Brown Sugar ( the Rolling Stones song ) - wikipedia Brown Sugar ( the Rolling Stones song ) For the song by D'Angelo, see Brown Sugar ( D'Angelo song ). For the song by ZZ Top, see ZZ Top 's First Album. `` Brown Sugar '' Single by The Rolling Stones from the album Sticky Fingers B - side `` Bitch '' / `` Let It Rock '' ( UK ) Released 16 April 1971 ( 1971 - 04 - 16 ) Format 7 - inch single Recorded 2 -- 4 December 1969 Studio Muscle Shoals Sound, Muscle Shoals, Alabama Genre Hard rock rock and roll Length 3 : 50 Label Rolling Stones Records Songwriter ( s ) Jagger / Richards Producer ( s ) Jimmy Miller The Rolling Stones singles chronology `` Honky Tonk Women '' ( 1969 ) `` Brown Sugar '' ( 1971 ) `` Wild Horses '' ( 1971 ) `` Honky Tonk Women '' ( 1969 ) `` Brown Sugar '' ( 1971 ) `` Wild Horses '' ( 1971 ) Audio sample file help Alternative covers American single label `` Brown Sugar '' is a song by the Rolling Stones. It is the opening track and lead single from their album Sticky Fingers ( 1971 ). Rolling Stone magazine ranked it number 495 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and at number five on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time. Contents 1 Inspiration and recording 2 Top of the Pops 3 Release 4 Chart performance 4.1 Weekly charts 4.2 Year - end charts 5 Personnel 6 Notes 7 References 8 External links Inspiration and recording Though credited, like most of their compositions, to the singer / guitarist pair of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the song was primarily the work of Jagger, who wrote it sometime during the filming of Ned Kelly in 1969. Originally recorded over a three - day period at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, from 2 -- 4 December 1969, the song was not released until over a year later due to legal wranglings with the band 's former label, though at the request of guitarist Mick Taylor, they debuted the number live during the infamous concert at Altamont on 6 December. The song was written by Jagger with Marsha Hunt in mind ; Hunt was Jagger 's secret girlfriend and mother of his first child Karis. It is also claimed it was written with Claudia Lennear in mind. Lennear made this claim on BBC 's Radio 4 ( 25 February 2014, Today ), saying that it was written with her in mind because at the time when it was written, Mick Jagger used to hang around with her. In the documentary film Gimme Shelter ( 1970 ), an alternative mix of the song is played back to the band while they relax in a hotel in Alabama. The song, with its prominent blues - rock riffs, dual horn / guitar instrumental break, and danceable rock rhythms, is representative of the Stones ' definitive middle period and the tough, bluesy hard - rock most often associated with the group. In the liner notes to the compilation album Jump Back ( 1993 ), Jagger says, `` The lyric was all to do with the dual combination of drugs and girls. This song was a very instant thing, a definite high point. '' The song is in compound AABA form. In the Rolling Stone interview ( 14 December 1995, RS 723 ) with Jagger, he spoke at length about the song, its inspiration and success -- including claiming credit for writing the lyrics. He attributed the success of the song to a `` good groove ''. After noting that the lyrics could mean so many lewd subjects, he again noted that the combination of those subjects, the lyrical ambiguity was partially why the song was considered successful. He noted, `` That makes it... the whole mess thrown in. God knows what I 'm on about on that song. It 's such a mishmash. All the nasty subjects in one go... I never would write that song now. '' When Jann Wenner asked him why, Jagger replied, `` I would probably censor myself. I 'd think, ' Oh God, I ca n't. I 've got to stop. I ca n't just write raw like that. ' '' The lyrical subject matter has often been a point of interest and controversy. Described by rock critic Robert Christgau as `` a rocker so compelling that it discourages exegesis '', `` Brown Sugar '' 's popularity indeed