The 30 Greatest Rolling Stones Songs, from Satisfaction to Angry

What is the Rolling Stones' most famous song?

"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", their first US number one in 1965, is the Rolling Stones' most famous song, built on one of the best-known guitar riffs in rock. "Paint It Black", "Gimme Shelter", "Sympathy for the Devil", "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Start Me Up" are close behind.

The Rolling Stones' greatest songs

1. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", 1965: the fuzz-guitar riff that defined a generation.
2. "Paint It Black", 1966: a dark, sitar-driven number one.
3. "Gimme Shelter", 1969: a menacing song with Merry Clayton's legendary vocal.
4. "Sympathy for the Devil", 1968: a samba-rock epic narrated by the devil himself.
5. "Jumpin' Jack Flash", 1968: a swaggering return to raw rock and roll.
6. "Start Me Up", 1981: one of their most famous riffs and an arena favorite.
7. "Wild Horses", 1971: a tender country-tinged ballad.
8. "You Can't Always Get What You Want", 1969: a choir-backed epic.
9. "Brown Sugar", 1971: a number one with a famous sax solo by Bobby Keys.
10. "Angie", 1973: an acoustic ballad and a number one.

More 60s Rolling Stones classics

11. "Get Off of My Cloud", 1965: their second US number one.
12. "Ruby Tuesday", 1967: a wistful number one with recorder and piano.
13. "Honky Tonk Women", 1969: a stomping, cowbell-led number one.
14. "Under My Thumb", 1966: a hypnotic marimba riff from Aftermath.
15. "As Tears Go By", 1965: a gentle ballad with strings.
16. "Lady Jane", 1966: a baroque, dulcimer-led love song.
17. "Let's Spend the Night Together", 1967: an upbeat, piano-driven single.
18. "Street Fighting Man", 1968: a fierce, acoustic-driven rocker.
19. "Midnight Rambler", 1969: a long, bluesy concert centerpiece.

The 70s and beyond

20. "Tumbling Dice", 1972: a loose, soulful highlight of Exile on Main St.
21. "Dead Flowers", 1971: a country-flavored fan favorite.
22. "Can't You Hear Me Knocking", 1971: a riff that turns into a long jam.
23. "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)", 1974: a cheeky, defiant anthem.
24. "Fool to Cry", 1976: a soulful ballad.
25. "Miss You", 1978: a disco-influenced number one.
26. "Beast of Burden", 1978: a laid-back, soulful single.
27. "Shattered", 1978: a jittery New York punk-influenced song.
28. "Emotional Rescue", 1980: a falsetto-sung disco-rock single.
29. "Waiting on a Friend", 1981: a warm song about friendship with Sonny Rollins on sax.
30. "Angry", 2023: the energetic lead single from Hackney Diamonds.

The Rolling Stones' US number ones

The Rolling Stones reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 eight times: "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (1965), "Get Off of My Cloud" (1965), "Paint It Black" (1966), "Ruby Tuesday" (1967), "Honky Tonk Women" (1969), "Brown Sugar" (1971), "Angie" (1973) and "Miss You" (1978).

Who are the Rolling Stones?

The Rolling Stones formed in London in 1962 around Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones, with Bill Wyman on bass and Charlie Watts on drums. Brian Jones died in 1969, Mick Taylor and then Ronnie Wood took over on guitar, and Charlie Watts played with the band until his death in 2021. The Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, and their 2023 album Hackney Diamonds, their first of new original songs in nearly two decades, won the Grammy for Best Rock Album.

Jagger and Richards

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote most of the band's songs together, after their manager pushed them to write their own material instead of covering blues and R&B records. Richards famously came up with the "Satisfaction" riff in his sleep and recorded it on a cassette by his bed. Their partnership, with Jagger's lyrics and showmanship and Richards' riffs, is one of the most successful in rock history.

The classic albums

From 1968 to 1972 the Stones released four albums often called the best run in rock: Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St. They mixed blues, country, gospel and hard rock, and produced "Sympathy for the Devil", "Gimme Shelter", "Brown Sugar", "Wild Horses" and "Tumbling Dice".

The world's greatest live band

The Stones have toured for more than six decades, and their stadium shows set records for attendance and ticket sales. Concerts still build to the same closing run of classics, often "Gimme Shelter", "Sympathy for the Devil", "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Satisfaction", and Jagger's energy on stage, well into his 80s, has become part of the legend.

Rolling Stones songs for a party, a wedding or a road trip

For a party, "Start Me Up", "Honky Tonk Women", "Brown Sugar", "Satisfaction" and "Miss You" fill the dance floor. For a wedding, "Wild Horses" is a beautiful first dance for a rock-loving couple and "Beast of Burden" is a fun slow dance. For a drive, play "Jumpin' Jack Flash", "Tumbling Dice", "Gimme Shelter" and "Can't You Hear Me Knocking". For more, see our rock wedding songs and 70s rock songs.

More classic rock

If you love the Rolling Stones, explore our 60s songs, Bruce Springsteen songs and best saxophone songs.

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