Respectable

Album: Some Girls (1978)
Charted: 23
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Songfacts®:

  • This is a commentary on how The Stones were now accepted by high society, which previously shunned them. Mick Jagger said of the track: "I was banging out three chords incredibly loud on the electric guitar, which isn't always a wonderful idea but was great fun here. This is a Punk meets Chuck Berry number. The lyric carries no fantastically deep message, but I think it might have had something to do with Bianca." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • Keith Richards fought to keep this an uptempo rocker, over Mick Jagger's objections. Richards played the guitar solo in the song.
  • The lyrics contain a reference to a visit to the White House by Bianca, Jagger's wife at the time, to meet President Ford's son.
  • Mick Jagger wrote this pretty much by himself. He had the song laid out the way he wanted it when they started the session to record it.

Comments: 3

  • Paul from Boston, MaApparently Bianca f--ked Jack Ford at the White House. No wonder Betty drank.
  • Craig from Melbourne, AustraliaThis song proved that the Stones could out punk the punks.
  • Ace from Kansas City, MoMaybe my favorite Stones song, definitely in my top five. Great drive from Charlie and Bill, and not only do Keith and Ronnie burn up their fingers trading licks, Mick also joins in on electric guitar. All three also play electric guitar on "When The Whip Comes Down". Woody joked at the time that the album took longer than usual to record because he had to teach Mick how to play again.
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