Shine a Light (song)
Encyclopedia
"Shine a Light" is a song featured on British rock and roll
band the Rolling Stones
' 1972 album Exile on Main St.
Although credited to usual Stones writers Mick Jagger
and Keith Richards
, "Shine a Light" was largely a Jagger composition. He began writing the song in early 1968 when the Stones still had guitarist Brian Jones
as a member. The song was originally titled "Get a Line on You" and dealt with Jones' ever-worsening addiction to drugs and his detachment from the rest of the band.
An early recording was made during the Beggars Banquet
sessions of March 1968.
A version of the song, under the title "Get a Line on You", was made by Leon Russell
at Olympic Studios
in October 1969 with assistance from Jagger (lead vocals), Charlie Watts
(drums), Leon Russell (piano), and probably also Bill Wyman
(bass) and Mick Taylor
(guitar). The recording was made during the recording sessions for the album Leon Russell
(released 1970), where both Watts and Wyman contributed drums and bass to some of the tracks. However, the song "Get a Line on You" was not on the released album, but was shelved until 1994, when it finally surfaced as a bonus track on the re-release on Mobile Fidelity 24K Gold label (DCC Compact Classics GZS 1049).
After Jones' death in 1969, "Get a Line on You" resurfaced and was re-written by Jagger and recorded again in July 1970. A fourth recording at London's
Olympic Sound Studios
in December 1971 resulted in the final version of the song, now titled "Shine a Light" with slightly altered lyrics.
This final version featured Jagger on vocals, Stones producer Jimmy Miller on drums instead of Watts, and Taylor on electric guitar and possibly bass instead of Wyman (both claim credit, while Taylor is given credit on the record's sleeve). Also performing on the song are back-up singers Clydie King
, Joe Green, Venetta Field, and Jesse Kirkland. Billy Preston
performs both piano and organ for the recording and had a distinct influence on Jagger and the song while mixing the album at Los Angeles' Sunset Sound Studios. Jagger claims visits to Preston's local church inspired the gospel influences apparent on the final recording. Richards was absent from these sessions.
"Shine a Light" first entered the Stones' setlist during the 1995 leg of the Voodoo Lounge Tour
. A recording of this acoustic variation was captured and released on the 1995 live album Stripped. The Stones again played it during the Bridges to Babylon Tour
and their most recent A Bigger Bang Tour
.
to a Martin Scorsese
film chronicling the A Bigger Bang Tour, and is included on the soundtrack of the same name.
The song's vocal melody was an influence on Oasis
's song "Live Forever
" released in 1994.
The song has been covered multiple times in concert by Phish
, the first time on October 31, 2009 when the band covered the entirety of Exile on Main Street as part of its musical costume. Trey Anastasio also performed an acoustic cover of Shine a Light on February 20, 2011 at the House of Blues in Boston, MA.
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band the Rolling Stones
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...
' 1972 album Exile on Main St.
Exile on Main St.
Exile on Main St. is the tenth British and 12th American studio album by English rock band The Rolling Stones. Released as a double LP in May 1972, it draws on many genres including rock and roll, blues, soul, R&B, gospel and country. The release of Exile on Main St. met with mixed reviews, but is...
Although credited to usual Stones writers 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...
, "Shine a Light" was largely a Jagger composition. He began writing the song in early 1968 when the Stones still had guitarist Brian Jones
Brian Jones
Lewis Brian Hopkins Jones , known as Brian Jones, was an English musician and a founding member of the Rolling Stones....
as a member. The song was originally titled "Get a Line on You" and dealt with Jones' ever-worsening addiction to drugs and his detachment from the rest of the band.
An early recording was made during the Beggars Banquet
Beggars Banquet
- Personnel :The Rolling Stones* Mick Jagger – lead and backing vocals, harmonica on "Parachute Woman"* Keith Richards – acoustic and electric guitar, bass guitar on "Sympathy for the Devil" and "Street Fighting Man", backing vocals, lead vocals on opening of "Salt of the Earth"* Brian...
sessions of March 1968.
