly blues song. I like it when the boys take a brake from glowering and do something funny.
Sweet Home Chicago: I want to hear them cover this because, well, you know. Oh, and did I mention I want to see them perform my dream set in a bar in Chicago? (Written by Robert Johnson)
Little Red Rooster: One of the most famous blues covers the Stones have recorded. It’s amazing how well they could do the blues even when they were snotty young upstarts. I wonder who would do slide guitar duties with Brian Jones no longer around. His work on the original recording was among the most notable of his career. (Written by Willie Dixon)
Ventilator Blues (Exile on Main St., 1971): A nasty, dirty groove. The underside of humanity.
Love in Vain (Stripped, 1995): Great blues number, beautifil guitar work by Keith. I can’t listen to this without thinking about arpeggios. Those of you who have heard the album will know why. (I think this was adapted from an old blues song; the credits on the album say “Adaptation and new lyrics by Jagger/Richards. Update: the song is by Robert Johnson.)
Back of My Hand (A Bigger Bang, 2005): Proof that the boys can still write a top-notch song. This one stands up with their best. Sounds like a cover of a very old blues song, except the old blues singers wouldn’t write a line like “I’ve seen Goya’s/ paranoias.”
Let’s Spend the Night Together: This is a very cliché Stones song, and not really one of my favorites. So why am I including it here? Because I want to hear Mick and David Bowie sing this together. Bowie recorded a version of it on Aladdin Sane that blew me away, and I’d like to see Mick and Dave sing together. So sue me.
Stray Cat Blues (Beggar’s Banquet, 1968): An absolutely filthy song. What I find intriguing is that the music sounds at least as raunchy as the lyrics. I’ve heard a live version of this that I thought was awful (from Get Yer Ya-Yas Out), so they’re not allowed to do it that way for my dream set.
Under Cover of the Night (Undercover, 1983): Just because I like this song. Probably due to Keith’s amusing turn as a secret policeman/badass in the video. It’s also musically off their beaten track, and these days their beaten track is pretty beaten, so I like to avoid it.
Fingerprint File (It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll, 1974): Moody, atmospheric, paranoid; what’s not to like?
A Blues Jam: As long as I’m dreaming, I’d like to hear the band just jam for a bit.
Thru and Thru (Stones Rarities, 2005): Keith gets two songs each show. I like Slipping Away and This Place is Empty too, but I picked this one this time around. All are songs of quiet longing, and they all seem to relate to the relationship between Mick and Keef.
Happy (Exile on Main St., 1971): ‘Cause I want to hear Keith do this one live at least once.
Good Times, Bad Times: An early song that foreshadows Back of My Hand somewhat.
Harlem Shuffle (Dirty Work, 1986): Just ‘cause I like it. (Written by Relf/Nelson)
No Expectations (Beggar’s Banquet, 1968): A very intellectual song for the Stones. They must have been channeling Dylan.
Laugh, I Nearly Died (A Bigger Bang, 2005): This is one of those ballads that sounds schmaltzy at first, but can have a powerful impact if given an emotionally true performance. It’s hard to do something like this without distancing or irony or tongue-in-cheek smarminess. These songs are invariably better live, where the emotion comes across better. So I’d like to see Mick sing this one.
It’s All Over Now: The first single featuring the Stones’ famous guitar weaving. (Written by Bob Womack/Shirley Womack)
Encore:
Loving Cup (Exile on Main St., 1971): This is among my all time favorite songs. It is probably one of the most emotionally warm (as opposed to hot or cold) songs that they have ever written. When Mick sings “What a beautiful buzz,” I actually get a sympathy buzz. A nice song to send us all home.
Actually, I started to make two lists, because I couldn’t decide between a blues show and a more mixed bag. But when I’d written out my lists, I realized that they were both only half a set. So I mixed them back together. As a set list, this is a real mess, but it’s pretend, so get over it.
You’ll note that there are a lot of covers on this list. I like hearing the Stones do covers. I think it makes them work harder. One of them is a song they have never, to my knowledge, covered, but a girl can dream.
If I made this list again next year, it would probably be different, but, hey, that’s listmaking for you. If this inspires someone to go listen to one of these songs, my job is done.
(All songs by Jagger/Richards unless otherwise noted)
The Set
Rip This Joint (Exile on Main St., 1971): The fastest tempo ever recorded by the Stones. Great opener.
I Just Want to Make Love to You: in the original recording, Mick practically blows out the speakers with his energy. He overpowered the recording equipment, which gave the song a sort of out-of-control sound. These days, they’ve slowed it down and taken it back to its blues roots. Which version do I want to hear? Both, of course! (Written by Willie Dixon)
Ain’t Too Proud to Beg (It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll, 1974): When the Stones do it, it’s hard to imagine its origins as a Motown girl-group number.
