The 10 Best Rolling Stones Songs of All Time, Ranked
- Joao Nsita
- Sep 23
- 17 min read
It’s a Sunday afternoon in late September, and a new, more contemplative mood is beginning to settle over London. The sun, when it appears, casts a soft, golden light, and the first true chill of autumn is in the air. It’s a season that calls for something with a bit more grit, a bit more substance, and a whole lot more soul. It is, in every sense, the perfect time to get lost in the raw, rebellious, and utterly timeless music of The Rolling Stones.
For over six decades, The Rolling Stones have been more than just a band; they are a cultural institution, the living, breathing embodiment of rock and roll itself. In the vast and ever-changing landscape of modern music, their legacy is not just present; it is pervasive. On platforms like TikTok and Pinterest, their influence is a constant, powerful force. The iconic, snarling riff of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" is used as a shorthand for rebellious energy. The "Stones aesthetic"—a unique blend of bohemian chic, androgynous glamour, and pure, raw, rock and roll swagger—continues to inspire fashion trends and mood boards for a new generation. This enduring relevance is a testament to the fact that their music is not a relic of the past; it is a timeless, primal force that continues to captivate and inspire.
To rank the ten “best” songs from their monumental and sprawling catalogue is a near-impossible and wonderfully contentious task. It is to navigate a landscape of blues-drenched stomps, country-tinged ballads, and some of the most iconic and instantly recognizable guitar riffs in the history of music. This is not an academic decree, but a curated celebration of the band’s most powerful, most influential, and most enduringly brilliant work.
This is your definitive, in-depth guide to the essential anthems of the world’s greatest rock and roll band. We will take a deep dive into each of these ten masterpieces, presented in descending order, exploring not just their musical genius, but the stories behind them, the cultural moments they defined, and the raw, untameable spirit that makes them as vital and as dangerous today as they were upon their first, explosive release.
Enjoyed what you read? If you find this article insightful and it helps you rediscover the magic of The Rolling Stones, please consider supporting our work. Your generosity allows us to continue creating and sharing in-depth cultural commentary. You can make a donation by moving your cursor to the top of the article or scrolling down to the bottom. Every little bit helps us spread the love, one article at a time!
10. "Miss You" (1978)
The Vibe: A slinky, four-on-the-floor disco groove that is a perfect, shimmering snapshot of the hedonistic, late-70s New York City nightlife.
The Premise: Released in 1978, at the absolute peak of the disco era, "Miss You" was a surprising and brilliant pivot for a band that was, at the time, considered by many to be a rock and roll dinosaur. The song is a masterful fusion of the Stones' signature bluesy rock with the slick, infectious pulse of disco. The track is built on Bill Wyman’s iconic, impossibly slinky bassline and Charlie Watts’s tight, four-on-the-floor drum groove. Mick Jagger’s vocal performance is a masterpiece of longing and cool, a half-sung, half-spoken lament of a man wandering through the city, missing his lover.
Why It’s One of the Best: "Miss You" is a testament to the band’s incredible ability to adapt, to evolve, and to master any genre they turned their hand to. While some hardcore rock fans at the time saw it as a sell-out, the song has since been recognized as a work of genius. It is not just a great disco song; it is a great Rolling Stones song. It’s a track that is both a perfect, glittering time capsule of a specific era and a timeless, melancholic, and deeply soulful piece of music. For a deep dive into the disco era, the documentary Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution is a fantastic resource.
The Lasting Impact: The song was a massive global hit and proved that The Rolling Stones were far from a nostalgia act. It showed that they were still a vital, contemporary band, capable of creating music that was as relevant and as exciting as any of their younger peers. The show’s complex and often fiery relationships are a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of The Top 7 Best Movies About Toxic Relationships.
Where to Buy and Stream: You can stream "Miss You" and the album Some Girls on services like Spotify and Apple Music, or purchase their music from the official Rolling Stones website.
9. "Brown Sugar" (1971)
The Vibe: A raw, raunchy, and incredibly groovy blast of pure, unapologetic rock and roll swagger. This is the sound of a band at its most electrifyingly dangerous.
The Premise: The opening track from the masterpiece album Sticky Fingers, "Brown Sugar" is one of the most iconic and instantly recognizable songs in the entire Rolling Stones catalogue. The song kicks off with one of Keith Richards’s greatest and most visceral guitar riffs—a raw, dirty, and impossibly catchy piece of rock and roll perfection. The song is a full-throttle, high-energy rocker, driven by Charlie Watts’s powerful drumming and a fantastic, honky-tonk piano line from Ian Stewart.
