If there is one band that is as famous as the rock genre itself, it is The Rolling Stones. The band was formed in 1961 and is still going strong after six decades.
The band has received 3 Grammy awards, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and sold over 240 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Although The Rolling Stones are famously known for being a wild rock and roll band, they have also produced their fair share of beautiful love songs. Below I list my picks for the 15 best Rolling Stones love songs.
1. Wild Horses
Album: Sticky Fingers
Released: 1971
Choosing the number one Rolling Stones love song is not easy; quite a few pieces can take this spot, depending on personal preference. For me, there is only one option – “Wild Horses”.
This song is extremely powerful, sending shivers through your entire body, and shedding tears are very common. Mick Jagger does a fantastic job of transferring intense emotions through his vocal performance.
Many people rate “Wild Horses” as one of the best Rolling Stones songs. Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song number 193 in its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
2. Angie
Album: Goats Head Soup
Released: 1973
“Angie” is another legendary song by The Rolling Stones. This acoustic ballad could very easily have taken the number one spot. It is widely accepted that “Angie” is one of The Rolling Stones’ all-time best songs.
The song made it to the top of many charts, including the US Billboard Hot 100 and the US Cash Box Top 100, as well as the national charts in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland.
As with most of their songs, it was written by the legendary songwriting pair – Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
3. Winter
Album: Goats Head Soup
Released: 1973
While the band was in Jamaica, they were enjoying the sunny days and had time to reflect on the cold winters of the northern hemisphere.
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards get the credit for this song, but it was actually Mick Jagger and Mick Taylor who wrote the lyrics.
The song talks about the negative aspects of the winter season. At the same time, it also comes around to appreciate the positive aspects of winter, like spending more time with loved ones.
4. Lady Jane
Album: Aftermath
Released: 1966
“Lady Jane” is a song many others will rank as the number one Rolling Stones love song. It forms a part of the album Aftermath, which is the first album where Jagger and Richards had the vast majority of the songwriting credits. For this reason, Aftermath was the true beginning of the Rolling Stones’ legacy.
The song is written as a pledge of devotion to love. It came at a time when Brian Jones, the original founder, and leader of The Rolling Stones, was losing his importance in the band, but it was still due to him that “Lady Jane” features a dulcimer and other baroque rock elements.
5. She’s A Rainbow
Album: Their Satanic Majesties Request
Released: 1967
“She’s A Rainbow” is labeled by many as the prettiest song that Jagger and Richards ever wrote for The Rolling Stones. It is quite an uncharacteristic song compared to the rest of their music.
The song relates to the psychedelic counterculture of the 1960s, of which The Rolling Stones was a big part.
The song features an unusual arrangement of instruments, including a tambourine played by Mick Jagger, a Mellotron played by Brian Jones, and a piano played by Nicky Hopkins.
6. She Smiled Sweetly
Album: Between The Buttons
Released: 1967
One of the more underrated songs on this list is “She Smiled Sweetly”. The song has a religious feeling, especially with an organ being used.
The track features the album Between The Buttons, the fifth British and seventh American studio album by the Stones.
This track has a bit of mystery because nobody knows who “she” is. In an interview, Jagger said that he thought more spiritually and less romantically when writing the lyrics.
7. Moonlight Mile
Album: Sticky Fingers
Released: 1971
Another beautiful ballad by The Rolling Stones, written by Mick Jagger. Keith Richards is also given credit for the writing, but he told Life magazine that it was entirely the work of Jagger.
This emotion-filled song speaks about returning home to a significant other.
There is a lot of ambiguity around this track. Some people interpret it as having to do with the genuine person under Jagger’s public persona. Others claim it is about cocaine use.
8. That’s How Strong My Love Is
Album: Out of Our Heads
Released: 1965
This is not an original Rolling Stones song; it is a cover version that the Stones recorded for their third British and fourth American studio album, Out of Our Heads. This album was from before Jagger and Richards stepped into their songwriting power.
The song was written by Roosevelt Jamison and first recorded in 1964 by soul singer O.V. Wright. Many others recorded their own versions in 1965, including The In Crowd, The Hollies, and of course, The Rolling Stones.
9. If You Need Me
Album: 12 x 5
Released: 1964
“If You Need Me” is another cover version that The Rolling Stones recorded for their second studio album, 12 x 5.
The song was co-written and originally recorded by Wilson Pickett. Solomon Burke took it further and made the song a popular hit by taking it to the number 2 spot on the R&B charts.
Although this is not a Rolling Stones original, their version is worth putting into their top 10 love songs.
10. Till The Next Goodbye
Album: It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll
Released: 1974
To fill up my top 10, it must be “Till The Next Goodbye” The song comes from their fourteenth American studio album, It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll.
The song is a ballad with a country music influence. It was written by the songwriting duo Jagger and Richards.
An acoustic guitar starts off the intro and gives way for Mick Jagger to deliver an emotional performance.
11. Let’s Spend The Night Together
Album: Between the Buttons
Released: 1967
“Let’s Spend The Night Together” is another masterpiece by the songwriting duo Jagger and Richards. Many other artists, including David Bowie in 1973, have covered the song.
The track was controversial at the time. They even had to change the name to “Let’s Spend Some Time Together” to be allowed to perform on TV.
“Let’s Spend The Night Together” made it to the top of the German charts, second in Norway, and third on the UK Singles chart.
12. Memory Motel
Album: Black and Blue
Released: 1976
From Black and Blue, the fifteenth studio album by the Stones, comes this beautiful love ballad – “Memory Motel”.
The song has a sad tone and talks about a lover that used to mean so much but remains only a memory.
There is a Memory Motel in Montauk on Long Island, and this place is said to be the song’s inspiration.
13. As Tears Go By
Album: December’s Children (And Everybody’s)
Released: 1965
An emotional song that was written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and their manager Andrew Loog Oldham. This was one of their earlier writings, and the song was first recorded and released by Marianne Faithfull in 1964.
The Rolling Stones later recorded their own version of the song and included it in their album December’s Children (And Everybody’s). It was also released as a single, making it as high as number six on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart.
14. Love In Vain
Album: Let It Bleed
Released: 1969
“Love In Vain” is originally a blues song that was written by Robert Johnson and recorded by him in 1939.
The Rolling Stones recorded an updated rendition of the song and released it in 1969 as a part of their Let It Bleed album.
There were some copyright lawsuits after the song gained wide popularity.
15. Fool To Cry
Album: Black and Blue
Released: 1976
“Fool To Cry” is another beautiful love ballad that Jagger and Richards wrote. The song did relatively well on the charts by making it to six on the UK Singles chart and number 9 on the US Cash Box chart.
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