These 4 Classic Tracks Wouldn’t Be the Same Without Nicky Hopkins

Studio musicians often blend into the background. But session ace Nicky Hopkins helped shape some of the biggest rock albums in history with his iconic keyboard arrangements. He recorded groundbreaking songs with The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Beatles, and many others. Hopkins has a staggering list of credits, and as you’ll hear below, these four tracks wouldn’t be the same without him.

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“Sympathy For The Devil” by The Rolling Stones

On the opening track to Beggars Banquet, the Devil narrates historical tragedies while detailing humans’ complicity in the catastrophic events. While a driving bass line and layers of percussion set the groove, Hopkins’ piano part gives “Sympathy For The Devil” its anxious intensity. His part adds rollicking blues to the tune’s mixture of folk and samba. Hopkins cut several classics with The Rolling Stones, including “Gimme Shelter”, “Angie”, and “Street Fighting Man”.  

“Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Hopkins recorded chimes, glockenspiel, and piano on Lennon and Ono’s Christmas plea for peace. Phil Spector produced the song, and the parts performed by Hopkins add to the Wall of Sound that Spector was famous for. The track’s density turns a Vietnam War protest into an anthem with its pronouncement: “War is over.” The sound of Hopkins’ instrumentation and the children’s choir echoes the same spirit as Lennon’s timeless hymn, “Imagine”.

“Beck’s Bolero” by Jeff Beck

This was Jimmy Page’s first attempt at what later became Led Zeppelin. The guitarist assembled a supergroup of musicians consisting of Jeff Beck, Keith Moon, John Paul Jones, and Hopkins. Though the group didn’t become Led Zeppelin, “Beck’s Bolero” remains one of the great rock instrumentals. Hopkins’ piano is crucial to Page’s Spanish dance, which features signature slide guitar from Beck. The triumphant, heavy groove midway through the song foreshadows the colossal band Page and Jones would eventually form with Robert Plant and John Bonham.

“Revolution” by The Beatles

There’s a furious electric piano break in “Revolution” that pushes through the distorted guitars. The piano part itself sounds like a revolution as Nicky Hopkins connects early rock and roll to The Beatles’ late 60s experiments. Think Jerry Lee Lewis in a psychedelic rock band. Three versions of the song exist, with the brashest appearing as the B-side to “Hey Jude”. The others, “Revolution 1” and “Revolution 9”, appear on the self-titled White Album.

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