Gimme Shelter

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This article is about the song by the Rolling Stones. For other uses, see Gimme Shelter (disambiguation).

"Gimme Shelter"
Song by the Rolling Stones
from the album Let It Bleed
Released5 December 1969 (1969-12-05)
Recorded23 February and 2 November 1969
Genre
Length4:37
Label
Songwriter(s)Jagger/Richards
Producer(s)Jimmy Miller
Audio sample
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"Gimme Shelter" is the opening track to the 1969 album Let It Bleed by the Rolling Stones. Greil Marcus, writing in the unaffiliated Rolling Stone magazine at the time of its release, praised the song, stating that the band has "never done anything better".

Although the first word was spelled "Gimmie" on that album, subsequent recordings by the band and other musicians have made "Gimme" the customary spelling.[citation needed]

It is on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list, and is also the 34th best ranked song on critics' all-time lists according to Acclaimed Music.[citation needed]

Inspiration and recording[]

"Gimme Shelter" was written by the Rolling Stones' lead vocalist Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards, the band's primary songwriting team.[a] Richards began working on the song's signature opening riff in London while Jagger was away filming Performance with Richards' then-girlfriend, Anita Pallenberg. In his autobiography Life, Richards revealed that the tension of the song was inspired by his jealousy at seeing the relationship between Pallenberg and Jagger, and his suspicions of an affair between them.[2]

As released, the song begins with Richards performing a guitar intro, soon joined by Jagger's lead vocal. Of Let It Bleed's bleak world view, Jagger said in a 1995 interview with Rolling Stone magazine:

Well, it's a very rough, very violent era. The Vietnam War. Violence on the screens, pillage and burning. And Vietnam was not war as we knew it in the conventional sense. The thing about Vietnam was that it wasn't like World War II, and it wasn't like Korea, and it wasn't like the Gulf War. It was a real nasty war, and people didn't like it. People objected, and people didn't want to fight it ... That's a kind of end-of-the-world song, really. It's apocalypse; the whole record's like that.[3]

Similarly, on NPR in 2012:

It was a very moody piece about the world closing in on you a bit ... When it was recorded, early '69 or something, it was a time of war and tension, so that's reflected in this tune. It's still wheeled out when big storms happen, as they did the other week [during Hurricane Sandy]. It's been used a lot to evoke natural disaster.[4]

However, the song's inspiration was not initially Vietnam or social unrest, but Keith Richards seeing people scurrying for shelter from a sudden rain storm. According to him:

I had been sitting by the window of my friend Robert Fraser's apartment on Mount Street in London with an acoustic guitar when suddenly the sky went completely black and an incredible monsoon came down. It was just people running about looking for shelter – that was the germ of the idea. We went further into it until it became, you know, rape and murder are 'just a shot away'.[5]

The recording features guest vocals by Merry Clayton, recorded at a last-minute late-night recording session during the mixing phase, arranged by her friend and record producer Jack Nitzsche.[6] After the first verse is sung by Jagger, Merry Clayton enters and they share the next three verses. A harmonica solo by Jagger and guitar solo by Richards follow. Then, with great energy, Clayton repeatedly sings "Rape, murder! It's just a shot away! It's just a shot away!", almost screaming the final stanza. She and Jagger then repeat the line "It's just a shot away" and finish with repeats of "It's just a kiss away". When speaking of her inclusion in the recording, Jagger stated in the 2003 book According to the Rolling Stones that the Rolling Stones' producer Jimmy Miller thought of having a female singer on the track and told fellow producer Jack Nitzsche to contact one: "The use of the female voice was the producer's idea. It would be one of those moments along the lines of 'I hear a girl on this track – get one on the phone.'"[6][7] Summoned from bed around midnight by Nitzsche, Clayton – heavily pregnant – made her recording with just a few takes and then returned home to bed.[6] It remains the most prominent contribution to a Rolling Stones track by a female vocalist.[8]

At about 2:59 into the song, Clayton's voice cracks under the strain; once during the second refrain on the word "shot", then on the word "murder" during the third refrain, after which Jagger is faintly heard exclaiming "Woo!" in response to Clayton's powerful delivery.[9] Upon returning home, Clayton suffered a miscarriage, attributed by some sources to her exertions during the recording.[10][11]

Merry Clayton's name was erroneously written on the original release, appearing as 'Mary'. Her name is also listed as 'Mary' on the 2002 Let It Bleed remastered CD.[12]