often overshadowed its scandalous lyrics, which were essentially a pastiche of a number of taboo subjects, including slavery, rape, interracial sex, cunnilingus, sadomasochism, lost virginity and heroin. An alternative version was recorded on 18 December 1970, at Olympic Studios in London, after ( or during ) a birthday party for Richards. It features appearances by Al Kooper on piano, and Eric Clapton on slide guitar. Richards considered releasing this version on Sticky Fingers, mostly for its more spontaneous atmosphere, but decided on the original. The alternative version, which had previously been available only on bootleg recordings, was released in June 2015 on the Deluxe and Super Deluxe editions of the reissued Sticky Fingers album. Top of the Pops To promote the song, they performed on Top of the Pops with the performance taped sometime around late March 1971, and being shown on April 15 and May 6. They also performed on the album slot that was part of the show in 1971, and performed `` Wild Horses '' and `` Bitch '', which was shown on April 22 1971 ; due to BBC practices at the time, the performances were wiped and all that remains is `` Brown Sugar ''. Release `` Brown Sugar '' was eventually released in May 1971 as the first single from the album, becoming a number one hit in both the United States and Canada and a number two hit in both the United Kingdom and Ireland, and has since become a classic rock radio staple. While the US single featured only `` Bitch '' as the B - side, the British single featured that track plus a live rendition of Chuck Berry 's `` Let It Rock '', recorded at the University of Leeds during the 1971 tour of the United Kingdom. In the United States, Billboard ranked it as the number 16 song for 1971. In the United Kingdom, the single was originally issued in mono using a now - rarely heard bespoke mono mix. This mono mix has never been used on any compilation. Little Richard covered the song while he was signed to Reprise Records. The song was performed routinely during the Stones ' 1970 European Tour, occupying a prominent spot near the end of the set list even though audiences were unfamiliar with it. It eventually opened the famed 1972 American Tour shows and has been a Stones concert stalwart since. When the Stones perform `` Brown Sugar '' live, Jagger often changes the lyrics from `` Just like a young girl should '' to `` Just like a young man should. '' The line `` Hear him whip the women just around midnight '' is often changed to the less offensive `` You shoulda heard him just around midnight. '' This is evident on their live albums Love You Live, Flashpoint, Live Licks, Shine a Light and Totally Stripped. This change also occurs on the version recorded at Richards 's birthday party. The song is also the first single released on Rolling Stones Records ( catalogue number RS - 19100 ) and is one of the two Stones songs ( along with `` Wild Horses '' ) licensed to both the band and former manager Allen Klein ( a result of various business disagreements ) resulting in its inclusion on the compilation album Hot Rocks 1964 -- 1971. `` Brown Sugar '' is also included on the most significant latter - day Rolling Stones compilations, Jump Back, Forty Licks and GRRR !. Chart performance Weekly charts Chart ( 1971 ) Peak position Australia 5 Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 10 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 7 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) Germany ( Official German Charts ) Ireland ( IRMA ) New Zealand ( Listener ) 11 Norway ( VG - lista ) Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) US Billboard Hot 100 Year - end charts Chart ( 1971 ) Rank Australia 38 Canada US Billboard Hot 100 18 US Cash Box 38 Personnel The Rolling Stones Mick Jagger -- vocals, percussion Keith Richards -- electric guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals Mick Taylor - guitar Bill Wyman -- bass guitar Charlie Watts -- drums Additional personnel Ian Stewart -- piano Bobby Keys -- saxophone Notes Jump up ^ Mick Taylor can be heard playing lead guitar on outtakes of the song, but his parts have been removed completely for the released track References Jump up ^ High Fidelity Musical America. 