Songfacts®:

• British Invasion groups like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and The Kinks were grounded in American soul music, and often covered these songs. When Redding recorded his own version of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," (titled just "Satisfaction") he became the first black artist to have a hit with a song by one of these British Invasion groups, reversing the usual pattern.
• Redding was scheduled to take a physical exam required for a life insurance policy when his collaborator - Booker T & the MGs guitarist Steve Cropper - suggested the band cut a version of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." By the time Redding returned to the studio from his physical, Cropper had the backing arranged and was ready to add Redding's vocal.
• Redding claimed that his version of "Satisfaction" was significantly different than the Stones' original for a good reason: "I use a lot of words different than the Stones' version," Redding said. "That's because I made them up."
• The Steve Cropper arrangement of Redding's recording features horns playing the main riff. This reflected Keith Richards' original intention for the song; Richards has often said that the fuzzy guitar tone he used on the Stones' recording was intended to mimic horns. Ronnie Wood later noted that Stones' subsequent concert renditions of the number are based on Redding's interpretation.