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.