22. Billboard Pub. 1972. p. 106. Jump up ^ Mike Jahn ( 1973 ). Rock : from Elvis Presley to the Rolling Stones. Quadrangle. p. 284. Jump up ^ The Rolling Stones ( 14 April 2009 ). The Rolling Stones : Hot Rocks 1964 - 1971 : Authentic Bass TAB Sheet Music Transcription. Alfred Music. p. 2. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4574 - 3336 - 8. Jump up ^ Unterberger, Richie. The Rolling Stones - Brown Sugar at AllMusic. Retrieved September 19, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Brown Sugar ''. Rolling Stone. 9 December 2004 ( accessed 25 April 2007 ). Jump up ^ `` Jagger Remembers ''. Rolling Stone. 14 December 1995 ( accessed 25 April 2007 ). Jump up ^ Covach, John ( 2005 ), `` Form in Rock Music : A Primer '', in Stein, Deborah, Engaging Music : Essays in Music Analysis, New York : Oxford University Press, p. 74 - 75, ISBN 0 - 19 - 517010 - 5. Jump up ^ `` Jagger Remembers ''. Rolling Stone. 14 December 1995. Jump up ^ Robert Christgau `` Rolling Stones ''. The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll. 1976 ( accessed 24 June 2007 ). Jump up ^ Unterberger, Richie. The Rolling Stones `` Brown Sugar ''. allmusic. 2007 ( accessed 25 April 2007 ). Jump up ^ Ian McPherson ( 1969 - 12 - 02 ). `` Brown Sugar ''. Timeisonourside.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- The Rolling Stones -- Brown Sugar '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- The Rolling Stones -- Brown Sugar '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Singles : Issue 5385. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- The Rolling Stones -- Brown Sugar ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- Brown Sugar ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` flavour of new zealand - search listener ''. Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- The Rolling Stones -- Brown Sugar ''. VG - lista. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- The Rolling Stones -- Brown Sugar '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- The Rolling Stones -- Brown Sugar ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` Rolling Stones : Artist Chart History '' Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` The Rolling Stones -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot 100 for The Rolling Stones. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` Australian Chart Book ''. Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits of 1971 / Top 100 Songs of 1971 ''. Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1971 ''. Tropicalglen.com. 1971 - 12 - 25. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 03. Jump up ^ McPherson, Ian. `` Brown Sugar ''. www.timeisonourside.com. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Preceded by `` Joy to the World '' by Three Dog Night US Billboard Hot 100 number one single 29 May 1971 ( two weeks ) Succeeded by `` Want Ads '' by The Honey Cone Preceded by `` Joy to the World '' by Three Dog Night Canadian RPM 100 number - one single 5 June 1971 ( three weeks ) Succeeded by `` It Do n't Come Easy '' by Ringo Starr Sticky Fingers Side one `` Brown Sugar '' `` Sway '' `` Wild Horses '' `` Ca n't You Hear Me Knocking '' `` You Gotta Move '' Side two `` Bitch '' `` I Got the Blues '' `` Sister Morphine '' `` Dead Flowers '' `` Moonlight Mile '' The Rolling Stones singles discography Decca ( UK ) and London ( US ) singles `` Come On '' `` I Wanna Be Your Man '' / `` Stoned '' `` Not Fade Away '' / `` Little by Little '' `` It 's All Over Now '' `` Tell Me '' / `` I Just Want to Make Love to You '' `` Time Is on My Side '' `` Little Red Rooster '' `` Heart of Stone '' `` The Last Time '' / `` Play with Fire '' `` ( I Ca n't Get No ) Satisfaction '' / `` The Spider and the Fly '' `` Get Off of My Cloud '' / `` I 'm Free '' `` As Tears Go By '' `` 19th Nervous