Why It’s One of the Best: While the song’s controversial and problematic lyrics have been the subject of much debate in recent years, there is no denying the sheer, raw, and undeniable power of the music itself. It is a perfect, self-contained distillation of the band’s signature sound—a blend of blues, rock, and a deep, soulful groove. It is a song that is impossible to listen to without moving. For a deep dive into the making of the Sticky Fingers album, the Pitchfork review of the deluxe reissue is a fantastic read.
The Lasting Impact: "Brown Sugar" has been a staple of the band’s live shows for over five decades and remains one of their most beloved and iconic anthems. It is a perfect example of the band's ability to create music that is both commercially successful and artistically uncompromising. The show’s complex heroes are a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 5 Favorite Movie Anti-Heroes of All Time.
Where to Buy and Stream: Stream "Brown Sugar" and the album Sticky Fingers on major music platforms.
8. "Street Fighting Man" (1968)
The Vibe: An aggressive, chaotic, and politically charged anthem that perfectly captured the revolutionary spirit and the violent turmoil of the late 1960s.
The Premise: Released in the tumultuous summer of 1968, a year of student protests, political assassinations, and widespread social unrest, "Street Fighting Man" is one of the Stones’ most overtly political and sonically innovative songs. The track's iconic, almost distorted, acoustic guitar sound was achieved by Keith Richards overloading a simple cassette recorder. The song is driven by a powerful, tribal drumbeat from Charlie Watts and a droning, hypnotic sitar line.
Why It’s One of the Best: The song is a brilliant and complex piece of social commentary. Mick Jagger’s lyrics are a fascinating expression of both a sympathy for the revolutionary cause and a sense of cynical detachment from it. The famous line, "But what can a poor boy do / 'cept to sing for a rock 'n' roll band?" is a perfect encapsulation of the rock star's conflicted role in a time of political upheaval. The song is a powerful, chaotic, and incredibly potent piece of music that still sounds as dangerous and as relevant today as it did in 1968.
The Lasting Impact: The song was hugely controversial upon its release and was banned by many radio stations in the United States. It has since become recognized as one of the band's greatest and most important artistic statements, a powerful and enduring anthem of rebellion. For more on the history of protest songs, the Grammy Museum has some fantastic exhibits and articles. The show’s intricate plot will keep you guessing, a quality it shares with the films on our list of 6 Gripping Suspense Thriller Movies You Can't Miss.
Where to Buy and Stream: Stream "Street Fighting Man" and the album Beggars Banquet on major music platforms.
7. "Wild Horses" (1971)
The Vibe: A heartbreakingly beautiful, weary, and deeply melancholic country-tinged ballad. This is one of the most tender and emotionally raw songs the band ever recorded.
The Premise: Another classic from the masterpiece album Sticky Fingers, "Wild Horses" is a stunning and poignant exploration of love, loss, and the pain of being on the road. The song is a beautiful, acoustic-driven ballad, featuring a gorgeous, interwoven guitar melody from Keith Richards and Mick Taylor. The song's country flavour is enhanced by a beautiful, understated piano line. Mick Jagger’s vocal performance is one of his most vulnerable and heartfelt, a raw and aching delivery that is full of a deep, world-weary sadness.
Why It’s One of the Best: "Wild Horses" is a perfect example of the "light and shade" that made The Rolling Stones so much more than just a rock and roll band. It is a song of incredible beauty and emotional depth. While there is much debate about the song's true inspiration (with both Marianne Faithfull and Gram Parsons being cited as influences), its themes of love, loss, and the pain of separation are universal and timeless. It is, quite simply, one of the greatest ballads ever written.
The Lasting Impact: The song has been covered by countless artists and has become one of the band's most beloved and enduring classics. It is a powerful testament to their incredible versatility and their ability to write songs that are as tender and as heartbreaking as they are loud and rebellious. The song’s focus on a powerful romance is a key to its success, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 5 Best Romantic Movies of All Time.
Where to Buy and Stream: Stream "Wild Horses" and the album Sticky Fingers on major music platforms.
6. "Ruby Tuesday" (1967)
The Vibe: A beautiful, baroque, and deeply melancholic ballad that is a perfect, wistful snapshot of the psychedelic, "Swinging London" era of the 1960s.
