Sonny Rollins and The Rolling Stones—Tracking Angle Tracks Du Jour

Sonny's on "Tattoo You"

The great tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins died the other day age 95. He had a great run. I thought it best to honor him by playing two tracks. One is "Doxy" from the RCA Victor "Living Stereo" original pressing Our Man in Jazz recorded live at The Village Gate featuring Billy Higgins, Don Cherry and Bob Crenshaw. It's one of the first records Sonny made after returning to performing. Not easy listening but well worth the effort and the sound is incredible!

Then you'll hear "Waiting On a Friend" by The Rolling Stones from Tattoo You. Sonny plays the incredible sax solo, uncredited, but it's him. Enjoy!

Comments

2026-05-27 09:59:45 AM

Robert Vogelzang wrote:

Great story Michael. I love Sonny even though he blew out my tweeters when I turned up his solo on Foreigner's Urgent! Which is another Sonny standout for sure......
- 2026-05-27 10:03:30 AM
  
  Robert Vogelzang wrote:
  
  No--it's Junior Walker!!
- 2026-05-27 01:40:06 PM
  
  Come on wrote:
  
  That was Sonny? Didn't know that, but I bet it's wellknown.
2026-05-27 10:53:06 AM

Willie Luncheonette wrote:

Big thank you Mikey for playing these two sides and for your story. Have loved Sonny's playing for many years and owned many of his records, including Way Out West (with that wonderful cover) and Saxophone Colossus. Both are terrific! But never heard the one you played. Love Billy Higgins. He was my favorite drummer of all of Thelonious Monk's classic Charlie Rouse quartet's drummers and could swing like a mofo, as they say in some circles.

I saw Sonny live one time at a free concert here in NYC outside Lincoln Center. On one song he must have blown about 40 choruses. I had my head down and eyes closed and followed every single note. Will never ever forget that experience as long as I live. And also happened to be there when the Stones recorded Waiting On a Friend. I live only 3 blocks away and watched them film it. When they were all leaving I ran after Keith and shook his hand and told him how much I liked him. He gave me the limp handshake, first time I ever got one...lol. Later someone told me it is common for British people to do that. Wonder if that's true.
- 2026-05-28 11:52:59 AM
  
  Silk Dome Mid wrote:
  
  Maybe it's just common for British guitar players! Don't mash those precious digits.
  - 2026-05-28 09:08:19 PM
    
    Willie Luncheonette wrote:
    
    That could be. When it felt like I had a dead fish in my hand I was extremely gentle with my handshake.
2026-05-27 01:39:19 PM

Come on wrote:

Crazy the solo on the Stones record. Not possible to identify him at all, not just due to being drenched in reverb. Could be Kenny G or whoever. I would have expected a bit of Rollins style in it. Strange.
2026-05-28 10:57:34 AM

Zimmer74 wrote:

This record with Sonny Rollins and Don Cherry is exceptional, and the entire Village Gate 1962 gig is available as a 6-CD set, released in 2015 by Solar Records. Same excellent sound and performance. Multiple copies available online at reasonable prices.
2026-05-28 01:32:25 PM

cam08529 wrote:

RIP Sonny. FWIW the version of Tatoo You I have (‘21 remaster) credits him for his contribution to Waiting on a Friend . When I listen to it I imagine the boys during the recording session saying “play whatever you want mate”.
2026-05-28 09:33:20 PM

RickS wrote:

Just purchased a VG+ version of Tattoo You to hopefully get a taste of that phenomenal sound Michael gets on his rig. On a VPI Prime w Koetsu Black and Parasound JC3+ or on my VPI HW19 with its Audioquest PT-6 and Talisman Virtuoso DTI, nope. Not nearly as great. Michaels rig even over YouTube compression lifts about six veils of blur and just plain kills it as far as Im concerned. I can only imagine how great it sounds in person.