Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)
Encyclopedia
"Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo" is the fourth track on The Rolling Stones
' 1973
album Goats Head Soup
.
Written by Mick Jagger
and Keith Richards
, "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)"'s lyrics relate two stories: one based on the true story of New York City police shooting a boy because they mistook him for a bank robber, and the second of a ten-year-old girl who dies in an alley of a drug overdose.
After telling the story of the police shooting the wrong person, Jagger sings,
The .44 magnum
cartridge had been recently made famous by the 1971 movie Dirty Harry
, in which Harry Callahan uses "the most powerful handgun in the world" to cleanse the streets of crime. The lyrics complement the music, which Rolling Stone magazine described as "urban R&B", due to its funk influence and prominent clavinet part (played by Billy Preston
).
"Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" was first recorded in November and December 1972 before being re-recorded early the following summer. Jim Price
arranged the song's horns and played sax, while Chuck Findley
took over for Price on trumpet. Mick Taylor
played the lead guitar part (which features use of a wah-wah pedal
, and a Leslie speaker
), Richards played bass; Billy Preston
plays Clavinet
(also using a wah-wah), and RMI Electra Piano
. Released as the second single from Goats Head Soup
in the U.S. only (after the #1 hit "Angie"), it reached number 15 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100
and has remained a staple on AOR
and classic rock radio stations.
The song also appeared on the American version of the compilation album Rewind (1971-1984)
. It also was featured in the series finale of the CBS drama Cold Case.
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
' 1973
1973 in music
-January–April:*January 9 – Mick Jagger's request for a Japanese visa is rejected on account of a 1969 drug conviction, putting an abrupt end to The Rolling Stones' plans to perform in Japan during their forthcoming tour.*January 14...
album Goats Head Soup
Goats Head Soup
Goats Head Soup is the 11th British and 13th American studio album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1973. It featured the song "Angie", which went to #1 as a single in the US and UK.-Recording:...
.
Written by Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
and Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
, "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)"'s lyrics relate two stories: one based on the true story of New York City police shooting a boy because they mistook him for a bank robber, and the second of a ten-year-old girl who dies in an alley of a drug overdose.
After telling the story of the police shooting the wrong person, Jagger sings,
The .44 magnum
.44 Magnum
The .44 Remington Magnum, or simply .44 Magnum, is a large-bore cartridge originally designed for revolvers. After introduction, it was quickly adopted for carbines and rifles...
cartridge had been recently made famous by the 1971 movie Dirty Harry
Dirty Harry
Dirty Harry is a 1971 American crime thriller produced and directed by Don Siegel, the first in the Dirty Harry series. Clint Eastwood plays the title role, in his first outing as San Francisco Police Department Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan....
, in which Harry Callahan uses "the most powerful handgun in the world" to cleanse the streets of crime. The lyrics complement the music, which Rolling Stone magazine described as "urban R&B", due to its funk influence and prominent clavinet part (played by Billy Preston
Billy Preston
William Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
).
"Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" was first recorded in November and December 1972 before being re-recorded early the following summer. Jim Price
Jim Price
Jim Price may refer to:*Jim Price , former NFL tight end*Jim Price , former Detroit Tigers catcher and current sportscaster*Jim Price , manager of the New York Gothams...
arranged the song's horns and played sax, while Chuck Findley
Chuck Findley
Chuck Findley is an American session musician. Most widely-known as a trumpet player, he also plays other brass instruments such as flugelhorn and trombone...
took over for Price on trumpet. Mick Taylor
Mick Taylor
Michael Kevin "Mick" Taylor is an English musician, best known as a former member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and The Rolling Stones...
played the lead guitar part (which features use of a wah-wah pedal
Wah-wah pedal
A wah-wah pedal is a type of guitar effects pedal that alters the tone of the signal to create a distinctive effect, mimicking the human voice...
, and a Leslie speaker
Leslie speaker
The Leslie speaker is a specially constructed amplifier/loudspeaker used to create special audio effects using the Doppler effect. Named after its inventor, Donald Leslie, it is particularly associated with the Hammond organ but is used with a variety of instruments as well as vocals. The...
), Richards played bass; Billy Preston
Billy Preston
William Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
plays Clavinet
Clavinet
A Clavinet is an electrically amplified keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. It is essentially an electronically amplified clavichord, analogous to an electric guitar. Its distinctive bright staccato sound has appeared particularly in funk, disco, rock, and reggae songs.Various...
(also using a wah-wah), and RMI Electra Piano
RMI Electra Piano
The RMI Electra Piano is a model of electronic piano, manufactured by RMI. Several models with varying features were produced from 1967 until 1980....
. Released as the second single from Goats Head Soup
Goats Head Soup
Goats Head Soup is the 11th British and 13th American studio album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1973. It featured the song "Angie", which went to #1 as a single in the US and UK.-Recording:...
in the U.S. only (after the #1 hit "Angie"), it reached number 15 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and has remained a staple on AOR
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
and classic rock radio stations.
The song also appeared on the American version of the compilation album Rewind (1971-1984)
Rewind (1971-1984)
Rewind is a compilation album by The Rolling Stones and was released in 1984. Coming only three years after Sucking in the Seventies, the album was primarily compiled to mark the end of the band's worldwide alliance with EMI , both of whom were the distributors of Rolling Stones Records...
. It also was featured in the series finale of the CBS drama Cold Case.