The Rolling Stones very first single ‘Come On’ was released exactly 50 years ago today (June 7, 1963).
Charlie Watts, The Rolling Stones (photo by Ros O'Gorman)
To mark the anniversary The Stones performed the song at their Toronto concert tonight and it was indeed a rare occasion. In total, The Rolling Stones have only ever performed ‘Come On’ eight times in concert in 50 years.
‘Come On’ was originally written and recorded by Chuck Berry just a few years earlier in 1961. The Stones recorded their version on May 10, 1963 and released it on June 7.
Officially, it was still June 6 when The Stones took to the Toronto stage. “Tomorrow our first single COME ON was released 50 years ago, I don’t know if I can remember the lyrics,” Mick Jagger said introducing the song.
When Keith Richards was once asked about the song he said, “At the time it was done just to get a record out. The idea was Andrew’s – to get a strong single so they’d let us make an album, which back then was a privilege.”
‘Come On’ wasn’t the only rarity played at the Stones Toronto gig tonight. The Stones also played ‘Worried About You’ from 1981’s ‘Tattoo You’. It has only even been played 20 times by The Stones and only once ever in Australia on April 13, 2006 at Rod Laver Arena.
Unlike other shows, there were no special guests for this show.
The Rolling Stones setlist for Toronto, June 6, 2013 was:
Get Off My Cloud (from December’s Children and Everybodys, 1965)
Its Only Rock n Roll (But I Like It) (from Its Only Rock N Roll, 1973)
Paint It Black (from Aftermath, 1966)
Gimme Shelter (from Let It Bleed, 1969)
Worried About You (from Tattoo You, 1981)
Rocks Off (from Exile On Main Street, 1972)
Emotional Rescue (from Emotional Rescue, 1980)
Come On (first single 1963)
Doom and Gloom (from GRRR, 2012)
One More Shot (from GRRR, 2012)
Can’t You Hear Me Knocking (with Mick Taylor) (from Sticky Fingers, 1971)
Honky Tonk Women (single, 1969)
You Got The Silver (Keith Richards on vocals) (from Let It Bleed, 1969)
Before They Make Me Run (Keith Richards on vocals) (from Some Girls, 1978) (from Exile On Main Street, 1972)
Midnight Rambler (with Mick Taylor) (from Let It Bleed, 1969)
Miss You (from Some Girls, 1978)
Start Me Up (from Tattoo You, 1981)
Tumbling Dice (from Exile On Main Street, 1972)
Brown Sugar (from Sticky Fingers, 1971)
Sympathy For The Devil (from Beggars Banquet, 1968)
You Can’t Always Get What You Want (from Let It Bleed, 1969)
Jumpin’ Jack Flash (single, 1968)
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (with Mick Taylor) (from Out Of Our Heads, 1965)
