The First 1960s Rock Song With Sitar To Hit No. 1 in the U.K. Isn’t by the Band You’d Think

When we think of 1960s rock with sitar, our minds often wander to the “Norwegian Wood” and “Within You Without You” of the Beatles in their peak Eastern psychedelia phase. And indeed, the Fab Four played a prominent role in bringing this instrument to the mainstream.

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But in 1966, a different British rock band beat the Beatles to the top of the charts with a sitar-prominent track. Oddly enough, the band only began using the instrument out of boredom.

The First 1960s Rock Song With Sitar to Hit No. 1 in the U.K.

The Beatles first introduced the distinct timbre of the Indian sitar to their musical soundscape in 1965 with “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” off Rubber Soul. While the track did reach the top of the charts in Australia, it stopped just shy of the top in the Beatles’ native U.K. One year later, a different British band would take the title of having the first 1960s rock song with sitar to hit No. 1. That accolade went to the Rolling Stones instead.

The Stones released “Paint It Black” as a single from their 1966 album Aftermath. It was their first track to feature sitar, and its unique sound and galloping rhythm made it an instant hit in the late 1960s mainstream market. “Paint It Black” was a global hit, also topping the charts in the U.S., Netherlands, Ireland, Canada, and Malaysia. Although the Rolling Stones were already undoubtedly successful at the time, this 1966 hit helped them gain an even broader audience.

At a time when the Stones and the Beatles were virtually neck and neck for chart domination and cultural influence, any No. 1 hit was a massive boost to either band’s place in the race. The fact that the Stones would be the first band to reach No. 1 in the U.K. with a sitar is even more notable given the criticism they often received of trying to imitate the Beatles. (Sometimes, that criticism came from the Beatles themselves through song.)

The Rolling Stones Started Including a Sitar Out Of Boredom

Sitar and, more broadly, Eastern harmony became increasingly popular in 1960s rock music, particularly toward the latter half of the decade, because of bands like the Beatles, the Yardbirds, Donovan, and the Rolling Stones. It was guitarist Brian Jones who would kickstart the Stones’ transition to sitar music after he started looking for ways to explore creatively outside of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards’ pop sensibilities. “I’ve always been more interested in musical instruments than the others,” Jones once said.

Although the Rolling Stones weren’t the first ones to use a sitar in their music, Jones refuted the idea that they were copying the Beatles in that same interview. “You might as well say that we copy all the other groups by playing guitar,” he argued. “Also, everyone asks if it’s going to be the new trend. Personally, I wouldn’t like it to be. You don’t have to get that weird Indian sound from a sitar. Take “Norwegian Wood.” Atmospherically, it’s my favorite Beatles track. George [Harrison] made simple use of the sitar, and it was very effective.”

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