The band have dropped this number from their live act reportedly because of controversy over the lyrics. That’s good enough for me to feature it. It is credited to Jagger and Richards but was primarily by Jagger. It was recorded in 1969 and released as a single on April 16, 1971, a week ahead of the album Sticky Fingers on which it is the lead track. It reached No 1 in the US and No 2 in Britain. Rolling Stone ranked it at number five in the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time.
Here is a mimed version on Top of the Pops. I think it’s risible. I can’t understand why the band allowed themselves to do it.
This live performance is infinitely better, though I am not sure that the video and soundtrack are from the same occasion. Love Mick’s cute bolero.
I’m so disappointed that the Stones have disowned “Brown Sugar”, it is one of the greatest singles of all time (Brown Sugar / Bitch / Let It Rock) and contributed much to their popularity and wealth in the 1970s. Another example of the past being hushed up.