Now I've Got A Witness (Like Uncle Phil and Uncle Jean)

Album: The Rolling Stones (1964)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Uncle Phil is Phil Spector, a legendary producer who was friends with The Stones. Uncle Gene is Gene Pitney, a singer who wrote the Stones' "That Girl Belongs To Yesterday." They were frequent visitors at The Stones' recording sessions.
  • This is an instrumental The Stones recorded at the same session where they covered "Can I Get A Witness." Some of the keyboards were taken from that song.
  • The song is credited to Nanker Phelge, a goofy name for a band composition (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, Brian Jones, Charlie Watts). According to Keith Richards, "Phelge" was the nickname of one of his former roommates. Here's how he described him to Melody Maker: "He was the sort of guy who would meet you on the stairs of your slum with his streaked Y-fronts on his head, and nothing else, and he'd say: 'This is Phelge - welcome home. Unfortunately I haven't made enough money this week to help chip in with the rent, so instead I'll entertain you and be as disgusting as possible for the whole week.'"

    "Nanker" is a name Brian Jones came up with.
  • Ian Stewart played organ on the song. Sometimes considered "The Sixth Stone," he also played on sessions for Led Zeppelin and formed his own outfit with Charlie Watts, Alexis Korner and Jack Bruce in the late '70s and early '80s called Rocket 88. After his death in 1985, The Stones played their only concert in a seven-year period at a London club in February 1986 as a tribute to Stewart. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France

Comments: 2

  • Roger from Montreal, Quebec, CanadaNanker Phelge meant the whole band contributed to the song, not only Jagger-Richards.
  • Greenpuppet from Canada, AbGene Pitney didn't write "That Girl Belongs To Yesterday" for the Stones, it was the other way around
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in Rock

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in RockSong Writing

We ring the Hell's Bells to see what songs and rockers are sincere in their Satanism, and how much of it is an act.

Charles Fox

Charles FoxSongwriter Interviews

After studying in Paris with a famous composition teacher, Charles became the most successful writer of TV theme songs.

Which Songs are About Drugs?

Which Songs are About Drugs?Fact or Fiction

"25 or 6 to 4" to "Semi-Charmed Life" - see if you can spot the songs that are really about drugs.

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-Nighters

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-NightersSong Writing

These Three famous songs actually describe how they were written - late into the evening.

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin Popoff

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin PopoffSong Writing

A talk with Martin Popoff about his latest book on Rush and how he assessed the thousands of albums he reviewed.