More about: The Rolling Stones

With news of The Rolling Stones finally bringing their No Filter tour to the UK this summer, this seems a good a time as any to start fantasizing about that perfect set list.

And yes, you can expect all the hits but some of us would love the Stones to cut a little deeper than usual. This, after all, is a band 56 years into its existence with a veritable treasure trove at its disposal, and some of their best material lies unplayed and unexplored.

With any luck, the Stones will put on one of their legendary club shows nearer the UK dates and if we’re luckier still, these are the 10 rarities, b-sides and deep cuts we’d like to hear most…

Off The Hook (T.A.M.I. Show, 1964)

Shot in 1964 for the T.A.M.I. Show at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in October 1964, Keith Richards still reckons that choosing to go on after James Brown’s incendiary set was the worst mistake The Rolling Stones ever made. Perhaps so, but as evidenced by this footage of the band’s original line from that gig, The Rolling Stones were no slouches themselves, even if Mick Jagger’s footwork comes nowhere near to that of Mr Dynamite’s

Travelin’ Man (unreleased demo recording, 1970)

Widely believed to have been recorded around the sessions for Sticky Fingers, this rough diamond shows that even when the band were sniffing for truffles, they could still unearth gems. For sure, it could do with some pruning and polishing up but even in this form it displays the mighty rhythms they could conjure up and work to. The interplay between Mick Taylor and guest keyboardist Nicky Hopkins is extraordinary and it’s tempting to consider how good this could’ve been if they’d finished it.

Cocksucker Blues (unreleased demo, 1970)

Delivered to Decca as both a way of fulfilling their contractual obligations as well as a “fuck you” to the label, this tale of a rent boy selling his wares in the West End of London still remains unreleased. It also gave its name to the scandalous tour documentary that still remains gathering dust in the vaults.

Let It Rock (From The Vault: The Marquee Club 1971)

Hounded by the police, skint and facing a massive tax bill, The Rolling Stones were forced into becoming tax exiles. Shortly before upping sticks and moving to the south of France, the band embarked on a 10-date, nine city tour in March 1971. Their first proper UK tour since 1966, the band was augmented by keyboard player Nicky Hopkins and the horn section of saxophonist Bobby Keys and trumpeter Jim Price. As attested by the many bootlegs of the tour (see also the essential Get Your Leeds Lungs Out), the Stones were on particularly incendiary form, and this clip sees the band at its best.

Silver Train (Goat’s Head Soup, 1973)

The Rolling Stones were sounding a little bit tired even in 1973, but this deep cut from the band’s back catalogue shows that they could still deliver when sufficiently roused. Mick Jagger looks a bit silly as he tries to keep up with the glam rockers and the look on Charlie Watts’ face from behind the kit at 2.46 says it all.

Dance Little Sister (It’s Only Rock’N’Roll, 1974)

Mick Taylor’s departure left a huge gap for Ronnie Wood to fill. Perhaps too big as the Stones haven’t played this hip-shaking rocker for quite some time. A shame, but this here version has the lot: Keith Richards is locked in tight with Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts, Jagger’s on fine form and Taylor simply extraordinary.

Jiving Sister Fanny (Metamorphosis, 1975)

If any one track proves that Mick Taylor was the greatest lead guitarist to have played in the Stones, then ‘Jiving Sister Fanny’ is it. Recorded during the sessions for 1969’s Let It Bleed album, this infectious boogie monster finally surfaced on the 1975 odds’n’sods collection, Metamorphosis. Lyrically slight, to be sure, the groove mined here is as deep as it is wide, and Taylor’s creamy playing is in a league of its own.

Bye Bye Johnny (Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones, 1974)

Taken from their rampage across the States in support of their then just released double album, Exile On Main Street, this coruscating version of ‘Bye Bye Johnny’ makes the convincing argument that The Rolling Stones did Chuck Berry better than Chuck Berry ever did.

Tallahassee Lassie (outtake, Some Girls, 1978)

Though outflanked by The Flamin’ Groovies with their take of Freddie Cannon’s original, The Rolling Stones acquit themselves well as they welcome new boy Ronnie Wood on board. Though the track didn’t make the final cut, the Some Girls album found the band sounding more urgent than they had in years.

Jump On Top Of Me (b-side, ‘You Got Me Rocking, 1994)

The Stones have always been about the groove. Remember – this is a band that places as much emphasis on the roll as it does on the rock. Bill Wyman’s departure after 30 years of service form the band’s engine room caused a degree of consternation with Keith Richards though new boy Darryl Jones soon proved himself more than up for the job. Though essentially a re-write of Steve Miller Band’s ‘Rock ‘N Me’, this is music for the neck down.

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More about: The Rolling Stones