The Rolling Stones epitomize the essence of rock ‘n’ roll, crafting a blueprint that countless bands have followed.
Despite facing numerous scandals throughout their career, they remain dedicated blues enthusiasts living out their dreams.
Their most significant achievement is their remarkable longevity, unmatched by any other band.
While many at their age and with their wealth would choose retirement, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have devoted their lives to music.
Although they’ve slowed down, with 2023’s Hackney Diamonds being their first album of original material in 18 years, their passion for performing in sold-out stadiums is as strong as ever.
Similarly, Neil Young has remained fiercely committed to his craft, having influenced popular culture since the 1960s, with the thought of retirement unsettling him.
While Young and The Rolling Stones share many similarities, notable differences set them apart.
One such contrast lies in Young’s favorite Stones song, which Keith Richards openly despises. For Young, authenticity is the cornerstone of a great song; it doesn’t need to be polished or perfect, just resonant with his soul.
Thus, he is particularly drawn to the Stones’ early, unrefined work, which he finds compelling.
“What I really liked about the Rolling Stones was Brian Jones and Keith Richards playing together,” Young once stated. “Even though Brian Jones was just kind of a bratty, sub-blues kind of guy, he still had the exuberance.”
From Young’s perspective, Jones was the band’s shining star. Although their guitar styles differ significantly, he greatly admires Jones’ vibrant spirit.
Jones’ influence is evident in the recording of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” which also marked The Stones’ first number-one hit in the United States.
Following this success, the industry pressured the band to replicate it, a daunting task.
In response, The Rolling Stones attempted to satisfy their label executives with “Get Off Of My Cloud.”
Although it fell short of the monumental success of “Satisfaction,” it became Young’s favorite track by the legendary band.
“‘Satisfaction’ was a great record, but ‘Get Off Of My Cloud’ is even better,” he explained.
“It’s looser, less of a hit, more of a reckless abandon. I know it’s not as good of a song, and the performance probably isn’t as strong as ‘Satisfaction,’ but that’s what I liked about it. It really sounded like the Rolling Stones.”
Despite Young’s enthusiastic praise, Richards has expressed deep regret over the track.
While he acknowledges it contains elements of a good song, he told Rolling Stone in 1971: “I never dug it as a record. The chorus was a nice idea, but we rushed it as the follow-up. We were in L.A., and it was time for another single.”
Richards believes the decision to create a follow-up to “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was a mistake from the start.
“How do you follow up ‘Satisfaction’? I wanted to do it slow, like a Lee Dorsey thing, but we rocked it up. I thought it was one of Andrew Loog Oldham’s worst productions.”
The differing opinions of Young and Richards regarding “Get Off Of My Cloud” highlight their contrasting attitudes toward music.
Regardless, the song stands as a high-quality rock ‘n’ roll track. However, for Richards, the pressure of living up to “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” clouded his judgment and prevented him from fully appreciating the brilliance of “Get Off Of My Cloud.”
