Salt of the Earth (song)
Encyclopedia
"Salt of the Earth" is a song from the 1968 Rolling Stones album Beggars Banquet
.
Written by Mick Jagger
and Keith Richards
, the song is most notable for its opening lead vocal by Richards. While not his first as lead vocalist (which is "Something Happened to Me Yesterday
" from Between the Buttons
), it was his most prominent to date. The lyrics (written primarily by Jagger) salute the common workers of the world:
Jagger said in a 1970 interview that the lyrics were written as "...total cynicism. I'm saying those people haven't any power and they never will have." Notable within the lyrics is the salute to the salt of the earth but no action to change or improve the circumstances of working people is implied or suggested. In a twice-repeated stanza, the singer professes a distance from his subject that seemingly belies the sentiment of the verses:
"Salt of the Earth" heavily features the acoustic work of Richards, typical of most songs from Beggars Banquet. Richards also performs the slide guitar
throughout the song as Brian Jones
, notable for his slide on other songs from Beggars Banquet, was absent from these sessions. While some songs from Beggars Banquet were famously recorded by Jagger and Richards with only a tape recorder in between them, "Salt of the Earth" was recorded at London's Olympic Sound Studios
from May until July in 1968.
Featuring on the song are the Los Angeles Watts Street Gospel Choir and a piano performance by Nicky Hopkins
. These additions, and their prominence near the end of the song, are thought to have had an influence on their next album Let It Bleed
s closing song, "You Can't Always Get What You Want
".
"Salt of the Earth" has a unique live history. It has only been played live six times. The first was for the taping of the 1968 television special The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
(not released until 1996). It was then revived 21 years later for three performances in Atlantic City during the 1989-1990 Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour
, where the Stones were joined onstage by Axl Rose
and Izzy Stradlin
of Guns N' Roses
(YouTube video). Axl and Izzy were given their choice of songs, and when they chose this, the Stones had forgotten it, and had to listen it to remember. Jagger and Richards performed it as a duet for the 2001 "The Concert for New York City
", commemorating the fallen of September 11, 2001. Its only other performance was in London in 2003 during the Licks Tour
.
and Judy Collins
each recorded versions of the song (in 1971 and 1975, respectively). Johnny Adams
also recorded a version.
Jamaican Reggae musician Dandy Livingstone
covered the song in 1971. http://www.allmusic.com/album/suzanne-beware-of-the-devil-the-best-of-dandy-livingston-r619016
Proud Mary covered the song on their first album Same Old Blues, released 18 June 2001.
Blues singer Bettye LaVette
covered the song on her 2010 album Interpretations: The British Songbook.
"Salt of the Earth" is also the title to a documentary on the Rolling Stones 2005-06 'A Bigger Bang' World Tour. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1046190/
This song was adapted into Portuguese by Hélder Ribeiro, founder of Mocamfe.
Beggars Banquet
- Personnel :The Rolling Stones* Mick Jagger – lead and backing vocals, harmonica on "Parachute Woman"* Keith Richards – acoustic and electric guitar, bass guitar on "Sympathy for the Devil" and "Street Fighting Man", backing vocals, lead vocals on opening of "Salt of the Earth"* Brian...
.
Written by Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
and Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
, the song is most notable for its opening lead vocal by Richards. While not his first as lead vocalist (which is "Something Happened to Me Yesterday
Something Happened to Me Yesterday
"Something Happened to Me Yesterday" is the closing track of The Rolling Stones' 1967 album Between the Buttons.Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and recorded in August and November 1966, "Something Happened to Me Yesterday" is the first officially released Rolling Stones track to feature...
" from Between the Buttons
Between the Buttons
- American release:In the US, the album was released by London Records on February 11, 1967 . "Let's Spend the Night Together" and "Ruby Tuesday" were slotted onto the album while "Back Street Girl" and "Please Go Home" were removed ...
), it was his most prominent to date. The lyrics (written primarily by Jagger) salute the common workers of the world:
Jagger said in a 1970 interview that the lyrics were written as "...total cynicism. I'm saying those people haven't any power and they never will have." Notable within the lyrics is the salute to the salt of the earth but no action to change or improve the circumstances of working people is implied or suggested. In a twice-repeated stanza, the singer professes a distance from his subject that seemingly belies the sentiment of the verses:
"Salt of the Earth" heavily features the acoustic work of Richards, typical of most songs from Beggars Banquet. Richards also performs the slide guitar
Slide guitar
Slide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
throughout the song as Brian Jones
Brian Jones
Lewis Brian Hopkins Jones , known as Brian Jones, was an English musician and a founding member of the Rolling Stones....
