The Rolling Stones classic “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” was first released on this day in 1968
The song was seen as a return to their music roots after their Psychedelic phase
The Rolling Stones classic “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” was first released on this day in 1968
Released on May 24, 1968, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” was the Rolling Stones return to their Blues roots after their Psychedelic phase that culminated with the 1967 album “Their Satanic Majesties Request”. One of their most acclaimed singles and songs, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and according to him, he and Jagger wrote the lyrics while staying at Richards’ country house, where they were awoken one morning by the sound of gardener Jack Dyer walking past the window. When Jagger asked what the noise was, Richards responded: “Oh, that’s Jack – that’s jumpin’ Jack.” Also according to Richards, the famous intro line, “I was born in a crossfire hurricane” refers to him being born amid the bombing and air raid sirens of Dartford, England, in 1943 during World War II.
The song and it’s recording was developed during the “Beggars Banquet” sessions in 1968. In his autobiography, Stone Alone, Bill Wyman has said that he came up with the song’s distinctive main guitar riff on a piano without being credited for it. Backed with “Child of the Moon” (a somehow still Psychedelic Rock song), “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” peaked to No.1 in the UK singles charts and to No.3 at the U.S Hot 100. The song was released as a stand-alone single, and thus, not featured on any of the Rolling Stones studio albums, instead, has been featured on several greatest hits compilations of the band, being the first time in the 1969 “Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)” shortly after Brian Jones death. The most popular promotional film for the song features the band lipsyncing, but with Jagger singing a clearly different vocal. and all wearing makeup.
Watch the Rolling Stones 1968 promotional film for “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
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