The first time Mick Jagger ever sang in front of an audience, he chose a song that would forever define his career. That moment happened in 1962 when he and Keith Richards sat in with Blues Inc. and Jagger belted out a Chuck Berry classic. That same tune would later become the very first recording ever made by The Rolling Stones.
The track in question is Around And Around, a rollicking rock and roll anthem originally written and performed by the legendary Chuck Berry. Keith Richards once described Berry as the embodiment of rock and roll mastery, and it is easy to see why. The Stones first recorded the song in March 1962, though that version remained unreleased. They returned to it in 1964, cutting a fresh take that landed on the album 12 x 5.
The band chose this very song for their debut appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on October 25, 1964. At that time, The Rolling Stones were still largely unknown in America. Their performance of Around And Around helped drive interest in another song they played that night—Time Is On My Side—which climbed to number six on the US charts and gave the band their first Top Ten hit in the States. The group would return to the Sullivan stage five more times over the years.
I said the joint was rocking
Uh, going round and round
Yeah, reeling and a rocking
What a crazy sound
And they never stopped rocking
Til the moon went down
The lyrics capture that wild, unstoppable energy that defined The Rolling Stones from the very beginning. The song paints a vivid picture of a packed club where the music just keeps going until morning, even when the police show up at the door. For the band, that spirit of rebellion and joy became a signature.
Well it sounds so sweet
I had to take me a chance
Rose out of my seat
I just had to dance
Started moving my feet
Whoa to clapping my hands
In 1964, The Rolling Stones delivered this timeless hit with a raw energy that still captivates audiences worldwide. Featuring Mick Jagger on vocals, Keith Richards on guitar, and the rest of the band firing on all cylinders, Around And Around remains an essential part of their extensive discography and a testament to the enduring power of rock and roll.
Yeah at twelve o’clock
Yeah the place was packed
Front doors was locked
Yeah the place was packed
And when the police knocked
Those doors flew back
The song never stops rocking, just like the band that made it famous. From that first unreleased recording in 1962 to the electrifying Sullivan performance, Around And Around stands as a monument to the moment when British rock met American rhythm and blues—and changed music forever.
But they kept on rocking
Goin’ round and round
Yeah, reeling and a rocking
What a crazy sound
And they never stopped rocking
Til the moon went down
And they kept on rocking
Goin’ round and round
Yeah, reeling and a rocking
What a crazy sound
And they never stopped rocking
Til the moon went down
Well the joint stayed a rocking
Goin’ round and round
Yeah, reeling and a rocking
What a crazy sound
And they never stopped rocking
Til the moon went down