Come On by The Rolling Stones

Album: Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) (1963)

Charted: 21

License This Song

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

Running a tight 1:47, "Come On" was The Rolling Stones' first single; it's a remake of a Chuck Berry song from 1961. Berry was a big influence on The Stones, particularly their guitarist, Keith Richards. Before they sharpened their songwriting skills, the group did a lot of covers, and Berry was at the top of their list. Other Chuck Berry songs The Stones recorded include "Around And Around" and "Carol."
The Stones performed this song on Thank Your Lucky Stars, a popular English TV show, on July 7, 1963 in their very first TV appearance. The show's producer told the Stones manager he should "Get rid of that vile-looking lead singer with the tire-tread lips." They decided to keep Mick Jagger.
This was the first song The Stones recorded professionally. They recorded it on May 10, 1963.
The song reached #21 on the UK Singles chart, a solid debut for The Stones. But Mick Jagger isn't impressed. He had this to say about the song in 1971: "I don't think 'Come On' was very good, in fact it was s--t. God knows how it ever got in the charts, it was such a hype. In fact we disliked it so much we didn't do it on any of our gigs."
In their review of "Come On," June 8, 1963's Record Mirror referred to The Rolling Stones as, "a bluesy very commercial group that should make the charts in a smallish way."

Comments: 3

Guy from Woodinville, WaThe lads may not have liked it, but it's an interesting artifact of the Stones' evolution, since your first single is always about trying to get a commercial hit. In any case, it's a great pop song. Rare to hear Brian Jones singing!!
Ian from Lethbridge, CanadaThis song is awesome! Very impressive considering it was their very first song!
Chelsea from Nyc, OrA rare appearance of Brian Jones on BU vocals. Andrew Oldham had no idea what "mixing" a song meant when asked how he wanted it to sound after the Stones had recorded it. So he just told the engineer to go ahead. A very "poppy" sounding song for the Stones in their bluesy period that was aimed at the recordbuying market.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Independent Women Part IDestiny's Child

The Destiny's Child "Independent Women Part I" video was directed by the same guy who did the Hunger Games movies.

Candy GirlNew Edition

In the UK, the first #1 hit with a rap was "Candy Girl" by the American boy band New Edition in 1983.

Start Me UpThe Rolling Stones

One of the first hit songs used in a major marketing campaign was "Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones. Microsoft paid $3 million to use it in commercials for Windows '95.

Touch MeThe Doors

At the end of the Doors song "Touch Me," Jim Morrison chants, "Stronger than dirt!" The line is from an Ajax commercial where a white knight rides around destroying dirt.

The CaveMumford & Sons

"The Cave" by Mumford & Sons is based on the philosophy of Plato and his work called "Allegory of the Cave."

The BestTina Turner

"The Best" by Tina Turner was originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler; Turner's hit version added a bridge and a saxophone solo by Edgar Winter.