Now I've Got a Witness
Now I've Got a Witness (Like Uncle Phil and Uncle Gene) is one of two rock 'n' roll instrumental pieces by the Rolling Stones . It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and released on the 1964 album The Rolling Stones .
Now I've Got a Witness was the first song to appear on a Rolling Stones album under the pseudonym Nanker / Phelge . The number moves to a blues rhythm that developed during the recording session when the band covered Marvin Gaye's hit Can I Get a Witness . From this, they took over the central Keyboard - Reef and "replaced the piano melody of a religious revival meeting-style by an organ crescendo . A melancholy harmonica cuts through Charlie Watt's steady beat before the song finally catches fire with an emotionally charged guitar solo by Keith Richards ” .
The "Uncle Phil" and "Uncle Gene" mentioned in the title addition refer to the producer Phil Spector and the pop singer Gene Pitney , who were present for part of the recordings for this album. Spector's "Wall-of-Sound" production method had no meaning for the Stones album. His visit was only intended as a friendly encouragement - and an excuse to keep an eye on his wife, singer Ronnie Spector , who was touring Britain with the Rolling Stones at the time with the pop group The Ronettes . Gene Pitney had a hit in January 1964 with the Jagger / Richards composition That Girl Belongs to Yesterday ; the first song by the songwriting team to make it into the US charts.
Now I've Got a Witness documents, according to Appleford, “a first high point in the work of their legendary rhythm section” . Commenting on the song, Bobby Womack commented: “Bill and Charlie became one; [...] Bill made a damn good drummer out of Charlie - and he made a damn good bass player out of Bill ” .
Musician
- Mick Jagger : guitar
- Keith Richards : guitar
- Brian Jones : harmonica, guitar
- Bill Wyman : Bass
- Charlie Watts : drums
- Ian Stewart : Organ