Ruby Tuesday
single
CoverLet's Spend the Night Together-Ruby Tuesday US picture sleeve.jpeg
Artistthe Rolling Stones
AlbumBetween the Buttons (US release)
A-side"Let's Spend the Night Together" (double A-side)
Released13 January 1967
RecordedNovember 1966
StudioOlympic, London
GenreBaroque pop[1] · psychedelic pop[2] · psychedelic soul[3]
Label
WriterJagger–Richards
ProducerAndrew Loog Oldham
Prev year1966
Title 2Let's Spend the Night Together
Next year1967

"Ruby Tuesday" is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released in January 1967. The song became the band's fourth number-one hit in the United States and reached number three in the United Kingdom as a double A-side with "Let's Spend the Night Together". The song was included in the American version of Between the Buttons (in the UK, singles were often excluded from studio albums).

Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song number 310 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[4]

Composition and recording

The Rolling Stones recorded "Ruby Tuesday" around November 1966 at Olympic Studios,[5] during the sessions for their album Between the Buttons.[6][note 1] The song was produced by Andrew Loog Oldham.[7] Brian Jones plays a countermelody on an alto recorder,[8] while the double bass was played jointly by bassist Bill Wyman and guitarist Keith Richards; Wyman did the fingerings while Richards bowed the instrument.[5][6]

Richards explained that the lyrics are about Linda Keith, his girlfriend in the mid-1960s:

Who could hang a name on you When you change with every new day? Still, I'm gonna miss you.[9]

"That's a wonderful song," Mick Jagger told Jann Wenner in 1995. "It's just a nice melody, really. And a lovely lyric. Neither of which I wrote, but I always enjoy singing it."[10] Wyman states in Rolling with the Stones that the lyrics were completely written by Richards with help from Jones on the musical composition.[page needed] However, Marianne Faithfull recalls it differently; according to her, Jones presented an early version of this melody to the rest of the Rolling Stones.[11][full citation needed] According to Victor Bockris, Richards came up with the basic track and the words and finished the song with Jones in the studio.[12]

Cash Box described the single as a "smooth ballad ballad á là baroque".[13]

Release

"Ruby Tuesday" was released as the B-side to "Let's Spend the Night Together" in January 1967.[14] Due to the controversial nature of the A-side's lyrics, "Ruby Tuesday" earned more airplay and ended up charting higher in the US.[15] The song topped the American Billboard Hot 100 chart, while reaching number three in the UK's Record Retailer chart, which listed "Let's Spend The Night Together"/"Ruby Tuesday" as a double A-side.

"Ruby Tuesday" was included on the US version of the 1967 album Between the Buttons, while being left out of the British edition, as was common practice with singles in the UK at that time. That summer, the song appeared on the US compilation album Flowers.[9] Due to its success, the song became a staple of the band's compilations, being included on Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2) (1969), Hot Rocks 1964–1971 (1971), Rolled Gold (1975), and 30 Greatest Hits (1977), and, in mono, on Singles Collection: The London Years (1989).

Personnel

According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon,[16] except where noted:

The Rolling Stones

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1967)Peak
position
Australia[17]2
Finland (Suomen Virallinen)[18]14
Rhodesia (Lyons Maid)[19]10
South Africa (Springbok)[20]4
UK Singles Chart[21]3
US Cash Box Top 100[22]1
US Record World Top 100 Pops1
US WCFL Top 40[23][24]1
US WLS Top 40[25]2
US WMCA[26]1

Year-end charts

Chart (1967)Rank
Canada[27]5
US Billboard Hot 100[28]24

Live version

Ruby Tuesday (live)
single
Artistthe Rolling Stones
AlbumFlashpoint
B-sidePlay with Fire (live)
Released24 May 1991
Recorded27 February 1990
VenueKorakuen Dome, Tokyo
GenreRock
LabelRolling Stones
WriterJagger/Richards
Producer
Prev year1991
Next year1994

"Ruby Tuesday" was first played live on Brian Jones' last concert tour The Rolling Stones European Tour 1967. The next time was on the Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour in 1989/1990. A concert rendition from this tour was featured on the band's 1991 live album Flashpoint and released as a single.[29] This live version was recorded in Japan in 1990 and can be seen on the video release Live at the Tokyo Dome. The B-side was "Play with Fire (live)" recorded in 1989 but not included on the Flashpoint album.

A July 2013 live performance is featured on Sweet Summer Sun: Hyde Park Live.

Melanie version

Ruby Tuesday
single
CoverRuby_Tuesday_-_Melanie.jpg
ArtistMelanie
B-sideMerry Christmas
ReleasedDecember 1970
LabelBuddah
WriterJagger/Richards

American folk and pop singer Melanie recorded "Ruby Tuesday" for her 1970 album Candles in the Rain. Her version was released as a single in the UK, where it became a Top Ten hit that year. It also reached number seven in New Zealand.[30] She recorded a second cover version for her 1978 album Ballroom Streets.

