The Rolling Stones - Some Girls (#468)

In this episode of Backwards Beats, Dan and Carl explore Some Girls by The Rolling Stones, a landmark 1978 release that revitalized the band during the disco and punk era. The discussion covers how the Stones adapted to the changing musical landscape, the unique blend of styles on the album, and why Some Girls remains one of their best-selling and most beloved works. From Jagger’s embrace of disco on “Miss You” to the raw rock energy of “Respectable” and the soulful vulnerability of “Beast of Burden,” the hosts dig into the stories and sounds that defined this late-career classic.

Key Points

• Some Girls was released in 1978, at a time when punk and disco were reshaping popular music.
• The album marked Ronnie Wood’s first full contribution as an official band member.
• Tracks like “Miss You” showed the Stones successfully pulling from disco influences, while “Shattered” and “Respectable” responded to punk’s urgency.
• “Far Away Eyes” highlighted their continued use of country elements in surprising ways.
• “Before They Make Me Run” gave Keith Richards a spotlight as lead vocalist, reflecting his personal struggles at the time.
• The band’s ability to adapt to shifting trends while keeping their core identity intact helped cement Some Girls as a late-career triumph.

Music Referenced

• Black and Blue by The Rolling Stones
• Exile on Main Street by The Rolling Stones
• Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones
• Sugar Blue
• Ian McLagan
• Mel Collins
• Simon Kirke
• The Bum Bum Song by Tom Green
• How Bizarre by OMC
• Changes by David Bowie
• Genie in a Bottle by Christina
• John Melon Camp
• Hip to be Square by Huey Lewis
• Jamiroquai

Join us next week when we review BLACKsummer'snight by Maxwell.