, notable for his slide on other songs from Beggars Banquet, was absent from these sessions. While some songs from Beggars Banquet were famously recorded by Jagger and Richards with only a tape recorder in between them, "Salt of the Earth" was recorded at London's Olympic Sound Studios
Olympic Studios
Olympic Studios was a renowned independent commercial recording studio located at 117 Church Road, Barnes, South West London, England. The studio is best known for the huge number of famous rock and pop recordings made there from the late 1960s onward....
from May until July in 1968.
Featuring on the song are the Los Angeles Watts Street Gospel Choir and a piano performance by Nicky Hopkins
Nicky Hopkins
Nicholas Christian "Nicky" Hopkins was an English pianist and organist.He recorded and performed on noted British and American popular music recordings of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s as a session musician....
. These additions, and their prominence near the end of the song, are thought to have had an influence on their next album Let It Bleed
Let It Bleed
Let It Bleed is the eighth British and tenth American album by English rock band The Rolling Stones, released in December 1969 by Decca Records in the United Kingdom and London Records in the United States...
s closing song, "You Can't Always Get What You Want
You Can't Always Get What You Want
"You Can't Always Get What You Want" is a song by The Rolling Stones released on their 1969 album Let It Bleed. Written primarily by Mick Jagger with assistance from Keith Richards, it was named as the 100th greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone in its 2004 list of "500 Greatest Songs of All...
".
"Salt of the Earth" has a unique live history. It has only been played live six times. The first was for the taping of the 1968 television special The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus is a film released in 1996 of an 11 December 1968 event put together by The Rolling Stones. The event comprised two concerts on a circus stage and included such acts as The Who, Taj Mahal, Marianne Faithfull, and Jethro Tull...
(not released until 1996). It was then revived 21 years later for three performances in Atlantic City during the 1989-1990 Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour
Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour
The Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels Tour was a concert tour which was launched in North America in August 1989 to promote the band's album Steel Wheels; it continued to Japan in February 1990, with ten shows at the Tokyo Dome. The European leg of the tour, which featured a different stage and logo,...
, where the Stones were joined onstage by Axl Rose
Axl Rose
W. Axl Rose is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist and only remaining original member of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he enjoyed great success and recognition in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before disappearing from the public eye for several years...
and Izzy Stradlin
Izzy Stradlin
Jeffrey Dean Isbell , known by his stage name Izzy Stradlin, is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the co-founder and former rhythm guitarist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, which he left at the height of its fame in 1991. Following his departure, he led his own band Izzy...
of Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
(YouTube video). Axl and Izzy were given their choice of songs, and when they chose this, the Stones had forgotten it, and had to listen it to remember. Jagger and Richards performed it as a duet for the 2001 "The Concert for New York City
The Concert for New York City
The Concert for New York City was a benefit concert, featuring many famous musicians, that took place on October 20, 2001 at Madison Square Garden in New York City in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks...
", commemorating the fallen of September 11, 2001. Its only other performance was in London in 2003 during the Licks Tour
Licks Tour
The Licks Tour was a lengthy, worldwide concert tour held during 2002 and 2003 by The Rolling Stones. Its start was somewhat concurrent with the compilation album Forty Licks, which was released on October 1, 2002....
.
Covers
Folk singers Joan BaezJoan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
and Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...
each recorded versions of the song (in 1971 and 1975, respectively). Johnny Adams
Johnny Adams
Laten John Adams , known as Johnny Adams, was an American blues, jazz and gospel singer, known as "The Tan Canary" for the multi-octave range of his singing voice, his swooping vocal mannerisms and falsetto...
also recorded a version.
Jamaican Reggae musician Dandy Livingstone
Dandy Livingstone
Dandy Livingstone is a Jamaican reggae musician and producer, best known for his 1972 hit, "Suzanne Beware of the Devil", and for his song, "Rudy, A Message to You", which was later a hit for The Specials...
covered the song in 1971. http://www.allmusic.com/album/suzanne-beware-of-the-devil-the-best-of-dandy-livingston-r619016
Proud Mary covered the song on their first album Same Old Blues, released 18 June 2001.
Blues singer Bettye LaVette
Bettye LaVette
Bettye LaVette is an American soul singer-songwriter who made her first record at sixteen, but achieved only intermittent fame until 2005, with her album, I've Got My Own Hell to Raise...
covered the song on her 2010 album Interpretations: The British Songbook.
"Salt of the Earth" is also the title to a documentary on the Rolling Stones 2005-06 'A Bigger Bang' World Tour. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1046190/
This song was adapted into Portuguese by Hélder Ribeiro, founder of Mocamfe.