Review of Foreign Tongues, by the Rolling Stones

As the story goes, in 1964, inspired by the lucrative Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership, Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham locked Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in a room and forced them to write an original song. The result was “As Tears Go By” — and, more importantly, the beginning of one of the most enduring and successful songwriting partnerships in popular music history.

In their earliest days, the Rolling Stones, born out of American R&B influences such as Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, and Howlin’ Wolf, were still penning rough originals such as “Little by Little” (1964), released as the B-side to their cover of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.” Yet by early 1965, they were writing songs such as “Play with Fire,” a dark, acoustic folk-pop track featuring a harpsichord, which represented a glaring departure from their roots. Even “The Last Time,” inspired by the gospel song “This May Be the Last Time,” bears little resemblance to the Staple Singers’ recording.

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About the Author

Harry Khachatrian

Harry Khachatrian is a film critic at the Washington Examiner and writes about wine at BetweenBottles.com.

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As the story goes, in 1964, inspired by the lucrative Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership, Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham locked Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in a room and forced them to write an original song. The result was “As Tears Go By” — and, more importantly, the beginning of one of the most enduring and successful songwriting partnerships in popular music history.

In their earliest days, the Rolling Stones, born out of American R&B influences such as Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, and Howlin’ Wolf, were still penning rough originals such as “Little by Little” (1964), released as the B-side to their cover of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.” Yet by early 1965, they were writing songs such as “Play with Fire,” a dark, acoustic folk-pop track featuring a harpsichord, which represented a glaring departure from their roots. Even “The Last Time,” inspired by the gospel song “This May Be the Last Time,” bears little resemblance to the Staple Singers’ recording.