Out Of Time (Rolling Stones Song)

"Out of Time" is a song by the Rolling Stones, first released on their 1966 album ''Aftermath'' (UK version). The most commercially successful version of the song was by Chris Farlowe, an English solo artist. Farlowe's single, produced by Mick Jagger, peaked at number one in the UK Singles Chart on 28 July 1966 and stayed at the top for one week. A shorter alternative mix of the Rolling Stones' recording was released in the US in 1967 on the album ''Flowers''. A third version featuring Jagger's lead vocal and the orchestration and backing vocals from Farlowe's cover version (plus a new female backing vocal) was released on the 1975 rarities album ''Metamorphosis'' and as a single.

The song was never performed live by the Stones until June 2022, during the opening concert of their Sixty tour.

Composition and recording

The song was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Jagger produced the hit single version by Chris Farlowe.

The Rolling Stones released three versions of "Out of Time". The first, recorded by the band in Los Angeles in March 1966, appeared on the UK version of 1966's ''Aftermath'' and featured a marimba part played by Brian Jones. In this format the song was 5:37 long. A shorter version of this recording appeared in the US on 1967's ''Flowers'', and later on 1972's ''More Hot Rocks (Big Hits & Fazed Cookies)'' and 2012's ''GRRR!'' super deluxe edition.

The song also appeared on the Stones' 1975 album ''Metamorphosis'', which was created under the direction of former Stones manager Allen Klein and released on his ABKCO Records label. (Klein owned the rights to the pre-1971 Rolling Stones catalogue) ''Cash Box'' said it was the strongest track on ''Metamorphosis'' and said "What yesterday was a classic Stones R&B rocker has gained additional credence over the years." This version was, in fact, the backing track from Farlowe's version, but with a Jagger lead vocal, recorded in London in April 1966 as a demo for Farlowe. The demo version was also released as a single in 1975, reaching #45 in the UK, and was later included on 1989's '' Singles Collection: The London Years''.

56 years after its release, the Rolling Stones performed "Out of Time" live for the first time during the opening show of their 60th anniversary tour on 1 June 2022 in Madrid.

The ''Aftermath'' version of the song was featured in the opening credits of Hal Ashby's 1978 film '' Coming Home''. The ''Metamorphosis'' version was featured, in its entirety, in Quentin Tarantino's 2019 film ''Once Upon a Time in Hollywood''.

Chris Farlowe version

British vocalist Chris Farlowe had been active as a musician since 1957, and had been a member of a band named the Thunderbirds, where he was the frontman. However, he started going solo in 1962, releasing several singles on both Decca and Columbia Records between that year and 1964. In early 1965, Farlowe was one of the earliest artists to sign with the newly founded independent record label Immediate Records. His first release on that label was " The Fool", a song which was written by Naomi Ford and Lee Hazlewood. This release failed to chart. Following this disappointment, Farlowe started his collaboration with Jagger, who gave him a follow-up single to record: "Think", which had previously been recorded by the Rolling Stones, also for ''Aftermath.'' It reached number 37 on the UK Singles Chart.

Following the minor success of "Think", Andrew Loog Oldham was certain that the follow-up would be a hit, and once again recruited Jagger to offer him a song, with him suggesting "Out of Time" as a suitable song which Jagger and Richards had written with Farlowe in mind, believing that the song would fit his voice perfectly.

The session featured several session musicians, including Jimmy Page on guitar along with drummer Andy White and arranger Arthur Greenslade. It appeared that the session was troublesome, as Jagger was not satisfied with Greenslade's arrangement. Eventually, Jagger was satisfied with the final product, and "Out of Time" had been recorded. Farlowe's version is drastically different from the Rolling Stones ''Aftermath'' version, heavily features a string arrangement which was not utilized on the original Rolling Stones recording. In fact, the version used the same backing which Jagger previously had dubbed with his own lead vocals in a version which would be released on ''Metamorphosis.''

Immediate Records released "Out of Time" on 17 June 1966. It entered the UK Singles Chart on 23 June 1966, at a position of number 36. "Out of Time" became Farlowe's only top-10 hit, reaching number 1 on 28 July that year, where it stayed for a week. It stayed on the chart for 13 weeks, leaving on 21 September at a position of number 48. It reached number 7 on New Zealand's ''Listener'' chart and number 9 on Australia's ''Go-Set''. The single was later featured on Farlowe's third studio album ''The Art of Chris Farlowe'' which was released on 25 November of that year. Nonetheless, "Out of Time" became Farlowe's biggest hit and is considered his signature song.

Personnel

Rolling Stones version

According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon:

The Rolling Stones
*Mick Jagger vocals, finger snaps
*Keith Richards backing vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar
*Brian Jones marimba, vibraphone
*Bill Wyman bass
*Charlie Watts drums

Additional musicians
* Ian Stewart organ
*Jack Nitzsche piano

Chris Farlowe version

According to authors Andy Babiuk and Greg Prevost, except where noted:

* Chris Farlowe vocals
* Eric Ford bass
* Reg Guest piano
* Joe Moretti guitar
* Jimmy Page guitar
* Andy White drums
* Sidney Sax string arrangements

Charts

Chris Farlowe version

Notes

References

Sources

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External links

Chris Farlowe Official Website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Out Of Time (The Rolling Stones Song)
Immediate Records singles
1966 singles
1975 singles
1981 singles
UK Singles Chart number-one singles
The Rolling Stones songs
Ramones songs
Bee Gees songs
Songs written by Jagger–Richards
Song recordings produced by Andrew Loog Oldham
Song recordings produced by Mick Jagger
1966 songs
Chris Farlowe songs