It's Only Rock 'n Roll cover art

  Studio Album · No. 16

It's Only Rock 'n Roll Songwriting Credits by The Rolling Stones

1974 Rolling Stones Records 10 tracks 48 min

Produced by The Glimmer Twins  ·  Engineered by Andy Johns, Keith Harwood, George Chkiantz

Rolling Stones Records Rock and RollHard RockBlues RockFunk Rock
90%
Authorship
Artist

Holds writing credit on 9 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 9 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether The Rolling Stones carries a lyricist or composer credit.

90%
9 trackswritten by The Rolling Stones 1 trackoutside writers
The Rolling Stones's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist90%
Composer90%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
4
Lyricists
2
Producers
1974
Released
Data Insight

The original songs are credited to Jagger/Richards, while the album also includes a cover of the Temptations' 'Ain't Too Proud to Beg' (written by Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland Jr.). This was the first Rolling Stones album the band produced themselves under the pseudonym the Glimmer Twins, after Jimmy Miller's departure following Goats Head Soup. The title track originated from a session involving Mick Jagger and others outside the core band before the Stones reworked it. It was the last studio album to feature guitarist Mick Taylor, who left the group shortly after its release.

Released October 18, 1974, It's Only Rock 'n Roll was the first album produced under the 'Glimmer Twins' pseudonym (Jagger and Richards). It was Mick Taylor's final album with the band before his departure. The title track was co-written by Ronnie Wood (then still in the Faces) though he received no writing credit at the time. The album includes 'Ain't Too Proud to Beg' (a Temptations cover) and 'If You Can't Rock Me.'

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
If You Can't Rock Me
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
2
Ain't Too Proud to Beg
Norman WhitfieldEddie Holland Norman Jesse WhitfieldEdward Holland Jr. Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
3
It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It) #16
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
4
Till the Next Goodbye
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
5
Time Waits for No One
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
6
Luxury
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
7
Dance Little Sister
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
8
If You Really Want to Be My Friend
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
9
Short and Curlies
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
10
Fingerprint File
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 7 contributors

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Frequently Asked Questions It's Only Rock 'n Roll

Who wrote the songs on It's Only Rock 'n Roll?
The original songs are credited to Jagger/Richards, the songwriting team of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The album also features a cover of 'Ain't Too Proud to Beg,' originally a Temptations hit written by Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland Jr. The title track is a Jagger/Richards composition.
Who produced It's Only Rock 'n Roll?
It's Only Rock 'n Roll was produced by the Glimmer Twins, the pseudonym for Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. It was the band's first self-produced album after long-time producer Jimmy Miller departed. Engineers included Andy Johns and Keith Harwood.
Why is It's Only Rock 'n Roll significant for Mick Taylor?
It's Only Rock 'n Roll was the last Rolling Stones studio album to feature guitarist Mick Taylor. Taylor left the band shortly after its release in late 1974. He had joined in 1969 and played on the band's run of early-1970s albums.
What chart position did the title track reach?
'It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)' reached number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. It served as the album's lead single. The song is credited to Jagger/Richards.
Is Ain't Too Proud to Beg a Rolling Stones original?
No, 'Ain't Too Proud to Beg' is a cover of the 1966 Temptations song written by Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland Jr. The Rolling Stones included their version on It's Only Rock 'n Roll and released it as a single in the US. It is the album's main non-original track.
How did It's Only Rock 'n Roll perform on the charts?
The album reached number one in the United States and number two in the UK. It has been certified Platinum by the RIAA in the US. It was released on October 18, 1974, on Rolling Stones Records.
How many tracks are on It's Only Rock 'n Roll?
It's Only Rock 'n Roll contains ten tracks and runs about 48 minutes. It was the band's twelfth British studio album. The record closes the Mick Taylor era of the group.

Sources