The Premise: "Ruby Tuesday" is one of the most unique and beautiful songs in the Stones' catalogue. The track is famous for its beautiful, mournful recorder melody, played by Brian Jones, which gives the song its distinctive, baroque-pop sound. The song is a poignant and melancholic portrait of a free-spirited woman who "can't be chained to a life where nothing's gained and nothing's lost." The lyrics, written primarily by Keith Richards about his then-girlfriend Linda Keith, are a beautiful and sad exploration of a love that is destined to end.
Why It’s One of the Best: This song is a testament to the incredible, and often underrated, musical genius of the late Brian Jones. His multi-instrumental talents were a key part of the band's early sound, and his beautiful recorder melody on this track is one of his greatest contributions. The song is a masterpiece of songwriting and arrangement, a perfect blend of a pop sensibility with a deep, classical melancholy. For more on the vibrant culture of the 1960s, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London has some incredible archives.
The Lasting Impact: The song was a huge transatlantic hit and has become one of the band's most beloved and enduring ballads. It is a beautiful and timeless piece of music that perfectly captures the fleeting, wistful beauty of a love that was not meant to last. The show’s complex and often fiery relationships are a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of The Top 5 Best Movies About Marriages.
Where to Buy and Stream: Stream "Ruby Tuesday" and the album Between the Buttons on major music platforms.
5. "Paint It Black" (1966)
The Vibe: A dark, frantic, and brilliantly psychedelic anthem of grief and despair. This is the sound of the 60s' colourful, optimistic dream beginning to curdle into something much darker.
The Premise: "Paint It Black" is one of the most powerful and iconic songs of the 1960s. The track is famous for Brian Jones’s brilliant and hypnotic sitar riff, which gives the song its distinctive, Eastern-influenced, psychedelic sound. The song is driven by a frantic, galloping drumbeat from Charlie Watts and a powerful, wailing vocal performance from Mick Jagger. The lyrics are a dark and despairing expression of grief, a narrator who wants to block out all the colour and joy from the world to match the darkness inside him.
Why It’s One of the Best: The song is a masterpiece of atmosphere and a groundbreaking piece of psychedelic rock. The use of the sitar was a revolutionary move that helped to define the sound of the era. The song is a powerful and unflinching exploration of depression and grief, a raw and honest expression of a mind in turmoil. It is a song that is both a perfect, catchy, and iconic pop song, and a dark, complex, and deeply unsettling piece of art. For a deep dive into the show's dark and complex world, the BBC's official page for the show is a great resource.
The Lasting Impact: The song was a massive number-one hit around the world and has become one of the band's most famous and enduring anthems. Its use in the opening credits of the TV series Tour of Duty and in countless films, including Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, has cemented its status as a timeless and iconic piece of music. The show’s complex and often toxic relationships are a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 7 Best Movies About Toxic Relationships.
Where to Buy and Stream: Stream "Paint It Black" and the album Aftermath on major music platforms.
4. "You Can't Always Get What You Want" (1969)
The Vibe: A sprawling, epic, and ultimately hopeful anthem that is a powerful and moving meditation on the nature of desire, disappointment, and acceptance.
The Premise: The epic, seven-and-a-half-minute closing track of the masterpiece album Let It Bleed, this song is one of the most ambitious and beloved in the Stones' entire catalogue. The track famously begins with the angelic sound of the London Bach Choir, which gives the song an immediate, almost religious sense of grandeur. The song is a slow-building epic, moving from a simple acoustic guitar and French horn intro into a full-blown, gospel-infused rock and roll anthem.
Why It’s One of the Best: The song's central message, encapsulated in its iconic chorus, is one of the most profound and universally resonant in all of popular music. It is a beautiful and mature piece of philosophical wisdom: life is full of disappointment, and you will not always get the thing you think you want, but if you are patient and open, you will often find that you get what you truly need. It’s a message of hard-won optimism and a powerful antidote to a culture of instant gratification. For more on the band's incredible history, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has a fantastic biography.
The Lasting Impact: The song has become a timeless and beloved anthem, a staple of the band’s live shows, and a powerful and enduring piece of pop culture wisdom. It is a song that is both a grand, epic, and cinematic production and a simple, powerful, and deeply human truth. The show’s focus on a powerful found family is a key to its success, a dynamic explored in our list of The Top 5 Best Movies With An Ensemble Cast.