Heart of Glass (Blondie, Parallel Lines, 1981): The Stones have never actually covered this song, but I suggested it to tangleofthorns for her fantasy “Stones cover songs sung by women” playlist, and now I really want to hear them do it. (Written by D. Harry/C. Stein)
Emotional Rescue (Emotional Rescue,1980): This is the first Stones song that really impinged on my consciousness, although I’m sure I heard others before this. It played on the radio constantly the last summer I went to camp. I found it amusing to listen to then, and I still do. All that falsetto! And then Mick saying “I am your knight in shining armor, coming to your emotional rescue,” and talking about riding an Arab over the desert, all in his best “Ja loves ya, mon” Jamaican accent. Weird.
Factory Girl (Beggar’s Banquet, 1968): kind of an oddball song, which is probably why I like it. Dark Satanic Mills meets Appalachian rock.
The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man: A silly blues song. I like it when the boys take a brake from glowering and do something funny.
Sweet Home Chicago: I want to hear them cover this because, well, you know. Oh, and did I mention I want to see them perform my dream set in a bar in Chicago? (Written by Robert Johnson)
Little Red Rooster: One of the most famous blues covers the Stones have recorded. It’s amazing how well they could do the blues even when they were snotty young upstarts. I wonder who would do slide guitar duties with Brian Jones no longer around. His work on the original recording was among the most notable of his career. (Written by Willie Dixon)
Ventilator Blues (Exile on Main St., 1971): A nasty, dirty groove. The underside of humanity.
Love in Vain (Stripped, 1995): Great blues number, beautifil guitar work by Keith. I can’t listen to this without thinking about arpeggios. Those of you who have heard the album will know why. (I think this was adapted from an old blues song; the credits on the album say “Adaptation and new lyrics by Jagger/Richards. Update: the song is by Robert Johnson.)
Back of My Hand (A Bigger Bang, 2005): Proof that the boys can still write a top-notch song. This one stands up with their best. Sounds like a cover of a very old blues song, except the old blues singers wouldn’t write a line like “I’ve seen Goya’s/ paranoias.”
Let’s Spend the Night Together: This is a very cliché Stones song, and not really one of my favorites. So why am I including it here? Because I want to hear Mick and David Bowie sing this together. Bowie recorded a version of it on Aladdin Sane that blew me away, and I’d like to see Mick and Dave sing together. So sue me.
Stray Cat Blues (Beggar’s Banquet, 1968): An absolutely filthy song. What I find intriguing is that the music sounds at least as raunchy as the lyrics. I’ve heard a live version of this that I thought was awful (from Get Yer Ya-Yas Out), so they’re not allowed to do it that way for my dream set.
Under Cover of the Night (Undercover, 1983): Just because I like this song. Probably due to Keith’s amusing turn as a secret policeman/badass in the video. It’s also musically off their beaten track, and these days their beaten track is pretty beaten, so I like to avoid it.
Fingerprint File (It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll, 1974): Moody, atmospheric, paranoid; what’s not to like?
A Blues Jam: As long as I’m dreaming, I’d like to hear the band just jam for a bit.
Thru and Thru (Stones Rarities, 2005): Keith gets two songs each show. I like Slipping Away and This Place is Empty too, but I picked this one this time around. All are songs of quiet longing, and they all seem to relate to the relationship between Mick and Keef.
Happy (Exile on Main St., 1971): ‘Cause I want to hear Keith do this one live at least once.
Good Times, Bad Times: An early song that foreshadows Back of My Hand somewhat.
Harlem Shuffle (Dirty Work, 1986): Just ‘cause I like it. (Written by Relf/Nelson)
No Expectations (Beggar’s Banquet, 1968): A very intellectual song for the Stones. They must have been channeling Dylan.
Laugh, I Nearly Died (A Bigger Bang, 2005): This is one of those ballads that sounds schmaltzy at first, but can have a powerful impact if given an emotionally true performance. It’s hard to do something like this without distancing or irony or tongue-in-cheek smarminess. These songs are invariably better live, where the emotion comes across better. So I’d like to see Mick sing this one.
It’s All Over Now: The first single featuring the Stones’ famous guitar weaving. (Written by Bob Womack/Shirley Womack)
Encore:
Loving Cup (Exile on Main St., 1971): This is among my all time favorite songs. It is probably one of the most emotionally warm (as opposed to hot or cold) songs that they have ever written. When Mick sings “What a beautiful buzz,” I actually get a sympathy buzz. A nice song to send us all home.