Album: Singles Collection: The London Years (1963)
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Songfacts®:

  • This was the first original song The Stones recorded. They stuck to covers of blues songs until then.
  • The Stones released this as the B-side of "I Wanna Be Your Man."
  • An obvious title for The Rolling Stones, "Stoned" is far from their signature song. There are very few lyrics on the track, which is indeed about being stoned.
  • The music is based on the instrumental song "Green Onions" by Booker T. & the MG's.
  • The songwriting credit went to Nanker Phelge, a collective credit for the five band members (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman). "Phelge" was the derisive nickname for a guy Richards used to live with. "He was the sort of guy who would nail up the john while you're in there and lower a tape recorder in through the window and capture the moment when the victim couldn't get the door open," Richards explained in Melody Maker. "He ended up with a whole reel of tape and every time it got to the bit where they flushed the toilet you'd hear a roar of applause."

    As for "Nanker," Richards said it was "One of Brian's inventions and deserves to stay with him."

Comments: 2

  • Davíd from Woburn, MaTom's right. "Nnker Phelge" was a combo of all their last names, which was easier than crediting Jagger/Richards/Jones/Wyman/Hopkins/Jones. Plus, it sounds cooler.
  • Tom from Yuba City, CaNanker Phelge is the name attributed to when all five stones contributed equally and they shared in the royalties. That's why you only see it in early Stones songs
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