The Spider and the Fly (song)
Encyclopedia
"The Spider and the Fly" is a song by British rock and roll
band The Rolling Stones
first released on the US version of their 1965 album Out of Our Heads
. In the UK it was released as the B side to "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
".
The song was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. A low and lumbering blues
number, "The Spider and the Fly" was cut by the band during their first tour of the US at Chicago's
Chess Records
. The lyrics talk of the search for women on a night out;
Singer Mick Jagger
said in a 1995 interview with Rolling Stone
, "I wasn't really that mad about it, but when you listen to it on record, it still holds up quite interestingly as a blues song. It's a Jimmy Reed
blues with British pop-group words, which is an interesting combination: a song somewhat stuck in a time warp."
Of particular note is the early use of the Rolling Stones' "ancient form of weaving" by guitarists Keith Richards
and Brian Jones
. Jagger performs harmonica on the recording while Jack Nitzsche
provides percussion and keyboards.
The Stones have performed "The Spider and the Fly" twice on tour, in both 1965 and 1966 and during their 1995 leg of the Voodoo Lounge Tour
. A studio "reworking" of the song was included on their 1995 live album Stripped
and features the notable and amusing switch of the female subject of the song's age from thirty to fifty - a nod at the Stones' own advancing ages.
In 1996, the song was covered by blues-rock
guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd
(with featured harmonica playing by veteran bluesman James Cotton
), and included in the soundtrack for the movie, "Michael
", which starred John Travolta
& Andie MacDowell
. Other covers were recorded by blues artist John Hammond
on his 2003 album Ready For Love and Roland Van Campenhout on his 2003 album Lime & Coconut. This song was played at the end of Entourage episode season 2011
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
first released on the US version of their 1965 album Out of Our Heads
Out of Our Heads
- American release:Initially issued in July 1965 in America - American release:Initially issued in July 1965 in America - American release:Initially issued in July 1965 in America (featuring a shot from the same photo session that graced the cover of 12 X 5 and The Rolling Stones No...
. In the UK it was released as the B side to "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
" Satisfaction" is a song by the English rock band The Rolling Stones, released in 1965. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. Richards's throwaway three-note guitar riff — intended to be replaced by horns — opens and drives the song...
".
The song was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. A low and lumbering blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
number, "The Spider and the Fly" was cut by the band during their first tour of the US at Chicago's
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
. The lyrics talk of the search for women on a night out;
Singer 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....
said in a 1995 interview with Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, "I wasn't really that mad about it, but when you listen to it on record, it still holds up quite interestingly as a blues song. It's a Jimmy Reed
Jimmy Reed
Mathis James "Jimmy" Reed was an American blues musician and songwriter, notable for bringing his distinctive style of blues to mainstream audiences. Reed was a major player in the field of electric blues, as opposed to the more acoustic-based sound of many of his contemporaries...
blues with British pop-group words, which is an interesting combination: a song somewhat stuck in a time warp."
Of particular note is the early use of the Rolling Stones' "ancient form of weaving" by guitarists 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...
and Brian Jones
Brian Jones
Lewis Brian Hopkins Jones , known as Brian Jones, was an English musician and a founding member of the Rolling Stones....
. Jagger performs harmonica on the recording while Jack Nitzsche
Jack Nitzsche
Bernard Alfred "Jack" Nitzsche was an arranger, producer, songwriter, and film score composer. He first came to prominence in the late 1950s as the right-hand-man of producer Phil Spector, and went on to work with the Rolling Stones, Neil Young and others...
provides percussion and keyboards.
The Stones have performed "The Spider and the Fly" twice on tour, in both 1965 and 1966 and during their 1995 leg of the Voodoo Lounge Tour
Voodoo Lounge Tour
The Voodoo Lounge Tour was a worldwide concert tour by The Rolling Stones to promote their 1994 album Voodoo Lounge. This was their first tour without bassist Bill Wyman; he was replaced by Darryl Jones. The tour grossed $320 million, becoming the highest grossing tour of any artist at that time...
. A studio "reworking" of the song was included on their 1995 live album Stripped
Stripped (Rolling Stones album)
Stripped is The Rolling Stones album released in 1995 during the Voodoo Lounge Tour. The album was a mixture of live recordings from smaller venues and studio recordings - made with no overdubs - of songs mostly from their previous catalogue...
and features the notable and amusing switch of the female subject of the song's age from thirty to fifty - a nod at the Stones' own advancing ages.
In 1996, the song was covered by blues-rock
Blues-rock
Blues rock is a hybrid musical genre combining bluesy improvisations over the 12-bar blues and extended boogie jams with rock and roll styles. The core of the blues rock sound is created by the electric guitar, piano, bass guitar and drum kit, with the electric guitar usually amplified through a...
guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Kenny Wayne Shepherd is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He has released several studio albums and experienced a rare level of commercial success both as a blues artist and a young musician.-Biography:Shepherd graduated Caddo Magnet High School in Shreveport, Louisiana...
(with featured harmonica playing by veteran bluesman James Cotton
James Cotton
James Cotton is an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, who has performed and recorded with many of the great blues artists of his time as well as with his own band.-Career:...
), and included in the soundtrack for the movie, "Michael
Michael (1996 film)
Michael is a 1996 American fantasy film directed by Nora Ephron and released in 1996. The film stars John Travolta as the Archangel Michael, who is sent to Earth to do various tasks, including mending some wounded hearts...
", which starred John Travolta
John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
& Andie MacDowell
Andie MacDowell
Rosalie Anderson "Andie" MacDowell is an American model and actress. She has received the Golden Camera and an Honorary César.-Early life:...
. Other covers were recorded by blues artist John Hammond
John P. Hammond
John Paul Hammond is an American blues singer and guitarist. The son of record producer John H. Hammond, he is sometimes referred to as "John Hammond, Jr.".-Background:...
on his 2003 album Ready For Love and Roland Van Campenhout on his 2003 album Lime & Coconut. This song was played at the end of Entourage episode season 2011