Respectable (Rolling Stones song)

"Respectable" is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones from their 1978 album Some Girls. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. In the liner notes to the 1993 compilation album Jump Back: The Best of The Rolling Stones (on which it was included), Jagger said, "It's important to be somewhat influenced by what's going on around you and on the Some Girls album, I think we definitely became more aggressive because of the punk thing..."

"Respectable"
Single by the Rolling Stones
from the album Some Girls
B-side"When the Whip Comes Down"
Released1978
Recorded10 October – 21 December 1977; Pathé Marconi Studios,[1] Paris
GenrePunk rock[2]
Length3:07
LabelRolling Stones
Songwriter(s)Jagger–Richards
Producer(s)The Glimmer Twins
The Rolling Stones singles chronology
"Beast of Burden"
(1978)		 "Respectable"
(1978)		 "Shattered"
(1978)
Some Girls track listing
10 tracks
Side one
  1. "Miss You"
  2. "When the Whip Comes Down"
  3. "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)"
  4. "Some Girls"
  5. "Lies"
Side two
  1. "Far Away Eyes"
  2. "Respectable"
  3. "Before They Make Me Run"
  4. "Beast of Burden"
  5. "Shattered"

Inspiration and recording

Recorded from October through December 1977, "Respectable" was originally written by Mick Jagger to be a slower song, but guitarist Richards saw the advantages of speeding up the tempo and crafting a rocker out of the song. Jagger continued in the liner notes, "On ["Respectable"] I was banging out three chords incredibly loud on the electric guitar, which isn't always a wonderful idea but was fun here. This is a punk meets Chuck Berry number..." This resulted in Jagger and Richards having arguments over the song's tempo.

The biting lyrics talk of a woman rising into high society and Jagger's attempts to remind her of where she came from. Jagger said at the time of its release, "'Respectable' really started off as a song in my head about how respectable we as a band were supposed to have become, 'We're so respectable'. As I went along with the singing, I just made things up and fit things in. Now we're respected in society... I really meant [the band]. My wife's a very honest person, and the songs's not about her... It's very rock & roll. It's not like Bob Dylan's 'Sara'. 'Respectable' is very lighthearted when you hear it. That's why I don't like divorcing the lyrics from the music. 'Cause when you actually hear it sung, it's not what it is, it's the way we do it..."[3]

Release and aftermath

"Respectable" was released as a single in the United Kingdom in 1978, where it peaked at no. 23 on the UK Singles Chart.[4] A memorable music video, which was directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, was made for the single, featuring a more "punk" Stones on display. A still from this video—with departed bassist Bill Wyman edited out—was used as the cover for the band's 2005 compilation album Rarities 1971–2003. It also appeared on later compilations such as Jump Back, and GRRR!

A live version from their 1997-1998 Bridges to Babylon Tour was released on the album No Security.

The Stones were joined on stage by John Mayer to play a live version during their 50 and Counting Tour on 13 December 2012 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Charts
Chart (1978) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[5] 16
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[6] 18
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[7] 16
UK Singles (OCC)[4] 23

Personnel

References
  1. "Tim Hinkley at Pathé Marconi studios, 1978". IORR.org. 10 November 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  2. Koelling, Matt. "The Rolling Stones' 'Some Girls' Turns 40 – An Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  3. Cott, Jonathan (1978). "Mick Jagger – Interview". Rolling Stone.
  4. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  5. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Respectable". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  6. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 45, 1978" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  7. "The Rolling Stones – Respectable" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  8. Some Girls (Super Deluxe Edition) (CD liner notes). The Rolling Stones. US: Universal Republic Records. 2011. B0016230-00.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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