Paint It, Black - Rolling Stones

by Dick Mac

"Paint It, Black" was released by The Rolling Stones in 1966. It was the first release from the album Aftermath. It is credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards; but it has been claimed that this was a publishing error and that the song is actually a Nanker-Phelge composition.

It was originally titled "Paint It Black"; and Keith Richards says the comma was added by the record label. I wonder what significance that edit could actually have? Neither title is grammatically correct or incorrect.

The single reached number one in both the United States and United Kingdom. It is ranked #176 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time; and was the first number one single to feature a sitar on the recording.

Here is a live recording with Richards playing the sitar part on electric guitar:



See, wikipedia entry for "Paint It, Black"

Ibid., Nanker Phelge

See, also, The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time

And eventually, the door in the background will be painted black.