Gene Pitney's Impact on The Rolling Stones' Early Success
The Rolling Stones, a legendary rock band, owe much of their early success to Gene Pitney, a Connecticut vocalist with a clean-cut image. While Pitney's style seemed at odds with the Stones' hedonistic and drug-fueled rock rebellion, their paths crossed in a pivotal moment in music history. During the early days of the band, led by Brian Jones, their setlists were filled with American blues and R&B covers. However, the music industry was rapidly shifting towards original material.
In a move reminiscent of the Lennon-McCartney partnership, Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham encouraged Jagger and Richards to start composing their own tracks. The legend has it that he locked them in a room together until they produced something. This decision marked the beginning of some of the most iconic rock songs ever recorded. But it wasn't an instant success.
The first song to emerge from the Jagger-Richards partnership was 'As Tears Go By,' an emotional track that was initially given to Marianne Faithfull, who made it a top-ten hit in 1964. However, the first official Jagger-Richards collaboration to chart was 'That Girl Belongs To Yesterday.' Interestingly, this song was never intended for the Stones. It was originally written for Decca's George Bean with a Motown-esque title, 'My Only Girl.'
George Pitney rearranged and recorded the song as 'That Girl Belongs To Yesterday,' achieving one of his earliest UK successes. This single not only gave Pitney a hit but also marked the Jagger-Richards songwriting partnership's first top-ten entry. Peaking at number seven in April 1964, it established the pair as a significant songwriting force.
Despite its initial success, 'That Girl Belongs To Yesterday' is not considered one of the Jagger-Richards partnership's best works. Within a year, the Stones had their first original number-one with 'The Last Time,' credited to Jagger and Richards. For Pitney, the 1964 track might have been just another hit, but it played a crucial role in launching one of the greatest songwriting partnerships in rock and roll history. Without Pitney's contribution, the airwaves might never have heard the revolutionary sound of the band's later material.
