2

TheRollingStones,'(ICan'tGetNo)Satisfaction'

Writer:MickJagger,KeithRichards
Producer:AndrewLoogOldham
Released:May'65,London
14weeks;No.1
"It'stheriffheardroundtheworld,"saysSteveVanZandt,guitaristfortheEStreetBand."Andit'sone
oftheearliestexamplesofDylaninfluencingtheStonesandtheBeatlesthedegreeofcynicism,and
theideaofbringingmorepersonallyricsfromthefolkandbluestraditionintopopularmusic."
TheriffcametoKeithRichardsinadreamonenightinMay1965,inhismotelroominClearwater,
Florida,ontheRollingStones'thirdU.S.tour.Hewokeupandgrabbedaguitarandacassettemachine.
Richardsplayedtherunofnotesonce,thenfellbacktosleep."Onthetape,"hesaidlater,"youcanhear
medropthepick,andtherestissnoring."
Thatsparkinthenighttheriffthatopensanddefines"(ICan'tGetNo)Satisfaction"transformed
thericketyjumpandpuppyloveofearlyrock&rollintorock.TheprimaltemperofRichards'creation,
playedthroughaGibsonFuzzBox;thesneeringdismissalinMickJagger'slyrics;thestrutofrhythm
guitaristBrianJones,bassistBillWymananddrummerCharlieWatts:Itwasthesoundofageneration
impatienttoinherittheEarth.
Twodecadeslater,Jaggeradmittedthat"Satisfaction"was"myviewoftheworld,myfrustrationwith
everything."Inspiredbythatriffandthetitleline,alsoRichards'idea,Jaggerwrotethewordsalitany
ofdisgustwith"America,itsadvertisingsyndrome,theconstantbarrage"in10minutes,bythemotel

poolthedayafterRichards'dream.Theytriedtocutthesongafewdayslater,onMay10thattheChess
studiosinChicago.Twodaysafterthat,theyfinisheditatRCAStudiosinHollywood,withthevital
additionofthatfuzz."Thatriffneededtosustainitself,"Richardssaid,"andGibsonhadjustbroughtout
theselittleboxes."
"Satisfaction"wasrockoftheStones'ownbolddesignalthoughRichardsmayalsohavebeen
dreamingofChuckBerrythatnightinClearwater.JaggerlatersuggestedthatRichardsunconsciouslygot
thehookfor"Satisfaction"fromalineinBerry's1955single"30Days"("Idon'tgetnosatisfaction
fromthejudge")."It'snotanywayanEnglishpersonwouldexpressit,"Jaggernoted."I'mnotsayingthat
hepurposelynickedanything,butweplayedthoserecordsalot."
Appearson:OutofOurHeads(ABKCO)
RELATED:
The100GreatestArtistsofAllTime:TheRollingStones
The100GreatestSingersofAllTime:MickJagger
The100GreatestGuitaristsofAllTime:KeithRichards
Photos:TheRollingStonesLive,19642007

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