With the upcoming deluxe re-release of their 1971 record Sticky Fingers on June 9, The Rolling Stones have been dropping singles off the album, including this alternate version of the track "Brown Sugar."
Featuring Eric Clapton on slide guitar, this version sounds similar in many ways to the album version. It does, however, have a more jamming feel, due to Clapton's riffs soaring over the other instrumentation, and a great solo.
Before being released officially, many fans of the Stones heard this recording via bootleg copy. Here's the official info from ericclapton.com:
The track was recorded at Olympic Studios, London on 18 December 1970 after Keith Richards' birthday party.
Personnel on the alternate take are Mick Jagger (vocals), Keith Richards (guitar), Mick Taylor (guitar), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie Watts (drums), Al Kooper (keyboards), Bobby Keys (saxophone) and Eric Clapton (slide guitar).
This version is rumored to have been an informal audition for Clapton to join the Stones. While that has never been confirmed, fans can now listen to both versions and imagine what might have been.
You can pre-order the re-release of Sticky Fingers on Amazon (Vinyl, CD, MP3).
For more music, news, and tour dates from The Rolling Stones, check out their Zumic artist page.