The 79-year-old artist Keith Richards is a marvel. Whether he’s inspiring characters for The Pirates of the Caribbean or playing guitar in the iconic rock band, the Rolling Stones, the British-born artist is still kicking butt and taking names.
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But as the lead six-string player for the ‘Stones, Richards has led quite the musical life. From writing songs with his band like “(Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” to playing in front of tens of thousands of people, Richards is an icon on the stage.
[RELATED: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards Immortalized as Statues in Their Hometown]
Many fans might not know, however, that Richards, along with band frontman Mick Jagger, has written a number of songs for other artists. Indeed, here are four songs fans likely didn’t know that Richards wrote for other acts.
1. “Blue Turns to Grey,” Tracey Dey
Written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
This is a song several artists tracked in a matter of months. Written by Richards and Jagger, the song was first released in December 1964 thanks to a rendition by American pop star Tracey Dey. Later in February 1965 both Dick and Dee Dee and The Mighty Avengers cut versions. Later that year, the Rolling Stones released their version of the song on the album, December’s Children (And Everybody’s). On Dey’s version the record label credits Richards and the Stones’ former manager Andrew Loog Oldham as the writers. In 1966 Cliff Richards and the Shadows cut a version that was a hit in the U.K. On the breakup love song, Dey sings,
Then blue turns to grey
And try as you may
You just don’t feel good
And you know you’ll never
find him, find him, find him
2. “Tanqueray,” Johnnie Johnson
Written by Keith Richards, Johnnie Johnson
From the 1991 Grammy-nominated blues album, Johnnie B. Bad, by Johnnie Johnson, this song opened the bold LP. Along with Richards, Eric Clapton and Bernie Worrell were featured on the album. Richards was also a co-producer on the album. Johnson’s song “Tanqueray,” which was co-written with Richards, marks the first time Johnson had sung on an album. On the piano-driven booze-inspired blues track, Johnson sings,
Listen to me baby
Hear what I’ve got to say
I said listen to me baby
Hear what I’ve got to say
I’m going round the corner
And have a drink of tanqueray
Come on baby
And do like I say
Come on baby
And do like I say
We’re going down to the corner
And have a drink of tanqueray
3. “Act Together,” Ron Wood
Written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
Ron Wood’s humorously titled 1974 album, I’ve Got My Own Album to Do, was named as such because the musicians, including former Beatles guitarist George Harrison, kept telling Wood they had their own work to do. “Act Together” was written by Jagger and Richards. A slower, organ-bolstered track, Wood sings,
Well it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you,
You’re looking good
Can’t begin to tell how much I’ve missed you
I wish I could
But I like what you’re wearing for me
And I could do things for a little bit of your sympathy
Don’t expect for it to last forever
It never does
But it sure beats talking ’bout the weather
It surely does
And I like what you’re singing to me
But it’s better with a little bit of harmony
4. “Wastin’ Time,” Jimmy Tarbuck
Written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
Another written with Richards’ partner-in-proverbial-musical-crime, Mick Jagger, this song was recorded by English entertainer Jimmy Tarbuck in 1965. Released as part of a single, along with the track, “Someday,” “Wastin’ Time” is a two-and-a-half-minute guitar and piano-driven blues rock song that has that eerie depth that early songs from the Rolling Stones show off. In 1975, the Stones recorded their own version for the album, Metamorphosis. But 10 years prior, it was Tarbuck who unleashed it into the world. On it, he sings,
We’re wastin’ time inside my mind
The thought of her won’t go away come every day
We’re just wasting time
We’re wasting time, my clothes are fine
Still fresh and clean
Her sweet perfume in our old room
We’re just wasting time
With that face that I’ve seen
Maybe thinks the same as me
Well, nothing that we’re learning
While the hands keep turning
Girl, oh girl, can’t you see?
We’re wasting time inside your mind
The thought of him won’t go away come every day
We’re just wasting time
Photo by Dimitri Hakke/Redferns
