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.^[3] 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.

"Out of Time"
Picture sleeve for 1975 single release
Song by the Rolling Stones
from the album Aftermath (UK)
Released	15 April 1966 (1966-04-15) (UK) 26 June 1967 (US Flowers album version)
Recorded	March 1966
Studio	RCA, Hollywood, California
Genre	Rock pop[1] soul[2]
Length	5:37 (UK) 3:41 (US)
Label	Decca
Songwriter(s)	Jagger/Richards
Producer(s)	Andrew Loog Oldham
The Rolling Stones chronology
"I Don't Know Why" (1975) "Out of Time" (1966) "Fool To Cry" (1975)

The song was never performed live by the Stones until June 2022, during the opening concert of their Sixty tour.^[4]

Composition and recording

The song was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Jagger produced the hit single version by Chris Farlowe.^[5]

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)^[6] 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."^[7] 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.^[8]

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

"Out of Time"
Single by Chris Farlowe
from the album The Art of Chris Farlowe
B-side	"Baby Make It Soon"
Released	17 June 1966 (1966-06-17)
Recorded	27–30 April and 6 May 1966[9]
Studio	Pye Studios, London
Genre	Rock soul baroque pop
Length	3:14
Label	Immediate
Songwriter(s)	Jagger/Richards
Producer(s)	Mick Jagger
Chris Farlowe singles chronology
"Think" (1966) "Out of Time" (1966) "Ride On, Baby" (1966)
Official audio
"Out of Time" on YouTube

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.^[10] However, he started going solo in 1962, releasing several singles on both Decca and Columbia Records between that year and 1964.^[11] 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.^[12] 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.^[13] It reached number 37 on the UK Singles Chart.^[14]

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.^[15][16]

Mick Jagger had written some good things for me before, such as "Think" and a couple of others. Then he rang me up and said "I've got a new song for you. Come along and have a listen." I went over to his place on Harley Street, Harley House actually, and he played me "Out of Time" on his guitar. My first thought really was "I'm not sure I like this. I'm not sure I like this stuff." but Mick said "bear with it. It'll sound great once it's all arranged and put together." So, when I turned up at the studio [a few weeks later] and saw all the cellos, the whole orchestra, I thought "Ah". Well, they started playing and as they say, it was history in the making...^[17]

The session featured several session musicians, including Jimmy Page on guitar along with drummer Andy White and arranger Arthur Greenslade.^[18] It appeared that the session was troublesome, as Jagger was not satisfied with Greenslade's arrangement.^[18] 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.^[6]

Immediate Records released "Out of Time" on 17 June 1966.^[9] It entered the UK Singles Chart on 23 June 1966, at a position of number 36.^[19] "Out of Time" became Farlowe's only top-10 hit, reaching number 1 on 28 July that year, where it stayed for a week.^[19] It stayed on the chart for 13 weeks, leaving on 21 September at a position of number 48.^[19] It reached number 7 on New Zealand's Listener chart and number 9 on Australia's Go-Set.^[20][21] 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.^[22][23][24]

Personnel

Rolling Stones version According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon:[25] The Rolling Stones Mick Jagger – vocals, finger snaps Keith Richards – backing vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar Brian Jones – marimba, vibraphone[note 1] 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,[26] except where noted: Chris Farlowe – vocals Eric Ford – bass Reg Guest – piano Joe Moretti – guitar Jimmy Page – guitar[18] Andy White – drums Sidney Sax – string arrangements

Charts

Chris Farlowe version

1966 weekly chart performance Chart (1966) Peak position Australia (Go-Set)[21] 9 Canada (RPM)[27] 24 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 11 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 11 New Zealand (Listener)[20] 7 Rhodesia (Lyons Maid)[30] 10 South Africa (Springbok)[31] 16 Sweden (Tio i Topp)[32] 15 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[33] 1 US Bubbling Under Hot 100[34] 122

1966 year-end chart performance Chart (1966) Peak Rank UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[35] 18

Notes

1. Margotin & Guesdon are uncertain if Jones is playing a vibraphone, and suggest it may actually be a metallophone.^[25]

References

1. Unterberger, Richie. "Out of Time by The Rolling Stones - Track Info | AllMusic". allmusic. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
2. Segretto, Mike (2022). "1966". 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Minute - A Critical Trip Through the Rock LP Era, 1955–1999. Backbeat. pp. 104–105. ISBN 9781493064601.
3. "Official Singles Chart UK Top 100". Theofficialcharts.com. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
4. Greene, Andy (1 June 2022). "Watch the Rolling Stones Debut 1966's 'Out Of Time' at 60th Anniversary Tour Launch". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
5. "Chris Farlowe". 45-rpm.org.uk. 13 October 1940. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
6. "Stones Settle With Allen Klein: Four More Albums; Klein will get rights to Rock & Roll Circus, Greatest Hits albums". Rolling Stone. 5 June 1975. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
7. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 9 August 1975. p. 17. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
8. Greene, Andy (1 June 2022). "Watch the Rolling Stones Debut 1966's 'Out Of Time' at 60th Anniversary Tour Launch". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
9. Thompson, Gordon (10 September 2008). Please Please Me: Sixties British Pop, Inside Out. Oxford University Press, USA. ISBN 978-0-19-533318-3.
10. Eder, Bruce. "Chris Farlowe". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
11. "Chris Farlowe Biography". NME. Archived from the original on 27 February 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
12. Bell, Robin (13 February 2016). The History of British Rock and Roll: The Beat Boom 1963 - 1966. Lulu Press, Inc. ISBN 978-91-981916-6-0.
13. "Out of Time singer Chris Farlowe in Worthing". Worthingherald.co.uk. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
14. "CHRIS FARLOWE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
15. Power 2016.
16. Watts, Derek (27 July 2010). Country Boy: A Biography of Albert Lee. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-8295-5.
17. Power 2016, p. 23.
18. Power 2016, pp. 23–24.
19. "out of time | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
20. "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
21. "Go-Set Australian charts - 26 October 1966". Poparchives.com.au. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
22. Wayne Savage, entertainment writer (24 March 2016). "A hit? Felixstowe Spa bound Chris Farlowe didn't even like Out of Time when he first heard it". Ipswich Star. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
23. Grow, Kory (13 March 2017). "Hear Jimmy Page's 'Shamanic' First Production From 1961". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
24. "LOOKING BACK - January 23, 2020 edition". Rugbyadvertiser.co.uk. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
25. Margotin & Guesdon 2016, p. 154.
26. Babiuk & Prevost 2013, p. 225.
27. Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
28. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 40, 1966" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
29. "Chris Farlowe – Out Of Time" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
30. Kimberley, C (2000). Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. p. 32.
31. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Rock.co.za. 4 June 1965. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
32. Hallberg, Eric; Henningsson, Ulf (1998). Eric Hallberg, Ulf Henningsson presenterar Tio i topp med de utslagna på försök: 1961 - 74. Premium Publishing. ISBN 919727125X.
33. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 193. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
34. "US Hot 100 Bubbling Under". Top40Weekly.com. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
35. "The 100 best-selling singles of 1966 [in the U.K.]". sixtiescity.net. Retrieved 26 July 2020.

Sources

• Babiuk, Andy; Prevost, Greg (2013). Rolling Stones Gear: All the Stones' Instruments from Stage to Studio. Milwaukee: Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1-61713-092-2.
• Margotin, Philippe; Guesdon, Jean-Michel (2016). The Rolling Stones All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. ISBN 978-0-316-31774-0.
• Power, Martin (10 October 2016). No Quarter: The Three Lives of Jimmy Page. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-1-78323-536-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

External links

• Chris Farlowe Official Website