320: SOME GIRLS | THE ROLLING STONES

Some Girls is the 14th British and 16th American studio album by the Rolling Stones, released on 9 June 1978 on Rolling Stones Records. It was the first album to feature guitarist Ronnie Wood as a full-time member; joining founder members Mick Jagger (vocals), Keith Richards (guitar), Bill Wyman (bass) and Charlie Watts (drums). Wood had contributed to some tracks on the Rolling Stones prior two albums, 1974's It's Only Rock 'n Roll and 1976's Black and Blue, and joined the band full-time in 1976. With a stable line-up in place for the first time in several years, the album marked a return to basics for the Rolling Stones and did not feature many guest musicians, unlike many of their prior albums. Notable contributions to the album, however, come from blues harmonica player Sugar Blue on "Miss You" and "Some Girls".

Rebounding from the relative critical disappointment of prior album Black and Blue, Some Girls reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and became the band's top selling album in the United States, certified by the RIAA as having six million copies sold as of 2000. It was a major critical success, becoming the only Rolling Stones album to be nominated for a Grammy in the Album of the Year category. Many reviewers called it a classic return to form and their best album since 1972's Exile on Main St.

Several hit singles emerged from the album which would become rock radio staples for decades, including "Beast of Burden" (US No. 8, Australia No. 12, top ten in several European markets), "Shattered" (US No. 31), "Respectable" (UK No. 23), highlighted by "Miss You", which reached No. 1 in the US and Canada, number three in the UK, and was a top ten hit in dozens of worldwide markets.

By 1976, the Rolling Stones' popularity was in decline as the charts were dominated by disco music and newer bands such as Aerosmith and Kiss. In the UK, the punk rock movement was a rising force and made most artists connected with the 1960s era seem obsolete. The group had also failed to produce a critically acclaimed album since 1972's Exile on Main St..

Mick Jagger is generally regarded as the principal creative force behind Some Girls. Keith Richards was in legal trouble for much of 1977, which resulted in the band being inactive on the touring circuit during that year, except for two shows in Canada during the spring for the live album Love You Live.[4] Jagger wrote the album's signature song "Miss You", as well as "Respectable", "Lies", and "When the Whip Comes Down". In addition to punk, Jagger claims to have been influenced by dance music, most notably disco, during the recording of Some Girls, and cites New York City as a major inspiration for the album, an explanation for his lyrical preoccupation with the city throughout.

The inspiration for the record was really based in New York and the ways of the town. I think that gave it an extra spur and hardness. And then, of course, there was the punk thing that had started in 1976. Punk and disco were going on at the same time, so it was quite an interesting period. New York and London, too. Paris—there was punk there. Lots of dance music. Paris and New York had all this Latin dance music, which was really quite wonderful. Much more interesting than the stuff that came afterward.

At least as important for the band's re-invigoration was the addition of Ronnie Wood to the line-up, as Some Girls was the first album recorded with him as a full member. His guitar playing style meshed with that of Keith Richards, and slide guitar playing would become one of the band's hallmarks. His unconventional uses of the instrument featured prominently on Some Girls and he contributed to the writing process. In addition, Jagger, who had learned to play guitar over the previous decade, contributed a third guitar part to many songs. This gave songs like "Respectable" a three-guitar line-up.