LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-APRIL 6, 2019…ON THIS DATE IN 1971, THE ROLLING STONES RELEASED ‘BROWN SUGAR’ IN THE U.S.A, THE FIRST SINGLE FROM THE ALBUM ‘STICKY FINGERS’(IT WAS RELEASE APRIL 16 IN THE U.K.)
IT WAS ALSO THE FIRST SINGLE ON THE GROUP’S NEW LABEL, ROLLING STONE RECORDS, WHICH INTRODUCED THE NOW INFAMOUS “TONGUE AND LIPS LOGO”. THE LOGO WAS DESIGNED BY JOHN PASCHE, WHO WAS FRESH OUT OF ART SCHOOL.
THE ORIGINAL WORKING TITLE FOR THE SONG WAS “BLACK PUSSY” BUT JAGGER DECIDED IT WAS A LITTLE TOO DIRECT AND CHANGED IT TO ‘BROWN SUGAR’
THERE ARE MANY INTERPRETATIONS OF THE SONG. ONE OF JAGGER’S OLD SECRET GIRLFRIENDS MARSHA HUNT SAYS THE SONG WAS WRITTEN FOR HER (IT WAS REVEALED LATER THAT SHE HAD A CHILD WITH JAGGER).
JAGGER STATED THAT THE SONG:
“was all to do with the dual combination of drugs and girls. This song was a very instant thing, a definite high point.”
HE WENT ON TO SAY:
“That makes it… the whole mess thrown in. God knows what I’m on about on that song. It’s such a mishmash. All the nasty subjects in one go… I never would write that song now.”
THE LYRICS WERE DESCRIBED AS A COMBINATION OF A NUMBER OF TABOO SUBJECTS, INCLUDING SLAVERY, RAPE, CUNNILINGUS, LOST VIRGINITY AND HEROIN.
THIS SONG REALLY HAS IT ALL !! HERE’S A LIVE VERSION FROM 1972
