Keith Richards has sold 250,000,000 records. But he still wishes he had written a 1966 song he’s spent his career trying “to beat”
Keith Richards has said he wishes he had written Freddie Scott’s 1966 R&B song ‘Are You Lonely for Me’. The Rolling Stones guitarist called it the genre’s finest example and said he has spent much of his career trying to match it, making the track a lasting measure of the music he admires.
The song reached number one on the US R&B chart and number 39 on the wider Billboard chart. Scott recorded more than 100 takes with producer Bert Berns, with Cissy Houston and the Sweet Inspirations providing backing vocals. It became Scott’s signature hit, admired by artists including Al Green and Otis Redding; Scott died in 2007, aged 74.
In short
- Richards wishes he had written Freddie Scott’s 1966 hit.
- The song topped the US R&B chart.
- Scott recorded more than 100 takes to perfect it.
Explained simply
Keith Richards is the guitarist in the Rolling Stones, a British band whose records have sold in huge numbers. His admiration for Freddie Scott’s “Are You Lonely for Me” reflects the influence of American rhythm and blues (R&B), a style that helped shape the music of many rock musicians.
Scott’s 1966 recording topped the US R&B chart and reached number 39 on the broader Billboard chart. Producer Bert Berns worked through more than 100 takes with Scott, while Cissy Houston and the Sweet Inspirations sang backing vocals. The track became Scott’s signature song and was also admired by singers Al Green and Otis Redding.