A version of the song, under the title "Get a Line on You", was made by Leon Russell
Leon Russell
Claude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
at Olympic Studios
Olympic Studios
Olympic Studios was a renowned independent commercial recording studio located at 117 Church Road, Barnes, South West London, England. The studio is best known for the huge number of famous rock and pop recordings made there from the late 1960s onward....
in October 1969 with assistance from Jagger (lead vocals), Charlie Watts
Charlie Watts
Charles Robert "Charlie" Watts is an English drummer, best known as a member of The Rolling Stones. He is also the leader of a jazz band, a record producer, commercial artist, and horse breeder.-Early life:...
(drums), Leon Russell (piano), and probably also Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman is an English musician best known as the bass guitarist for the English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1992. Since 1997, he has recorded and toured with his own band, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings...
(bass) and 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...
(guitar). The recording was made during the recording sessions for the album Leon Russell
Leon Russell (album)
Leon Russell is the first solo album, and third album overall, by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Leon Russell. It followed his debut with the Midnight String Quartet, and a production by Russell and Marc Benno billed as the Asylum Choir....
(released 1970), where both Watts and Wyman contributed drums and bass to some of the tracks. However, the song "Get a Line on You" was not on the released album, but was shelved until 1994, when it finally surfaced as a bonus track on the re-release on Mobile Fidelity 24K Gold label (DCC Compact Classics GZS 1049).
After Jones' death in 1969, "Get a Line on You" resurfaced and was re-written by Jagger and recorded again in July 1970. A fourth recording at London's
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Olympic Sound Studios
Olympic Studios
Olympic Studios was a renowned independent commercial recording studio located at 117 Church Road, Barnes, South West London, England. The studio is best known for the huge number of famous rock and pop recordings made there from the late 1960s onward....
in December 1971 resulted in the final version of the song, now titled "Shine a Light" with slightly altered lyrics.
This final version featured Jagger on vocals, Stones producer Jimmy Miller on drums instead of Watts, and Taylor on electric guitar and possibly bass instead of Wyman (both claim credit, while Taylor is given credit on the record's sleeve). Also performing on the song are back-up singers Clydie King
Clydie King
Clydie Crittendon is an American singer, best known for her session work as a backing vocalist....
, Joe Green, Venetta Field, and Jesse Kirkland. 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...
performs both piano and organ for the recording and had a distinct influence on Jagger and the song while mixing the album at Los Angeles' Sunset Sound Studios. Jagger claims visits to Preston's local church inspired the gospel influences apparent on the final recording. Richards was absent from these sessions.
"Shine a Light" first entered the Stones' setlist during the 1995 leg of the Voodoo Lounge Tour
Voodoo Lounge Tour
The Voodoo Lounge Tour was a worldwide concert tour by The Rolling Stones to promote their 1994 album Voodoo Lounge. This was their first tour without bassist Bill Wyman; he was replaced by Darryl Jones. The tour grossed $320 million, becoming the highest grossing tour of any artist at that time...
. A recording of this acoustic variation was captured and released on the 1995 live album Stripped. The Stones again played it during the Bridges to Babylon Tour
Bridges to Babylon Tour
The Bridges to Babylon Tour was a worldwide concert tour by The Rolling Stones in support of their then-latest album Bridges to Babylon, followed by 1999's No Security Tour.-History:...
and their most recent A Bigger Bang Tour
A Bigger Bang Tour
A Bigger Bang Tour was a worldwide concert tour by The Rolling Stones which took place between August 2005 and August 2007, in support of their album A Bigger Bang...
.
Legacy
The song has also given its nameShine a Light (film)
Shine a Light is a 2008 documentary film directed by Martin Scorsese documenting The Rolling Stones' 2006 Beacon Theatre performance on their A Bigger Bang Tour. The Scorsese film also includes archive footage from the band's career and marked the first utilisation by Scorsese of digital...
to a Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film historian. In 1990 he founded The Film Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to film preservation, and in 2007 he founded the World Cinema Foundation...
film chronicling the A Bigger Bang Tour, and is included on the soundtrack of the same name.
The song's vocal melody was an influence on Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
's song "Live Forever
Live Forever
"Live Forever" is a song by English rock band Oasis. Written by Noel Gallagher, the song was released as the third single from their debut album Definitely Maybe on 8 August 1994, just prior to that album's release....
" released in 1994.
The song has been covered multiple times in concert by Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
, the first time on October 31, 2009 when the band covered the entirety of Exile on Main Street as part of its musical costume. Trey Anastasio also performed an acoustic cover of Shine a Light on February 20, 2011 at the House of Blues in Boston, MA.