Little By Little

Album: The Rolling Stones (1964)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was an early Stones effort at the blues. It was released as the B-side of "Not Fade Away."
  • Phil Spector produced this and played the maracas.
  • The writing credits go to Phil Spector and Nanker Phelge, which was a silly name the Stones sometimes used for the five band members from this era: Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts. Fans who read the liner notes sometimes thought this Nanker guy was an outside writer, but when the Stones were questioned about it, they made it clear it was them, and they did, in fact, write those songs.
  • Gene Pitney played the piano. Said Pitney: "When I stopped in from Paris one time and Phil Spector was in London and Andrew Oldham called me from the hotel and told me he was having a terrible time because he was trying to do what was the follow up to 'I Wanna Be Your Man' and all the boys hated each other that day and he had them in a little dinky studio in Denmark Street and he couldn't get them to do anything. I had five fifths of cognac that I was bringing home, so I took one fifth over to the studio and I told them it was a custom in my family that when anybody had a birthday, that everybody had a water glass of cognac until the bottle was empty. So, we ended up with a hell of a session and I played piano and Phil Spector played an empty cognac bottle with a half dollar, clicking it, and we played on the flip side which was 'Little By Little.'" >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France

Comments: 1

  • Alastair from Stranraer, United KingdomThe chord sequence is based on Jimmy Reed's 'Shame Shame Shame' . But the new lyrics speak to the Stones target audience. A great beat number.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)Songwriter Interviews

The co-writer/guitarist on many Alice Cooper hits, Dick was also Lou Reed's axeman on the Rock n' Roll Animal album.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Brandi Carlile

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.

Mike Scott of The Waterboys

Mike Scott of The WaterboysSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Whole Of The Moon" and "Red Army Blues," and why rock music has "outlived its era of innovation."