The History of Collaborations Between The Beatles and The Rolling Stones

It’s our fault. Human beings love rivalry stories – even invented ones. This is why it was believed for so long that Beatles It is Rolling Stones feuded throughout the 1960s, during which time both bands broke out.

More evidence that there is no animosity between the parties involved in the rumor was presented last Wednesday (22), with confirmation that Paul McCartney will participate in the new album of stones. Still without title or release date, the album should be available in 2023. The magazine Variety found out that the drummer Ringo Starr also recorded a collaboration, but a spokesperson for the group said he had no information in that regard.

Such a rivalry may, perhaps, have existed only on the charts. Beatles It is Rolling Stones competed for every inch of space once they became the biggest bands in the world in the 1960s. A healthy competition.

But since the groups were started, their stories intersect with collaborations and shows of respect. Okay, every now and then there’s a pinprick – like Paul McCartney recently defining the stones as a “blues cover band” – but generally the relationship is amicable. Check out some highlights of this cross trajectory below.

1) Being the guys man

Rolling Stones were created in the city of London in 1962, two years after the founding of the Beatles. In May of the following year, they signed with businessman Andrew Loog Oldhamindicated by the Fab Four from Liverpool. The following month, they released their first single: “come on”, a cover of Chuck Berry which peaked at No. 21 on the UK chart and served to offer exposure to the then fledgling group.

It didn’t take long until the second compact of the Rolling Stones was disclosed:I Wanna Be Your Man”, a composition of… John Lennon It is Paul McCartney. The track, which reached 13th place in the national ranking, was offered as a gift to the fellow group. Beatles also recorded their own version of the song, included on the album With the Beatles. Both the disk Fab Four as for the single stones hit the market in November 1963.

Although it was a staple in the repertoires of the group’s first shows, Mick Jagger (voice) and Keith Richards (guitar) between 1963 and 1964, “I Wanna Be Your Man” lost space in the repertoires as the career developed. After all, it wasn’t long before they began composing their own songs. In 2012, the track was rescued on three special occasions – something that happened again in 2022, on the first performance of stones in Liverpool since 1971.

2) Drumming in the submarine

Over the years, Beatles It is Rolling Stones dominated the charts in the UK and several other countries. They became world phenomena. They were so aware of each other’s potentials that they even arranged release dates for their albums so they wouldn’t get in the way or start a public competition in the charts of success.

In 1966, their stories intersected again in the studio with the participation of Brian Jonesguitarist of stonesIn the song “yellow submarine”, released by Beatles in the album Revolver and as the single’s “double A-side” which also contained “Eleanor Rigby”. The musician who died in 1969 – who would collaborate with the Fab Four in the future – collaborated by tapping glasses to the rhythm of the song.

3) We love you!

With a symbolic title, the song “We Love You”, released by Rolling Stones as a single in August 1967, it features backing vocals from none other than Paul McCartney It is John Lennon. But calm down: the “we love you” that stamps the song is not directed at the duo Beatle.

The composition of Mick Jagger It is Keith Richards it was a way of repaying the fans’ support after both were arrested on drug charges in February of that year. By the way, the popular appeal was fundamental for the sentence of six months and one year attributed to Jagger It is Richards, respectively, were not applied. The singer’s sentence, caught with methamphetamine, was mitigated; the guitarist’s, who had been accused of providing his home for the singer and other people to consume drugs, was annulled.

4) The rock and roll circus

In 1968, the Rolling Stones embraced the filmmaker’s idea Michael Lindsay-Hogg promoting a “rock and roll circus” and recording for later release. Thus was born the musical film rock and roll circusrecorded live on the 11th and 12th of December and with a series of participations.

Of course, at least some of the Beatles would be involved, but not just them: bands like Jethro Tull (at the time with Tony Iommi – in the future black Sabbath – on guitar) and The Who collaborated, as well as musicians of the caliber of Eric Clapton (at the time in cream), Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix Experience), Taj Mahal It is Marianne Faithfull. Of Fab Fourhe came John Lennonwhich also brought the then bride Yoko Ono.

Lennon, Yoko, Clapton It is Mitchell composed a supergroup named The DirtyMac, also featuring Keith Richards on bass. Together they played the song “yer blues“, of the Beatlesand did an improvisation called “Whole Lotta Yoko”.

5) Do you know my name?

Released as part of the last single from Beatles on a world scale, in March 1970, “You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)” brings a posthumous participation of Brian Jones, who drowned in July of the previous year. The recordings took place in 1967 and brought the member of Rolling Stones playing saxophone.

The track did not make it onto any of the band’s studio albums. Fab Four from Liverpool. It occupied only the B side of the single “let it be”. Mal Evans, road manager and personal assistant to the musicians, he also participated with sound effects by recording himself digging gravel with a shovel. Totally according to the experimental vibe of the work.

6) Other situations

The stories of members of Beatles It is Rolling Stones intersected in other, more timid ways, in situations that were not mentioned above. One of them took place in 1973, when Mick Jagger recorded “Too Many Cooks (Spoil the Soup)”, creation of the team of composers Holland–Dozier–Hollandunder production John Lennon. The track remained unreleased for 34 years, until it was made available on the solo compilation The Very Best of Mick Jagger. legends like Harry Nilsson, Jack Bruce, Al Kooper, Jesse Ed Davis It is Jim Keltner attended the session.

Back in 1967, the Beatles released the songBaby, You’re a Rich Man“as the single’s B-side”All You Need is Love” (whose live version brought Jagger among the backup singers). There are those who say that “Baby…” also bring backing vocals in Micksince the name of Rolling Stone appears on a session tape box. However, he was not officially credited for the collaboration.

The trajectories even met on album covers. In Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), one of several characters on the album’s front artwork (more specifically on the right) is wearing the “welcome the rolling stones”. To return the tribute, stones inserted in Their Satanic Majestic Request (also 1967) footage of the four Beatles, almost like one easter egg so discreet.