Chart (1970–71)Peak
position
Canada RPM Top Singles[31]25
New Zealand (Listener) [32]7
South Africa (Springbok)[33]10
UK (The Official Charts Company)[34]9
US Cash Box Top 100 [35]34
Australia (Kent Music Report)[36]70
Quebec (ADISQ)[37]29

Other versions

Restaurant chain

Samuel E. Beall III used the title of the song when he started his restaurant chain Ruby Tuesday. The name was suggested by one of several fraternity brothers who were co-investors.[49]

Notes

  1. ^ Bill Wyman writes the band recorded the song on 16 November 1966.[50] Authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon write the song's sessions took place between 16 November and 6 December 1966,[5] while authors Andy Babiuk and Greg Prevost instead write it was 9–26 November 1966.[6]
  2. ^ Margotin and Guesdon write that Jones "probably" contributed harpsichord during the refrains, but offer the possibility it was a honky-tonk piano.[5] In his autobiography, Stone Alone, Wyman writes it was piano.[50] Authors Andy Babiuk and Greg Prevost write Jones' "main contribution" was recorder.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Steve Smith: Wyman and Taylor join the Rolling Stones onstage; Coldplay takes a break". Pasadena Star-News. 29 November 2012. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  2. ^ Breihan, Tom (October 3, 2018). "The Number Ones: The Rolling Stones' "Ruby Tuesday"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 14, 2023. Working in that whole baroque and flowery psych-pop style, the Stones sound a bit awkward and out of step.
  3. ^ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. 31 May 2012. Archived 4 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 7 April 2011. Archived 29 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  5. ^ Margotin & Guesdon 2016, p. 241.
  6. ^ Babiuk & Prevost 2013, p. 244.
  7. ^ Margotin & Guesdon 2016, p. 240.
  8. ^ Everett 2009, p. 100.
  9. ^ "Show 46 – Sergeant Pepper at the Summit: The very best of a very good year. [Part 2] : UNT Digital Library". Digital.library.unt.edu. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  10. ^ Wenner, Jann S. (14 December 1995). "Jagger Remembers". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 22 June 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
  11. ^ "Brian Jones", Mojo Magazine, July 1999, p.75
  12. ^ Bockris, Victor (1993). Keith Richards: The Biography. Poseidon Press. pp. 93–94. ISBN 978-0671875909.
  13. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews". Cash Box. January 14, 1967. p. 18. Archived 26 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  14. ^ London (1989). Singles Collection: The London Years (Boxed set booklet). New York City: ABKCO Records. p. 71. 1218-2.
  15. ^
  16. ^ Margotin & Guesdon 2016, pp. 240–241.
  17. ^ Billboard. 1967-04-08.
  18. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish). 1st ed. Helsinki: Tammi. p. 240. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  19. ^ Kimberley, C (2000). Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. p. 32.
  20. ^ "SA Charts 1965 – March 1989". Archived 28 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  21. ^ Roberts, David (2005). Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums. 18th ed. Guinness World Records Limited. p. 428. ISBN 1-904994-00-8.
  22. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 2/25/67". Tropicalglen.com. 25 February 1967. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  23. ^ "1000 WCFL-AM SOUND 10 SURVEY- CHICAGO". Oldiesloon. February 16, 1967. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  24. ^ Smith, Ronald (2007). WCFL Chicago Top 40 Charts 1965–1976. iUniverse. ISBN 978-0595431809. [self-published source?]
  25. ^ "WLS The bright sound of Chicago Radio". Oldiesloon. SILVER DOLLAR SURVEY. February 24, 1967. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  26. ^ "WMCA Fabulous 57 Survey for February 15, 1967". Music Radio 77. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  27. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  28. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1967/Top 100 Songs of 1967". Musicoutfitters.com. Archived 5 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  29. ^ Ruby Tuesday (live) Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  30. ^ "NZ Listener chart statistics for Ruby Tuesday". Flavour of New Zealand. Search NZ Listener charts between 1966 and 1975. Archived 4 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  31. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1971-01-09. Archived 24 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
  32. ^ "Melanie (ArtistID 1278)". Flavour of New Zealand. Search NZ Listener charts between 1966 and 1975. Archived 19 January 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  33. ^ "SA Charts 1965 – March 1989". Archived 27 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  34. ^ "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 1970-09-26. Archived 22 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  35. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, 2 January 1971". Archived from the original on 7 June 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  36. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Illustrated ed. Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 333. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  37. ^ "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (in French). BAnQ. 12 July 1997. Archived from the original on 29 November 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  38. ^ "Album Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 80. 24 February 1968. p. 62.
  39. ^ Viglione, Joe. "Good Morning Starshine – Oliver". AllMusic. Archived 16 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  40. ^ Mathew, Leslie. "The Wonder Years: Music From the Emmy Award-Winning Show & Its Era – Original Tv Soundtrack". AllMusic. Archived 5 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  41. ^ "Lead Vocalist – Rod Stewart". AllMusic. Archived 11 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  42. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 6 February 1993. p. 27.
  43. ^ "Rod Stewart". Official Charts Company. Archived 11 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  44. ^ "Rod Stewart – Ruby Tuesday" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Archived 11 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  45. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (19.–25. mars)" (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. 18 March 1993. p. 29. Archived 11 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  46. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Ruby Tuesday". Irish Singles Chart. Archived 25 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  47. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe: Denmark". Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 10. 6 March 1993. p. 20.
  48. ^ "Dreams: The Ultimate Corrs Collection", Wikipedia, 2025-03-27, retrieved 2025-12-14
  49. ^ Segal, David (November 7, 2009). "At Ruby Tuesday, Casual Dining Dons a Blazer". The New York Times. Archived 12 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  50. ^ Wyman & Coleman 1990, p. 397.

Sources