“Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadows?”
A photograph of The Rolling Stones recently surfaced in a Facebook music group. In it, the boys are all dressed up as older women. There were various comments of all sorts, but it seemed that nobody on the thread was old enough to remember when that photo first surfaced.
You’d have to be really, really old. You know, like me.
In September 1966, The Rolling Stones issued their 21st single, “Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadows?” b/w “Who’s Driving Your Plane?” (Both good questions.) Their first single was “Come On” in June of 1963. Many singles at that time had picture sleeves, often in color. One side of this single had the boys in mod clothes captured in a fisheye lens. This was also the first Stones single to be released simultaneously in the U.K. and the U.S.
The other featured the image you see above. It was likely the first picture of a rock band of the era in drag.
Decca Records in the U.K. produced several different covers for the single, although we cannot determine whether they all appeared at the same time; seems unlikely.
The single was issued around the world.
These were the original Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger – lead vocals, backing vocals, finger snaps; Keith Richards – backing vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, piano; Brian Jones – rhythm guitar; Bill Wyman – bass; and Charlie Watts – drums.
Additional musicians and production on the track: Jack Nitzsche – piano; Andrew Loog Oldham – producer, backing vocals; Mike Leander – orchestration (trumpets); Mike Leander Orchestra – trumpets; David Hassinger – sound engineer; and Glyn Johns – sound engineer.
Have you seen your mother, baby, standing in the shadow?
Have you had another, baby, standing in the shadow?
I’m glad I opened your eyes
The have-nots would have tried to freeze you in iceHave you seen your brother, baby, standing in the shadow?
Have you had another baby, standing in the shadow?
Well, I was just passing the time
I’m all alone, won’t you give all your sympathy to mine?Tell me a story about how you adore me
Live in the shadow, see through the shadow
Live through the shadow, tear at the shadow
Hate in the shadow and love in your shadowy lifeHave you seen your lover, baby, standing in the shadow?
Has he had another baby, standing in the shadow?
‘Cause baby, where have you been all your life?
Talking about all the people who should try anything twiceHave you seen your mother, baby, standing in the shadow?
Have you had another baby, standing in the shadow?
You take your choice at this time
The brave old world or the slide to the depths of decline, of decline