Rear-view Mirror: Rolling Stones 'Miss You'

Every week Rich Terfry looks back in our Rear-view Mirror at a great song from the good ol’ days.

The year 1977 was one of great change for the Rolling Stones, both personally and musically. The challenges the band faced were monumental, but rather than being crushed by the turmoil, the band made some of their best and most surprising music.

Keith Richards and Mick Jagger were being affected by the changes most. Richards was in rough shape with his substance abuse problems and was awaiting trial for drug charges. The evidence was stacked against him and it seemed a prison term was likely. So the band figured they should get some things on tape before Richards went away.

At the time, Jagger was spending a lot of time in New York City and clubbing at Studio 54. The man who was the very face of rock 'n' roll was being seduced by, of all things, disco!

The band got together in Toronto to rehearse for a series of shows at the El Mocambo club.

Jagger began jamming with keyboard player Billy Preston and worked up a tune called "Miss You," inspired by the music he was dancing to in clubs. When he brought it to the other band members, they were mystified. Richards was not a fan of disco music, but later, if somewhat begrudgingly, admitted that the song was the best disco song of them all.

The song was released a month in advance of the band's 1978 album Some Girls, and was a smash hit. It went to number one on the pop charts and became a dance floor favourite in clubs around the world.

By the way, the charges against Richards were later reduced and he avoided a prison sentence.

Here's the song that saw the kings of rock 'n' roll conquer the discotheque: "Miss You" by the Rolling Stones.

hereListen to the audio version of Rear-view Mirror by clicking the play button to the left.

Here are some other great editions of Rear-view Mirror:

Elvis Costello, "Alison"

James Brown, "Hot (I Need to be loved loved loved)"

Inner Circle, "Tenement Yard"

Ray Charles, "I Don't Need No Doctor"

Curtis Mayfield, "Freddy's Dead"

Gang Starr, "Beyond Comprehension"

Bo Diddley, "Bo Diddley"

Aretha Franklin, "Rocksteady"

CCR, "Have You Ever Seen the Rain"

Howlin' Wolf, "Smokestack Lightning"

Bobby Womack, "Across 110th Street"

Roy Orbison, "In Dreams"

Foggy Hogtown Boys, "Man of Constant Sorrow"

Pink Floyd, "Wish You Were Here"

Neil Young, "Cortez The Killer"

Bob Dylan, "Subterranean Homesick Blues"

Little Eva, "Loco-Motion"

Elvis Costello, "Watching the Detectives"

Jimmy Cliff, "The Harder They Come"

The Verve, "Bittersweet Symphony"

Roberta Flack, "Killing Me Softly with his Song"

R.E.M., "Radio Free Europe"

Radiohead, "No Surprises"

Led Zeppelin, "Ramble On"

Glen Campbell, "Wichita Lineman"

Rolling Stones, "Beast of Burden"

John Cougar Mellencamp, "Pink Houses"