Inspiration and Recording
Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "Parachute Woman" is a slow blues song and is one of the famous Beggars Banquet songs recorded on a cassette player and double-tracked for effect. Bill Janovitz says in his review of the song, "The result is a raw and murky but atmosphere-filled blues track that spotlights Mick Jagger's mumbled sexual boasts and intense harmonica playing. With barely veiled innuendo — just enough to make it comical — Jagger makes like a modern-day Muddy Waters."
| “ | Parachute woman, will you blow me out? Parachute woman, will you blow me out? Well, my heavy throbbers itchin', Just to lay a solid rhythm down | ” |
Recording began at Olympic Sound Studios on 25 March 1968. With Jagger on lead vocals, and Richards on acoustic rhythm and on electric lead guitar, it is disputed whether the harmonica is played by Jagger and/or Brian Jones. Some sources give it as either Jones or Jagger but some have stated that it may have been by the both of them on seperate harmonicas. Charlie Watts provides drums. Bill Wyman is featured on the upright bass, a rare occurrence for him. Jones also supplies the percussion (maracas and tambourine) in the song. It is also possible that Jones may have provided the acoustic rhythm, given that during outtakes Jagger can be heard telling Jones 'Turn it up!'
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Famous quotes containing the words inspiration and/or recording:
“Shakespeare carries us to such a lofty strain of intelligent activity, as to suggest a wealth which beggars his own; and we then feel that the splendid works which he has created, and which in other hours we extol as a sort of self-existent poetry, take no stronger hold of real nature than the shadow of a passing traveller on the rock. The inspiration which uttered itself in Hamlet and Lear could utter things as good from day to day, for ever.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“I didn’t have to think up so much as a comma or a semicolon; it was all given, straight from the celestial recording room. Weary, I would beg for a break, an intermission, time enough, let’s say, to go to the toilet or take a breath of fresh air on the balcony. Nothing doing!”
—Henry Miller (1891–1980)