Top 10 Charlie Watts Rolling Stones Songs
Evening Standard, Hulton Archive, Getty Images
'Moon Is Up'
From: 'Voodoo Lounge' (1994)
One of the few things about the Stones that
didn't get lazier as they got older was Watts' expert drumming.
Throughout the post-peak years, the routine tours and the dismal 'Dirty
Work,' Watts remained an illuminating beacon. Just listen to his
reliably remarkable timekeeping on the 'Voodoo Lounge' deep track 'Moon
Is Up.' Nothing too tricky here; just a veteran drummer doing his job
supremely well.
'19th Nervous Breakdown'
Single, 1966
The Stones started taking some risks in 1966,
starting with this musically adventurous single, which peaked at No. 2.
Watts plays like a jazz drummer on '19th Nervous Breakdown''s verses,
turning into the more rock-like choruses with rolling toms and cymbal
crashes without missing a single beat. Pure excellence from start to
finish.
'Undercover of the Night'
From: 'Undercover' (1983)
Even though outside musicians supply some of the
percussive fuel for this rhythmic political song from 1983, it's Watts'
machine-gun drumming that propels it forward, spraying bursts of snare
and big drum bounce all over the place. Like their mid-'60s output (see
No. 9 on our list of the Top 10 Charlie Watts Rolling Stones Songs),
'Undercover of the Night' breaks band formula and ricochets inside your
head with exciting new sounds.
'Gimme Shelter'
From: 'Let It Bleed' (1969)
The menacing opening guitar lick signals a
brewing storm, but it's Watts' monster drum drops that bring the
thunder. And just as soon as he makes his booming entrance, he settles
in for the rest of the song, riding the torrent like a master of the
wave. Even as the rest of the band hurtles toward doom at the end of
'Gimme Shelter,' Watts remains cool in the face of danger.
'Beast of Burden'
From: 'Some Girls' (1978)
Watts excelled at laying a solid foundation for
the Stones, no matter what style they were operating with — blues,
R&B, pop, psychedelia, disco or rock. On this Top 10 single, he
locks into a groove immediately after the great opening guitar riff,
giving the mid-tempo song a worthy backbeat to carry it through to the
end. A typically subtle, but absolutely brilliant, performance by Watts.
'(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction'
From: 'Out of Our Heads' (1965)
The Stones' first No. 1 is rightfully celebrated
for its career-defining guitar riff, one of rock's all-time best. But
don't underestimate Watts' contribution to the classic — he pounds away
like an R&B journeyman, occasionally adding tiny fills to the
driving mix. And, of course, he's the one leading the charge into '(I
Can't Get No) Satisfaction''s timeless “hey, hey, hey, that's what I say” line.
'Tumbling Dice'
From: 'Exile on Main St.' (1972)
Like in 'Beast of Burden' (see No. 6 on our list
of the Top 10 Charlie Watts Rolling Stones Songs), the lead single from
the Stones' best album starts with a spiked but fluid guitar lick by Keith Richards.
But then Watts rolls into the song with a delicacy that never forces
his appearance. But you know he's there — just listen to the way he
locks into the beginning and end of each verse.
'Paint It, Black'
From: 'Aftermath' (1966)
Even with all of the other musical shenanigans
going on (sitar, Hammond B3, the stop-start structure near the end of
the song), Watts' arms-all-over-the-place drumming manages to stand out
on 'Paint It, Black.' Unlike most of his subtle playing throughout his
career, Watts' performance here tends to be a bit showy, as he slams,
rolls and attacks with spotlight-hogging directness. We like.
'Honky Tonk Women'
Single, 1969
Forget Blue Öyster Cult's '(Don't Fear) The Reaper'; 'Honky Tonk Women' is the
premier cowbell song. It also features one of Watts' best-ever
performances. From the stumbling-in intro, which is 100 percent Watts,
to the steady beat that drives the verses to the doubling up on the
choruses, rock 'n' roll drumming doesn't get much better.
'Get Off of My Cloud'
From: 'December's Children (And Everybody's)' (1965)
Like he does on 'Honky Honk Women' (see No. 2 on
our list of the Top 10 Charlie Watts Rolling Stones Songs), Watts
totally dominates the Stones' second No. 1 single, which features one of
the most unconventional drum structures ever employed in a Top 40 hit.
Basically, Watts plays the same 4/4-beat-fill-4/4-beat-fill pattern
throughout the song, guaranteeing you won't be able to escape the noisy
upstairs neighbors, no matter how hard you try. That he keeps it up for
the entire three minutes without once breaking the beat is a testament
to his timeless talent.
