Under My Thumb

This is the final post of dufusdownbeat. It’s been a blast sharing my tastes in music over the last couple of years both here, at the new site, and my old site on Blogger. But all good things must come to an end, sooner or later. If you like, look me up at nonamedufus.Rock on.

Having begun to write their own songs, rather than cover Chicago blues tunes by 1966 the Rolling Stones had worked their way up to releasing an album of only Jaggers/Richards tunes called Aftermath, their 4th British album and 6th album released state-side.

Richards, in his autobiography “Life” indicates the two had more or less hit upon a formula in their early hit song writing days…

“This wave of recording and songwriting culminated in the album Aftermath, and many of the songs we wrote around this time had what you might call anti-girl lyrics — anti-girl titles too. ‘Stupid Girl,’ ‘Under My Thumb,’ ‘Out Of Time,’ ‘That Girl Belongs to Yesterday,’ and ‘Yesterday’s Papers.’
Who wants testerday’s girl
Nobody in the world.

Aftermath was notable for a few other reasons. It was the first Stones album to be recorded entirely in the States. It showcased Brian Jones as a multi-instrumentalist playing instruments not usually associated with rock and roll such as a sitar on Paint It Black, an Appalachian dulcimer on Lady Jane and mirambas on Under My Thumb.

Of course Under My Thumb is the song the Stones were playing at the Altamont Free Concert as the Hell’s Angels killed Meredith Hunter just steps away from the stage.

Here’s a 1966 performance from Ready Steady Go…