"Ruby Tuesday" is a song by the Englishrock bandthe Rolling Stones, released in January 1967. The song became the band's fourth number-one hit in the United States and reached number three in the United Kingdom as adouble A-side with "Let's Spend the Night Together". The song was included in the American version ofBetween the Buttons (in the UK, singles were often excluded from studio albums).
Richards explained that the lyrics are aboutLinda Keith, his girlfriend in the mid-1960s:
Who could hang a name on you When you change with every new day? Still, I'm gonna miss you.[10]
"That's a wonderful song,"Mick Jagger toldJann Wenner in 1995. "It's just a nice melody, really. And a lovely lyric. Neither of which I wrote, but I always enjoy singing it."[11] Wyman states inRolling with the Stones that the lyrics were completely written by Richards with help from Jones on the musical composition.[page needed] However,Marianne Faithfull recalls it differently; according to her, Jones presented an early version of this melody to the rest of the Rolling Stones.[12][full citation needed] According toVictor Bockris, Richards came up with the basic track and the words and finished the song with Jones in the studio.[13][full citation needed]
Cash Box described the single as a "smooth ballad a la baroque".[14]
"Ruby Tuesday" was released as the B-side to "Let's Spend the Night Together" in January 1967.[15] Due to the controversial nature of the A-side's lyrics, "Ruby Tuesday" earned more airplay and ended up charting higher in the US.[16] The song topped the AmericanBillboard Hot 100 chart, while reaching number three in the UK'sRecord Retailer chart, which listed "Let's Spend The Night Together"/"Ruby Tuesday" as adouble A-side.
"Ruby Tuesday" was first played live on Brian Jones' last concert tourThe Rolling Stones European Tour 1967. The next time was on theSteel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour in 1989/1990. A concert rendition from this tour was featured on the band's 1991 live albumFlashpoint and released as a single.[33] This live version was recorded in Japan in 1990 and can be seen on the video releaseLive at the Tokyo Dome. The B-side was "Play with Fire (live)" recorded in 1989 but not included on theFlashpoint album.
A July 2013 live performance is featured onSweet Summer Sun:Hyde Park Live.
American folk and pop singerMelanie recorded "Ruby Tuesday" for her 1970 albumCandles in the Rain. Her version was released as a single in the UK, where it became a Top Ten hit that year. It also reached number seven in New Zealand.[34] She recorded a second cover version for her 1978 albumBallroom Streets.
1993:Rod Stewart recorded a version for his 1993 compilation album,Lead Vocalist, and released it as a single throughWarner Bros. Records on 8 February 1993.[47][48] His cover reached number 11 on theUK Singles Chart.[49] Across the rest of Europe, the song entered the top 40 in Belgium, Iceland, Ireland, and the Netherlands.[50][51][52] In Denmark, it became a top-10 hit, reaching number seven.[53]
Samuel E. Beall III used the title of the song when he started his restaurant chainRuby Tuesday. The name was suggested by one of several fraternity brothers who were co-investors.[54]
^Bill Wyman writes the band recorded the song on 16 November 1966.[7] Authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon write the song's sessions took place between 16 November and 6 December 1966,[5] while authorsAndy Babiuk and Greg Prevost instead write it was 9–26 November 1966.[6]
^Margotin and Guesdon write that Jones "probably" contributedharpsichord during therefrains, but offer the possibility it was ahonky-tonk piano.[5] In his autobiography,Stone Alone, Wyman writes it was piano.[7] AuthorsAndy Babiuk and Greg Prevost write Jones' "main contribution" was recorder.[6]
Babiuk, Andy; Prevost, Greg (2013).Rolling Stones Gear: All the Stones' Instruments from Stage to Studio. Milwaukee: Backbeat Books.ISBN978-1-61713-092-2.
