What can you say about Keith Richards that hasn’t already been said? He’s the Platonic ideal of a lead guitar player—mysterious, musically unique, captivating. As the lead player for the Rolling Stones, Richards has had more ink spilled over him than notes he’s played on his six-string, practically.
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But did you know that the British-born student of early rock ‘n’ roll also wrote songs for other artists? As a burgeoning artist, Richards had so much talent and ability that it overflowed to other friends and musicians. As evidenced by these three songs below.
Indeed, these are three songs you likely didn’t know the 79-year-old Keith Richards wrote for other artists several decades ago.
1. “Sure the One You Need,” Ron Wood
Written by Keith Richards, Mick Jagger
The historic one-two punch behind the Rolling Stones—singer Mick Jagger and lead guitarist Keith Richards—composed this song that would end up being a popular track for British-born artist Ronnie Wood, who would later join the Stones in 1975. Wood was also known for playing in the band Faces and with the Jeff Beck Group.
This song appeared on Wood’s 1974 LP, I’ve Got My Own Album to Do. It was a title idea Wood got from the many big-name artists who worked on his record, who also told him they needed to work on their own material. So, Wood made a joke out of the common refrain.
On the blues-rock amorous song, Wood sings, giving perhaps his best Bob Dylan impression,
She may not be the one you’re thinking of
But she is still the only one you really love
Yes I see you every day
Trying to score an easy lay
Sure the one you need, she’s sure the one you need
Tries to know what it is you want
2. “Will You Be My Lover Tonight” George Bean
Written by Keith Richards, Mick Jagger
Another early collaboration between Jagger and Richards for another local artist, this single, “Will You Be My Lover Tonight” was released by lesser-known English songwriter George Bean in 1964. It’s a sweet tune, part of the early wave of British rock, which was itself influenced by American blues, R&B and rock musicians. On the song, rich with adoration and melody, Bean sings,
Will you, will you, will you be my lover tonight?
Will you, will you, will you hold me tight?
I’ve been waiting such a long long time
To hear you say that you’ll be mine
Will you, will you, will you be my lover tonight?
Tell me, tell me, tell me, you want me too
Tell me, tell me, tell me, I need you
When I saw you over there
What could I do but stand and stare
Will you, will you, will you be my lover tonight?
I don’t pretend to know the reason why
I love you so don’t ever make me cry, no no no no no
3. “All I Want Is My Baby,” Bobby Jameson
Written by Keith Richards, Andrew Loog Oldham
The A-Side to the Richards and Jagger 1964 single, “Each and Every Day,” the song “All I Want Is My Baby” was written by Richards and Andrew Loog Oldham, a British record producer and music industry personality who also managed the Stones from 1963 to 1967. The song came about when Oldham had said he wanted to record American singer, Bobby Jameson. There is some rumor, too, that this song features then-session guitar player Jimmy Page. In the song, again about love, Jameson sings,
All I want
is my baby
woah-oah-oah
Every place I go
always reminds me
of all the times we had
are now behind me
All I want is my baby
Photo by David Wolff-Patrick/Redferns
