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The 1969 Rolling Stones song too difficult for Charlie Watts to handle: ‘He couldn’t play the groove’
The article says Charlie Watts struggled to record the groove for the Rolling Stones’ 1969 song ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’, so producer Jimmy Miller played drums on the studio version. It matters because the track became one of the band’s best-known songs despite being an unusual exception to Watts’ normally dependable contribution.
Mick Jagger said the recording was difficult because Watts could not play the groove, while Al Kooper recalled Miller offering to demonstrate it and Watts handing over his sticks. The song appeared on Let It Bleed and features a dense arrangement including choir, horns and orchestral touches; Watts later developed his own way to perform it live.
In short
- Jimmy Miller drummed on ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’.
- Charlie Watts struggled with its unusual groove.
- Watts later learned to play the song live.
Explained simply
The Rolling Stones are a British rock band whose core line-up included singer Mick Jagger and drummer Charlie Watts. Watts was known for his steady drumming, which helped hold together the band’s often varied music.
‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ was released on the 1969 album Let It Bleed. Its recording combined rock instruments with a choir, horns and orchestral elements, making it a more elaborate arrangement than a straightforward band performance.
Jimmy Miller, the band’s producer, also played drums on some Rolling Stones recordings. The song became one of the band’s best-known tracks, and Watts later worked out his own way to play it at concerts.