Released 6 December 1968 | Recorded April 1968 Length 2:23 Writer(s) Jagger/Richards | |
"Parachute Woman" is a song by the Rolling Stones featured on their 1968 album Beggars Banquet.
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Inspiration and recording
Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "Parachute Woman" is a blues song and is one of the famous Beggars Banquet songs recorded on a cassette player and double-tracked for effect. Bill Janovitz says in his review of the song, "The result is a raw and murky but atmosphere-filled blues track that spotlights Mick Jagger's mumbled sexual boasts and intense harmonica playing. With barely veiled innuendo — just enough to make it comical — Jagger makes like a modern-day Muddy Waters."
Mick Jagger is on lead vocals and Keith Richards is on acoustic rhythm and on electric lead guitar. It is disputed whether the harmonica is played by Jagger and/or Brian Jones. Some sources give it as either Jones or Jagger but some have stated that it may have been by the both of them on separate harmonicas. Charlie Watts provides drums. Bill Wyman is featured on the upright bass. "Parachute Woman" was only ever performed live by the Rolling Stones two times. The first performance was during the 1968 Rock and Roll Circus and appears on the subsequent album. It would also be performed once during the 2002 Licks Tour, more than 30 years after its initial live debut.