Where to Buy and Stream: Stream "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and the album Let It Bleed on major music platforms.
3. "Sympathy for the Devil" (1968)
The Vibe: A brilliant, dangerous, and intellectually audacious masterpiece. This is a song that is not just a rock and roll anthem; it is a profound and unsettling piece of literary and historical art.
The Premise: The legendary opening track of the album Beggars Banquet, "Sympathy for the Devil" is told from the first-person perspective of Lucifer himself. The song is a chilling, samba-infused journey through human history, as the Devil introduces himself as the hidden hand behind some of humanity's greatest atrocities, from the death of Christ to the Russian Revolution and the Blitzkrieg of World War II. The song is a powerful and provocative exploration of the nature of evil, a suggestion that the Devil is not some external force, but a part of the very fabric of human nature.
Why It’s One of the Best: This song is a work of pure, unadulterated genius. The lyrics, famously inspired by Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel The Master and Margarita, are some of the most intelligent and literary in all of rock and roll. The music itself is a masterpiece of atmosphere, a slow-building, hypnotic, and increasingly chaotic samba groove that is utterly unique and unforgettable. The iconic "woo-woo" backing vocals are both a joyful chant and a sinister, tribal incantation.
The Lasting Impact: The song was hugely controversial upon its release, leading to accusations that the band were devil-worshippers. It has since been recognized as one of their greatest and most ambitious artistic achievements. The Jean-Luc Godard film of the same name, which documents the song's recording, is a fascinating look at the band's creative process. For more on the film, the IMDb page is a great resource. The show’s complex and terrifying villain is a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of The Top 5 Best Villains of All Time.
Where to Buy and Stream: Stream "Sympathy for the Devil" and the album Beggars Banquet on major music platforms.
2. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (1965)
The Vibe: The ultimate, iconic, and generation-defining anthem of youthful rebellion, sexual frustration, and anti-consumerist angst.
The Premise: This is the song that transformed The Rolling Stones from a very good British blues band into global, counter-cultural superstars. The song is built on one of the most famous and instantly recognizable guitar riffs in the history of music, a fuzzy, three-note, brute-force earworm that Keith Richards famously dreamed up in his sleep. The song is a raw, powerful, and relentless expression of frustration with the modern world, from the empty promises of advertising to the restrictive rules of sexual etiquette.
Why It’s One of the Best: "Satisfaction" is more than just a song; it is a cultural landmark. It perfectly captured the restless, rebellious spirit of the mid-1960s and became the anthem for a generation that was beginning to question the values of the post-war world. Mick Jagger's vocal performance is a masterpiece of youthful, swaggering insolence. The song is a perfect, self-contained distillation of the raw, primal power of rock and roll.
The Lasting Impact: The song was a massive, number-one hit all over the world and is widely regarded as one of the greatest rock songs of all time. It is the song that defined the band's image and their sound. Its influence is immeasurable, and it remains as powerful, as relevant, and as deeply satisfying today as it was in 1965. The show’s complex hero is a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 5 Best Movies with an Origin Story.
Where to Buy and Stream: Stream "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and the album Out of Our Heads on major music platforms.
1. "Gimme Shelter" (1969)
The Vibe: A dark, apocalyptic, and terrifyingly powerful anthem that is the ultimate, chilling soundtrack to the end of an era.
The Premise: The legendary opening track of the album Let It Bleed, "Gimme Shelter" is, without a doubt, the greatest and most powerful song The Rolling Stones ever recorded. The song was written and recorded in 1969, a year of immense violence and turmoil, from the Vietnam War to the Tate-LaBianca murders. The song is a direct and powerful response to that chaos. It is a dark, ominous, and apocalyptic vision of a world on the brink of collapse, where war, rape, and murder are "just a shot away."
Why It’s at the Top: "Gimme Shelter" is a masterpiece of sound and fury. Keith Richards's iconic, tremolo-soaked opening guitar riff is one of the most haunting sounds in rock music. The song is a slow-building storm, driven by a relentless, menacing groove. But what elevates the song to legendary, all-time-great status is the iconic, and largely improvised, guest vocal performance from the session singer Merry Clayton. Her raw, powerful, and increasingly desperate wails of "Rape, murder! It's just a shot away" are one of the most powerful and chilling moments in the history of recorded music. Famously, her voice cracks with the sheer force of her delivery on the final chorus, a moment of pure, unadulterated, and unforgettable emotional power.
