Slave (song)
Encyclopedia
"Slave" is a song by The Rolling Stones
on their 1981 album Tattoo You
.
Written by Mick Jagger
and Keith Richards
, "Slave" was originally written and recorded for 1975's Black and Blue
. Initial recordings took place in Rotterdam
, Netherlands
, using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio
. During that time, the Rolling Stones were faced with the unexpected position of filling the recently vacated position of second guitarist, after the abrupt departure of Mick Taylor
. Jeff Beck
, a prospective replacement recorded on guitar, and Nicky Hopkins
provided piano. However these were both erased from the final take in June 1981, with only Billy Preston
's organ lasting through. The Who
's Pete Townshend
provided backing vocals for the recording and one of saxophonist Sonny Rollins
' three performances on tracks for the album appeared as well.
Called "...a standard Stones blues jam" in the album review by Rolling Stone
, "Slave" was the result of the Stones' experiments with funk and dance music during the Black and Blue recording sessions of 1975. The lyrics are sparse outside of a brief spoken verse by Jagger and the refrain of "Don't want to be your slave". Richards eventually provided guitars for the song, with Charlie Watts
and Bill Wyman
supporting on drums and bass, respectively.
The CD version of "Slave" contains an addition of 90 seconds to the song. It was never performed by the Stones on stage and appears on no compilation albums.
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...
on their 1981 album Tattoo You
Tattoo You
Tattoo You is the 16th British and 18th American studio album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1981. The follow-up to Emotional Rescue, it proved to be a big critical and commercial success...
.
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...
, "Slave" was originally written and recorded for 1975's Black and Blue
Black and Blue
Black and Blue is the 13th British and 15th American studio album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1976. It was the band's first studio album released with Ronnie Wood as the replacement for Mick Taylor...
. Initial recordings took place in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio
Rolling Stones Mobile Studio
The Rolling Stones Mobile Studio is a mobile recording studio owned by the musical group the Rolling Stones. Numerous bands and artists have recorded music using it, including Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Lou Reed, Bob Marley, Horslips, Fleetwood Mac, Bad Company, Status Quo, Iron Maiden, Mola Mola...
. During that time, the Rolling Stones were faced with the unexpected position of filling the recently vacated position of second guitarist, after the abrupt departure of 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...
. Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, a prospective replacement recorded on guitar, and Nicky Hopkins
Nicky Hopkins
Nicholas Christian "Nicky" Hopkins was an English pianist and organist.He recorded and performed on noted British and American popular music recordings of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s as a session musician....
provided piano. However these were both erased from the final take in June 1981, with only 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...
's organ lasting through. The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
's Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
provided backing vocals for the recording and one of saxophonist Sonny Rollins
Sonny Rollins
Theodore Walter "Sonny" Rollins is a Grammy-winning American jazz tenor saxophonist. Rollins is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. A number of his compositions, including "St...
' three performances on tracks for the album appeared as well.
Called "...a standard Stones blues jam" in the album review by Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, "Slave" was the result of the Stones' experiments with funk and dance music during the Black and Blue recording sessions of 1975. The lyrics are sparse outside of a brief spoken verse by Jagger and the refrain of "Don't want to be your slave". Richards eventually provided guitars for the song, with 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:...
and 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...
supporting on drums and bass, respectively.
The CD version of "Slave" contains an addition of 90 seconds to the song. It was never performed by the Stones on stage and appears on no compilation albums.