Yesterday's Papers Explained

Yesterday's Papers
Type:song
Artist:the Rolling Stones
Album:Between the Buttons
Recorded:November 1966
Genre:Psychedelic pop
Length:
  • (stereo version)
  • 2:28 (mono version)
Label:
Producer:Andrew Loog Oldham

Yesterday's Papers is a song by the Rolling Stones from their 1967 album, Between the Buttons. It was the first song that Mick Jagger wrote by himself for the group. It appears as the opening track on the UK version of the album and on the US version as the second track.

Background

In the song, recorded in late 1966, Brian Jones's vibraphone and Jack Nitzsche's harpsichord are prominent: Keith Richards plays a distorted guitar with Charlie Watts on drums and Bill Wyman on bass. A bootleg recording exists of an alternate backing track that includes strings. There is also a stripped-down demo version with an early vocal track known.

Whereas the stereo mix fades after one chorus, the mono mix continues for one more full chorus. Additionally, the mono version is at one point near the end missing some of the backing vocals heard on the stereo version.

The song is supposedly directed at Jagger's ex-girlfriend Chrissie Shrimpton, whose relationship with Jagger at the time turned sour. It is noted for suggesting a negative treatment of women, comparing "yesterday's girl" to "yesterday's papers", as something that can be just thrown out, in similar fashion to a track on their previous album Aftermath, "Under My Thumb".[1]

Chris Farlowe recorded the song, which was released as a single.

Personnel

Rolling Stones version

According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon, except where noted:

The Rolling Stones

Additional musician

Chris Farlowe version

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Book: Malvinni, David. Experiencing the Rolling Stones: A Listener's Companion. 2016-02-25. Rowman & Littlefield. 978-0-8108-8920-0.