2120 South Michigan Avenue
Encyclopedia
"2120 South Michigan Avenue" is an original instrumental by the Rolling Stones recorded for their second EP Five by Five. It was also released on their second US album 12 X 5
in 1964. Composer credit goes to Nanker Phelge
, a title giving credit equally to all members of the band. In the book Rolling with the Stones, Bill Wyman recalls that the composition process started with him playing a bass riff and that the others followed on jamming.
The title refers to the address of the offices and recording studios of Chess Records
and Checker Records
in Chicago
where the five songs for the EP were recorded in June 1964.
AllMusic reviewer Richie Unterberger described the song as a great groovin' original blues-rock jam. The song was originally released at just over two minutes in length, fading early for lack of time available on a conventional EP in 1964. A full length (3:38 minute) version appears on the 1964 West German Decca LP Around And Around, and the 2002 CD re-release of 12 X 5
. There is also a rarer second take which has a rougher, more blues-based sound than the better known Five by Five rock-groove version. This version, with its short but distinctive tremulo guitar riff, was under consideration as the title track of an eventually unreleased 1964 blues album.
In 2011, George Thorogood and the Destroyers released an album called 2120 South Michigan Ave.
, which includes a cover of this song as well as covers of other Chess Records artists.
12 X 5
-Personnel:The Rolling Stones*Mick Jagger – lead vocals, harmonica, and percussion*Keith Richards – acoustic and electric guitar, and backing vocals*Brian Jones – electric and acoustic guitar, harmonica, tambourine and backing vocals...
in 1964. Composer credit goes to Nanker Phelge
Nanker Phelge
Nanker Phelge was a collective pseudonym used between 1963 and 1965 for several Rolling Stones group compositions. Stones bassist Bill Wyman explained the origins of the name in his 2002 book, Rolling with the Stones:...
, a title giving credit equally to all members of the band. In the book Rolling with the Stones, Bill Wyman recalls that the composition process started with him playing a bass riff and that the others followed on jamming.
The title refers to the address of the offices and recording studios of Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
and Checker Records
Checker Records
Checker Records is an inactive record label that was started in 1952 as a subsidiary to Chess Records in Chicago, Illinois. The label was founded by the Chess brothers, Leonard and Phil, who ran the label until they sold it to General Recorded Tape in 1969, shortly before Leonard's death.The label...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
where the five songs for the EP were recorded in June 1964.
AllMusic reviewer Richie Unterberger described the song as a great groovin' original blues-rock jam. The song was originally released at just over two minutes in length, fading early for lack of time available on a conventional EP in 1964. A full length (3:38 minute) version appears on the 1964 West German Decca LP Around And Around, and the 2002 CD re-release of 12 X 5
12 X 5
-Personnel:The Rolling Stones*Mick Jagger – lead vocals, harmonica, and percussion*Keith Richards – acoustic and electric guitar, and backing vocals*Brian Jones – electric and acoustic guitar, harmonica, tambourine and backing vocals...
. There is also a rarer second take which has a rougher, more blues-based sound than the better known Five by Five rock-groove version. This version, with its short but distinctive tremulo guitar riff, was under consideration as the title track of an eventually unreleased 1964 blues album.
In 2011, George Thorogood and the Destroyers released an album called 2120 South Michigan Ave.
2120 South Michigan Ave.
2120 South Michigan Ave. is a studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released on June 14, 2011 on the Capitol Records label. The album peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart. The title refers to the address of the offices and recording studios of Chess Records...
, which includes a cover of this song as well as covers of other Chess Records artists.
Personnel
- Bill WymanBill WymanBill Wyman is an English musician best known as the bass guitarist for the English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1992. Since 1997, he has recorded and toured with his own band, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Brian JonesBrian JonesLewis Brian Hopkins Jones , known as Brian Jones, was an English musician and a founding member of the Rolling Stones....
- harmonica - Charlie WattsCharlie WattsCharles Robert "Charlie" Watts is an English drummer, best known as a member of The Rolling Stones. He is also the leader of a jazz band, a record producer, commercial artist, and horse breeder.-Early life:...
- drums - Keith RichardsKeith RichardsKeith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Ian StewartIan Stewart (musician)Ian Andrew Robert Stewart was a Scottish keyboardist, co-founder of The Rolling Stones and inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
- organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with... - Mick JaggerMick JaggerSir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
- percussion
External links
- Faded 2:07 version of the song on YouTube
- Full length version of the song on YouTube (in stereo)
- Second Take version used on a Youtube trucking video
- 1965 cover version by The BroguesThe BroguesThe Brogues was a Merced, California band formed in 1964 by Eddie Rodrigues , Rick Campbell , Greg Elmore and Bill Whittington...
- 1967 cover version by The Roadrunners
- cover version by Japanese boogie-rock combo The Privates