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3 Early Rolling Stones Hits That Are Actually Covers
The Rolling Stones are widely regarded as prolific songwriters, with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards behind many of the band's signature hits. However, this article highlights that a number of their successful early recordings were in fact cover versions of songs written and first performed by other artists. It serves as a reminder that even a band known for its own material drew heavily on the rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and Motown records that influenced them.
The three songs featured are "Ain't Too Proud To Beg", "Little Queenie" and "Going To A Go-Go". "Ain't Too Proud To Beg", written by Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland Jr., was first released by The Temptations in 1966; the Stones' 1974 version, from It's Only Rock 'N Roll, became a Top 25 hit. "Little Queenie" was written and released by Chuck Berry in 1959, with the Stones issuing a live take on 1971's Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!. "Going To A Go-Go", written by Smokey Robinson and fellow Miracles members, was a Top 5 hit for The Miracles in 1965, while the Stones' 1982 live rendition on Still Life reached the Top 25.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
This article usefully credits the original Black artists—Chuck Berry, the Temptations, and Smokey Robinson—who created these songs, which matters given music history's complex racial dynamics and how such artists' work was often appropriated. Acknowledging that the Stones reimagined existing material provides valuable context for understanding artistic influence and development without diminishing their immense talent, but rather situating their genius within a broader musical conversation. Such transparency enhances rather than reduces understanding of how music evolves through interpretation and cultural exchange.
The case against
Emphasising three covers from a catalogue of hundreds of originals risks creating a distorted picture of the Stones' primary legacy as innovative songwriters. Covering existing material is a venerable tradition across genres and doesn't suggest lack of originality; the majority of their hits were Jagger-Richards compositions. Without proportional context about their vast original output, selective reporting on covers—even with good intentions—could misleadingly frame a genuinely innovative band as derivative, misrepresenting both the extent and nature of their artistic achievement.
Explained simply
The Rolling Stones are one of the world's most successful rock bands, active since the early 1960s. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the band's primary songwriters, have built a reputation for creating distinctive rock and roll music.
However, not all of their famous recordings were originally written by the Stones themselves. A number of their successful early songs were actually cover versions of songs first performed by other artists from rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and Motown traditions. Examples include "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" (originally by The Temptations), "Little Queenie" (Chuck Berry) and "Going To A Go-Go" (The Miracles).
This reveals a broader pattern in rock music history: bands have often interpreted and covered songs by earlier artists as part of developing their own sound. The Stones' cover versions became hits in their own right during the 1970s and 1980s, showing how covers could stand alongside original material in a band's catalogue.