The song was recorded in London at Olympic Studios in February and March 1969; the vocals were recorded in Los Angeles at Sunset Sound Recorders and Elektra Studios in October and November that same year.[13] Nicky Hopkins played piano, Jimmy Miller played percussion, Charlie Watts played drums, Bill Wyman played bass, Jagger played harmonica and sang backup vocals with Richards and Clayton. Guitarist Brian Jones was present during the early sessions but did not contribute[citation needed], Richards being credited with both rhythm and lead guitars on the album sleeve. For the recording, Richards used an Australian-made Maton SE777, a large single-cutaway hollowbody guitar, which he had previously used on "Midnight Rambler". The guitar barely survived the recording before literally falling apart. "[O]n the very last note of 'Gimmie Shelter,'" Richards told Guitar World in 2002, "the whole neck fell off. You can hear it on the original take."[14]

Releases on compilation albums and live recordings[]

"Gimme Shelter" quickly became a staple of the Rolling Stones' live shows. It was first performed sporadically during their 1969 American Tour and became a regular addition to their setlist during the 1972 American Tour. Other concert versions appear on the Stones' albums No Security (recorded 1997, released 1998),[15] Live Licks (recorded 2003, released 2004),[16] Brussels Affair (recorded 1973, released 2011),[17][18] and Hyde Park Live (2013).[19] A May 1995 performance recorded at Paradiso (Amsterdam) was released on the 1996 "Wild Horses" (live) single, on the 1998 "Saint of Me" single (included in the 45-CD 2011 box set The Singles 1971–2006), and again on Totally Stripped in 2016.

The song appeared in Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones, a film of the Stones' 1972 North American Tour, as well as on its 2010 official DVD release.[20] It is also featured on the concert DVD/Blu-ray sets Bridges to Babylon Tour '97–98 (1998), Four Flicks (2003), The Biggest Bang (2007), Sweet Summer Sun: Hyde Park Live (2013), Totally Stripped (2016), and Havana Moon (2016).[21]

The female contributor to the live version of the song is Lisa Fischer, the only woman to appear in all their tours since 1989.[22]

In their 2012 50th anniversary tour, the Rolling Stones sang this song with Mary J. Blige,[23] Florence Welch,[23] and Lady Gaga.[24][23]

"Gimme Shelter" was never released as a single. Nevertheless, it has been included on many compilation releases, including Gimme Shelter,[25] Hot Rocks 1964–1971,[26] Forty Licks,[27] and GRRR![28]

Music video[]

French filmmaker Michel Gondry directed a music video for the song, which was released in 1998. The video features a sixteen-year old Brad Renfro, playing a young man escaping with his brother from a dysfunctional home and the abuse they suffered at the hands of their abusive alcoholic father, and then from society as a whole.[29]

Personnel[]

The Rolling Stones

  • Mick Jagger – lead vocals, harmonica
  • Keith Richards – lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
  • Bill Wyman – bass
  • Charlie Watts – drums

Additional personnel

Accolades[]

Greil Marcus, writing for Rolling Stone magazine at the time of the "Gimme Shelter"'s release stated that "[t]he Stones have never done anything better".[30] Pitchfork placed it at number 12 on its list of "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s".[31] Ultimate Classic Rock put the song at number one on their Top 100 Rolling Stones songs[32] and number three on their Top 100 Classic Rock Songs.[33]

It is ranked number 38 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.[34] It is also ranked number 1 on the magazine's list of the band's best songs.[35] According to Acclaimed Music, it is the 34th most celebrated song in popular music history.[36]

In popular culture[]

"Gimme Shelter" has been played in a variety of movies and television shows/commercials. The 1970 documentary film Gimme Shelter, directed by Albert and David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin,[37] chronicling the last weeks of the Stones' 1969 US tour and culminating in the disastrous Altamont Free Concert, took its name from the song.[38][39][40] A live version of the song played over the documentary's credits.[41] The song has appeared in three Martin Scorsese films.

Appearance Additional info Reference
Adventures in Babysitting (1987) [42]
American Red Cross "Play Your Part" public service advertising campaign in 1989 [43]
Gimme Shelter (2013) [44]
Goodfellas (1990) [45]
Casino (1995) [45]
The Departed (2006) [45]
That '70s Show (1998–2006) Episode "Gimme Shelter" [45]
Air America (1990) [46]
Wild Palms (1993) [47]
Layer Cake (2004) [45]
Flight (2012) [45]
Call of Duty: Black Ops Trailer for the video game [48][49]
The Simpsons Episode "Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens, and Gays", in a scene parodying Woodstock [50]
Nip/Tuck Season 4, episode 5 ("Dawn Budge") of the FX television series [51]
Person of Interest (2011-2016) Season 2, episode 10 ("Shadow Box"), end of episode
The Daily Show (2013) [52]
Hockey Night in Canada (2013) [53]
20 Feet from Stardom [54]
The Gambler (2014) [55]
Monday Mornings (2013) Season 1, episode 1, Pilot (2013), end of episode [56]
Dexter (2006–2013) Season 2, episode 5, The Dark Defender (2007) [57]
Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam (1987) [58]
The Vietnam War (2017) Episode 9, "A Disrespectful Loyalty", Operation Dewey Canyon III [59]
Ford v Ferrari (2019) First advance of the movie [citation needed]

