Time Is on My Side (single version)

The Rolling Stones No. 2
Side 1, Track 4
"Time Is on My Side" (Norman Meade) – 2:58
Note: This is the version with the guitar intro, not the organ intro as on 12 x 5.






This is the hit (unlike the version on 12 x 5). As I said before, this is probably the most sophisticated song the Stones had attempted at this point, and they really put a good arrangement together. In retrospect, the performance lacks some fire, but it's easy to see here why the label was optimistic about the possibilities: a photogenic white band singing a catchy soul song with conviction (and even some originality) – someone smelled money.

Also:


Image courtesy of morethings.com "Rolling Stones 1964 Photo Galleries"

Time Is on My Side

12 x 5
Side 1, Track 4
"Time Is on My Side" (Norman Meade) – 2:53
Wikipedia Note: "This is the "organ" version of this song, as opposed to the version with the guitar intro which appeared on The Rolling Stones No. 2."




Finally, a hit – although not the version I know. You see, the Stones apparently released this song twice, once with the organ intro (the version heard on this America-only album and in the YouTube clip above) and once with a guitar intro (on the UK release). Turns out the UK version was the hit, and the version heard on classic rock radio and included on subsequent greatest hits albums.

There was a reason why the guitar version became the hit and this one became forgotten. Compared to the hit, this version is pretty tame, with none of Mick's bluesy bluster and some rather sloppy background vocals.

Still, I have to give the band credit. This was maybe the most ambitious song they'd tackled up till that point, and they responded with a relatively sophisticated arrangement, and if they weren't able to get it right here, well, as long as they got it right eventually.