The Lasting Impact: The song has become a timeless and powerful anthem, a staple of the band’s live shows, and a song that has been used in countless films and television shows to signify moments of chaos, violence, and dread. It is the perfect, chilling, and brilliant encapsulation of the dark side of the 1960s dream. It is a song that is not just heard, but felt, a true masterpiece of rock and roll. The show's powerful storytelling is a key to its success, a theme you can explore in our list of The Top 5 Best Drama Movies of All Time.
Where to Buy and Stream: Stream "Gimme Shelter" and the album Let It Bleed on major music platforms.
Conclusion
For over sixty years, The Rolling Stones have been the undisputed kings of rock and roll. The ten songs on this list are a testament to their incredible, enduring genius. They are a journey through the band’s remarkable evolution, from their roots as a scrappy British blues band to their status as global, counter-cultural icons. These are more than just songs; they are cultural landmarks, the anthems that have defined generations and provided the soundtrack to our lives.
From the raw, youthful rebellion of "Satisfaction" to the apocalyptic dread of "Gimme Shelter," the music of The Rolling Stones is a powerful and unflinching exploration of the entire human experience. It is a celebration of love, of lust, of joy, of anger, and of the simple, profound, and enduring power of a great guitar riff. Their legacy is not just in the millions of albums sold or the sold-out stadiums; it is in the raw, untameable, and utterly timeless spirit of their music. Long live the greatest rock and roll band in the world.
Enjoyed what you read? If you found this article insightful and it helps you rediscover the magic of The Rolling Stones, please consider supporting our work. Your generosity allows us to continue creating and sharing in-depth cultural commentary. You can make a donation by moving your cursor to the top of the article or scrolling down to the bottom. Every little bit helps us spread the love, one article at a time!
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who are the main members of The Rolling Stones? The classic and most famous lineup consists of Mick Jagger (lead vocals), Keith Richards (guitar), Brian Jones (guitar, multi-instrumentalist), Bill Wyman (bass), and Charlie Watts (drums). After Brian Jones's death, Mick Taylor and later Ronnie Wood joined on guitar.
2. What is the story behind the band's famous "lips and tongue" logo? The iconic logo was designed by the artist John Pasche in 1970. It was inspired by Mick Jagger's own famous lips and mouth and was also meant to represent the Hindu goddess Kali, a symbol of rebellious, anti-authoritarian energy.
3. What is the best Rolling Stones album to start with? A greatest hits compilation, like Forty Licks, is a fantastic starting point. For a studio album, Let It Bleed or Sticky Fingers are both widely considered to be masterpieces and perfect entry points into their imperial phase.
4. Are The Rolling Stones still touring? Yes, miraculously, The Rolling Stones are still one of the biggest and most successful touring acts in the world, regularly embarking on massive, sold-out stadium tours.
5. What is the "27 Club"? The "27 Club" is a tragic and infamous list of popular musicians who all died at the age of 27. The Rolling Stones' original guitarist and founder, Brian Jones, is a member of this club.
6. Where can I find out more about the band's history? The documentary film Crossfire Hurricane is a fantastic, band-approved look at their early years. Keith Richards's autobiography, Life, is also one of the greatest rock and roll memoirs ever written and is an essential, hilarious, and insightful read. You can find it on Amazon.
7. What is the "Altamont Free Concert"? The Altamont Free Concert was a notorious and tragic 1969 rock festival, headlined by The Rolling Stones, which is often seen as the violent and chaotic end to the "peace and love" era of the 1960s. The event is chronicled in the famous documentary film, Gimme Shelter.
8. Are The Beatles and The Rolling Stones rivals? While the media often portrayed them as rivals (the "choirboys" vs. the "bad boys"), in reality, the bands were great friends and had a huge amount of mutual respect for each other's work.
9. What is "open G tuning"? Open G tuning is a specific way of tuning a guitar that is a signature part of Keith Richards's iconic sound. He famously removes the bottom string of his guitar and tunes the remaining five strings to an open G chord, which is the secret to the raw, rhythmic, and powerful sound of riffs like "Brown Sugar" and "Start Me Up."
10. I love the style of the band. Where can I find more fashion inspiration? Pinterest is an absolute treasure trove for 60s and 70s rock and roll fashion. Search for terms like "Mick Jagger style," "Anita Pallenberg" (Keith Richards's long-time partner and a major style icon), and "70s rock aesthetic."
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