The Rolling Stones' first original UK chart-topper was built on a gospel foundation
In short: Before it became a rock staple, The Last Time was a traditional gospel melody. While Mick Jagger and Keith Richards added a signature guitar riff and verse, the chorus traces back to a 1926 sermon. The song’s legacy spans from 1960s protest covers to a high-profile legal battle over sampling.
Recorded in January 1965 at RCA Studios in Hollywood, The Last Time marked a milestone for the Rolling Stones as their first original A-side to reach number one on the UK singles chart. The track, produced with assistance from Phil Spector, features a distinctive guitar hook played by Brian Jones, while Keith Richards handled the rhythm chords and solo. Despite its rock credentials, the song is deeply rooted in tradition; Richards acknowledged that the chorus was a re-adaptation of a 1954 gospel recording by the Staple Singers, which itself originated from a 1926 sermon by Reverend J. M. Gates.
The song’s cultural footprint is vast, serving as both a protest anthem and a legal cautionary tale. In 1967, the Who released a cover as a show of solidarity after Jagger and Richards were imprisoned on drug charges, aiming to keep the duo's music in the public eye. Decades later, the song became central to a complex copyright dispute. In 1997, former manager Allen Klein sued the Verve for using a sample of an orchestral version of the song in their hit Bitter Sweet Symphony. The legal fallout forced the Verve to relinquish all royalties and share songwriting credits, though the rights were eventually returned to Richard Ashcroft in 2019.
Beyond its original iteration, the track has enjoyed a long life through diverse interpretations. It was a recurring feature in the Grateful Dead’s repertoire between 1990 and 1995, and its iconic hook has been sampled by modern artists like Tinchy Stryder. From garage rock covers in the 1960s to country renditions by Bobby Bare and the Tractors, the song has proven remarkably adaptable. Whether through its evolution from gospel to rock or its role in music industry litigation, The Last Time remains a pivotal piece of the Rolling Stones' canon.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Last Time (Rolling Stones song)
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