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[60] Gold 25,000double-dagger
United Kingdom (BPI)[61] Platinum 600,000double-dagger

double-dagger Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions[]

  • Grand Funk Railroad recorded the song and included it on their 1971 Survival album. It was released as a single and reached 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[62]
  • U2 covered the song at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame benefit concert on 30 October 2009, with Mick Jagger sharing lead vocals with Bono and featuring the Black Eyed Peas members Fergie, singing Merry Clayton's vocal part, and will.i.am, playing piano and synthesizer.[63][64][65]
  • Paolo Nutini covered the song and was asked by Mick Jagger and Ben Affleck to perform the track for a documentary of the same name on the plight of the millions of people displaced from their homes as a result of fighting in the Sudanese region.[66]

"Putting Our House in Order" project[]

In 1993, a Food Records project collected various versions of the track by the following bands and collaborations, the proceeds of which went to the Shelter charity's "Putting Our House in Order" homeless initiative. The versions were issued across various formats, and had a live version of the song by the Rolling Stones as a common lead track to ensure chart eligibility.[citation needed]

"Gimme Shelter" (pop version – cassette single)

"Gimme Shelter" (alternative version – CD single)

"Gimme Shelter" (rock version – CD single)

"Gimme Shelter" (dance version – 12" single)

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ The Mick Jagger and Keith Richards writing team is commonly referred to as the "Glimmer Twins" and has occasionally been credited as such on releases, see Jagger/Richards.

References[]

  1. ^ v.d. Luft, Eric (21 September 2009). Die at the Right Time!: A Subjective Cultural History of the American Sixties. Gegensatz Press. p. 410. ISBN 978-1-933237-39-8.
  2. ^ Petridis, Alexis (14 June 2017). "Anita Pallenberg – anything but a passenger on the Stones' journey". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  3. ^ Wenner, Jann (14 December 1995). "Jagger Remembers". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 18 May 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2007.,
  4. ^ "Mick Jagger On The Apocalyptic 'Gimme Shelter'". NPR. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  5. ^ Giles, Jeff (27 October 2017). "Keith Richards Recalls Making the Rolling Stones' 'Gimme Shelter'". Ultimate Classic Rock.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c Springer, Mike. "Mick Jagger Tells the Story Behind 'Gimme Shelter' and Merry Clayton's Haunting Background Vocals Open Culture". Open Culture. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  7. ^ Jagger, Mick; Richards, Keith; Wood, Ronnie; Watts, Charlie (2003). According to the Rolling Stones. California: Chronicle Books. p. 117. ISBN 0811869679.
  8. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Gimme Shelter". allmusic.com (2007). Accessed 20 May 2007.
  9. ^ 20 Feet From Stardom – Gimme Shelter, 12 February 2016, retrieved 3 September 2017
  10. ^ Snowden, Don (13 March 1986). "For Clayton, The Gloom Is Gone". Los Angeles Times.
  11. ^ Ham, Robert (8 April 2021). "Merry Clayton: 'Gimme Shelter left a dark taste in my mouth'". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  12. ^ Jagger, M., Richards, K., "Let It Bleed." Album credits. 2002. CD.
  13. ^ Rolling Stones and the Making of Let It Bleed, by Sean Egan, ISBN 1903318777 (ISBN 9781903318775)
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  40. ^ Canby, Vincent. "Movie Review - Gimme Shelter". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
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  43. ^ "The Paley Center for Media". Paleycenter.org. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  44. ^ "Vanessa Hudgens: 'I had to work on loving myself again'". USA Today. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
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  53. ^ "Video: Hockey Night In Canada's Closing Montage". 25 June 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
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  55. ^ "The Gambler Official Trailer #1 (2014) - Mark Wahlberg, Jessica Lange Movie HD". YouTube. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  56. ^ "Monday Mornings Soundtrack - S1E1: Pilot". Tunefind. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  57. ^ TV.com. "Dexter: The Dark Defender". TV.com. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
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  59. ^ "Episode Playlists - The Vietnam War". Episode Playlists - The Vietnam War.
  60. ^ "Italian single certifications – The Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 12 January 2018. Select "2018" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Gimme Shelter" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  61. ^ "British single certifications – Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 22 November 2019.Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Gimme Shelter in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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External links[]

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