Sway (Rolling Stones song)

"Sway" is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones from their 1971 album Sticky Fingers. It was also released as the b-side of the "Wild Horses" single in June 1971. This single was released in the US only. Initial pressings of the single contain an alternate take; later pressings include the album version instead.

"Sway"
Song by the Rolling Stones
from the album Sticky Fingers
Released23 April 1971
RecordedOctober 1970
GenreBlues rock
Length3:51
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jimmy Miller

Background

Credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "Sway" is a slower blues song and was the first song recorded by the band at Stargroves.

Ain't flinging tears out on the dusty ground for my friends out on the burial ground.
Can't stand the feeling getting so brought down.
It's just that demon life has got me in its sway.

The song features a bottleneck slide guitar solo during the bridge and a dramatic, virtuoso outro solo (both performed by Mick Taylor). Rhythm guitar performed by Jagger was his first electric guitar performance on an album. The strings on the piece were arranged by Paul Buckmaster, who also worked on "Moonlight Mile", another song from Sticky Fingers. Richards added his backing vocals but provided no guitar to the track. Pete Townshend, Billy Nichols and Ronnie Lane are believed to contribute backing vocals as well.

Taylor would later claim that he felt he deserved writing credits on "Sway" and a few other songs, and the fact that he did not receive them was one of the causes of his departure from the band.[1]

Live

It was performed live for the first time in Columbus, Ohio, and then at many of the shows on the band's A Bigger Bang Tour in 2006.

A seven-minute version of "Sway" appears on the Carla Olson/Mick Taylor Live at the Roxy album (also known as Too Hot for Snakes). Taylor gets to stretch out and solo whereas the Stones version faded at just under four minutes. Ian McLagan plays piano on this version.

During the Stones' "50 & Counting" concert tour in 2013, the band, accompanied by their guest Mick Taylor, played "Sway" during concerts at Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston. These concerts marked the first time that Taylor played on "Sway" at a Stones concert.

Personnel

The song was featured in The Sopranos prequel, The Many Saints of Newark, released in 2021. A young Tony and Artie get off the bus and enter Holsten's Diner while the song plays in the background.

Cover versions

The song was covered by the band Overwhelming Colorfast on their 1995 Bender EP, then later appeared on the 1996 label comp, Super Mixer: A Goldenrod Compilation.[2]

It was also covered by Alvin Youngblood Hart on the October 1997 River North Records release, Paint It Blue: Songs Of The Rolling Stones. Albert Castiglia covered the track on his 2014 album, Solid Ground.[3]

Carla Olson and Mick Taylor recorded a live version for their album Live: Too Hot for Snakes.

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit covered the song for their EP Live From Welcome To 1979.

Melvins covered the song for their EP Five Legged Dog.

References
  1. Michaels, Sean (14 September 2009). "Former Rolling Stone to sue for unpaid royalties". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  2. "Super Mixer - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 1996-05-14. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  3. "Albert Castiglia – Solid Ground | Album Review". Blues Blast Magazine. 2014-06-09. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
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