Скачать или смотреть The Rolling Stones' Longest Song: A Deep Dive

The Rolling Stones have mastered creating radio-friendly songs, typically avoiding overstaying their welcome and leaving fans craving more. Despite not being known for pocket-sized punk anthems, the iconic British group usually exercises restraint in their studio recordings and reserves more extended jams for live performances. In their early days, artists refrained from creating particularly lengthy songs due to vinyl constraints, with albums holding around 22 minutes of sound on each side.

Breaking away from the norm, The Rolling Stones defied contemporary trends on their fourth album, "Aftermath," by producing a track that exceeded the ten-minute mark. Such extended tracks were unprecedented before Bob Dylan's groundbreaking "Desolation Row" in 1965. The Stones challenged this with the pioneering "Goin' Home," released in 1966.

While the band has continued to explore longer songs that push the traditional boundaries of rock 'n' roll, none have surpassed the 55-year legacy of "Goin' Home." Notable lengthy tracks in their catalogue include fan favourites like "You Can't Always Get What You Want," "Can't You Hear Me Knocking," and "Miss You."

Creating "Goin' Home" wasn't a deliberate effort despite its extended duration. Guitarist Keith Richards revealed that the song's initial 2 and a half minutes were intentional, but the band kept the tape rolling, resulting in the final 11-minute masterpiece. Richards explained that they enjoyed letting things roll on and acknowledged Bob Dylan's influence in breaking the two-minute barrier.

"Goin' Home" didn't become a single from "Aftermath," likely due to its over 11-minute length. Similarly, it's a rarity in their live sets, having been performed only 15 times, all in 1967. The recording process wasn't a prolonged exercise but a happy accident that the Stones were unwilling to compromise, appreciating the final cut as a unique musical creation.