Paint It, Black / Long Long While

by The Rolling Stones

Paint It, Black / Long Long While cover art
  • Type: Single
  • Released: 13 May 1966
  • Label: Decca
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Length: 6:15
  • Community rating: 4.62/5 from 5 ratings

Artists on this release: Andrew Loog Oldham

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Marking a dark stylistic evolution for the band, 'Paint It, Black' famously incorporates a defining sitar melody played by multi-instrumentalist Brian Jones. The song's driving, frantic rhythm section underpins Mick Jagger's bleak lyrical exploration of grief and depression, contrasting sharply with the upbeat pop aesthetics of the era. It stands as a seminal moment in the integration of Eastern musical traditions into Western rock music.

Genres

Descriptors: death, existential, experimental, droning, menacing

Tracklist

  1. Paint It, Black (3:15)
  2. Long Long While (3:00)

Credits

  • The Rolling Stones - primary artist
  • Christian Orsini - lacquer cut by
  • Jagger-Richards - written-by

More from The Rolling Stones: full discography