Breakdown '' / `` As Tears Go By '' `` Paint It Black '' / `` Stupid Girl '' `` Mother 's Little Helper '' / `` Lady Jane '' `` Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow ? '' `` Let 's Spend the Night Together '' / `` Ruby Tuesday '' `` We Love You '' / `` Dandelion '' `` In Another Land '' `` She 's a Rainbow '' / `` 2000 Light Years from Home '' `` Jumpin ' Jack Flash '' `` Street Fighting Man '' / `` No Expectations '' `` Honky Tonk Women '' / `` You Ca n't Always Get What You Want '' Rolling Stones / Atlantic singles `` Brown Sugar '' / `` Bitch '' / `` Let It Rock '' `` Wild Horses '' / `` Sway '' `` Tumbling Dice '' / `` Sweet Black Angel '' `` Happy '' / `` All Down the Line '' `` Angie '' / `` Silver Train '' `` Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo ( Heartbreaker ) '' / `` Dancing with Mr. D '' `` It 's Only Rock ' n Roll ( But I Like It ) '' `` Ai n't Too Proud to Beg '' / `` Dance Little Sister '' `` Fool to Cry '' `` Hot Stuff '' Rolling Stones `` Miss You '' / `` Far Away Eyes '' `` Beast of Burden '' / `` When the Whip Comes Down '' `` Respectable '' / `` When the Whip Comes Down '' `` Shattered '' `` Emotional Rescue '' `` She 's So Cold '' / `` Send It to Me '' `` Start Me Up '' `` Waiting on a Friend '' / `` Little T&A '' `` Hang Fire '' / `` Neighbours '' `` Going to a Go - Go '' ( live ) / `` Beast of Burden '' ( live ) `` Time Is on My Side '' ( live ) / `` Twenty Flight Rock '' ( live ) `` Undercover of the Night '' `` She Was Hot '' `` Too Much Blood '' `` Harlem Shuffle '' `` One Hit ( To the Body ) '' `` Mixed Emotions '' `` Rock and a Hard Place '' `` Almost Hear You Sigh '' `` Highwire '' / `` 2000 Light Years from Home '' ( live ) `` Ruby Tuesday '' ( live ) / `` Play with Fire '' ( live ) `` Jumpin ' Jack Flash '' ( live ) / `` Tumbling Dice '' ( live ) Virgin singles `` Love Is Strong '' `` You Got Me Rocking '' `` Out of Tears '' `` I Go Wild '' `` Like a Rolling Stone '' ( live ) / `` Black Limousine '' / `` All Down the Line '' `` Wild Horses '' ( live ) / `` Live with Me '' ( live ) / `` Tumbling Dice '' ( live ) `` Anybody Seen My Baby ? '' `` Saint of Me '' / `` Gimme Shelter '' ( live ) `` Out of Control '' `` Do n't Stop '' / `` Miss You '' ( remix ) `` Streets of Love '' / `` Rough Justice '' `` Rain Fall Down '' `` Biggest Mistake '' / `` Before They Make Me Run '' ( live ) Universal singles `` Plundered My Soul '' / `` All Down the Line '' `` No Spare Parts '' / `` Before They Make Me Run '' `` Doom and Gloom '' `` One More Shot '' Other countries `` Let It Bleed '' / `` You Got the Silver '' ( London Japan ) `` Rocks Off '' / `` Sweet Virginia '' ( Japan ) `` Star Star '' / `` Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo ( Heartbreaker ) '' ( France, Germany ) Book Portal WikiProject Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brown_Sugar_(The_Rolling_Stones_song)&oldid=794995758 '' Categories : 1971 singles The Rolling Stones songs Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Number - one singles in Switzerland Songs written by Jagger / Richards Song recordings produced by Jimmy Miller Songs about heroin Songs about sexuality Hard rock songs Hidden categories : Use British English from March 2014 Use dmy dates from March 2014 Articles with hAudio microformats Articles which use infobox templates with no data rows Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from July 2008 Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Belgium ( Flanders ) Singlechart usages for Canadatopsingles Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for UKsinglesbyname Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Asturianu Čeština Dansk Deutsch Español Euskara Français Italiano ქართული Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Русский Suomi Svenska Українська Edit links This page was last edited on 11 August 2017, at 10 : 00. 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Question: where did the rolling stones record brown sugar
Answer: Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama