It wasn’t uncommon for Keith Richards and Mick Jagger to develop hits for the Rolling Stones with an intriguing backstory, and their 1969 hit was certainly one that fans still ask questions about.
The two rock icons were in Italy when they developed the track “Midnight Rambler,” which was never released as a single. It was originally recorded during the sessions for Beggars Banquet, but was released as part of their album, Let It Bleed.
“Midnight Rambler” was called by Richards a “blues opera” song that “nobody else” could have written. They had no intention of it being a blues track, but it was “just the way it turned out,” said the guitarist. He explained it was a large part of what made the Rolling Stones a good band: their ability to “give them a song half raw and they cooked it.”
The track would also gain infamy due to its lyrics and the reported inspiration behind the dark track that was a stark contrast to where it was written on the sunny Amalfi Coast.
“We were on a holiday in Italy. In this very beautiful hill town, Positano, for a few nights. Why we should write such a dark song in this beautiful, sunny place, I really don’t know. We wrote everything there – the tempo changes, everything. And I’m playing the harmonica in these little cafes, and there’s Keith with the guitar,” said Jagger, according to UDiscoverMusic.
It’s been reported that “Midnight Rambler” was loosely based on the life of the real Boston Strangler, Albert DeSalvo. Richards or Jagger have never actually confirmed whether the rumors are true, but lyrics like “Well, you heard about the Boston…” led to assumptions as an instrumental stab sound cuts off Jagger. The track’s lyrics even have Jagger take on the persona of a killer stalking a young woman.
DeSalvo was one of America’s infamous serial killers who murdered 13 women around the Boston area from 1962 to 1964. His victims were found strangled, with their nylon stockings tied in a bow around their necks. In 1965, he was already serving time in a mental institution for sexual assault when he confessed to the murders. He was given life in prison, while multiple experts still question his involvement and the forensics.
“Midnight Rambler” may not have entered the charts, but it was a concert favorite. The Rolling Stones played the song throughout the ’70s, with Jagger putting on a theatrical show that led audiences to scream alongside him. According to SongFacts, their lighting director Chip Monch even developed a special lighting rig that would shine red on Jagger.
Related: 1968 Country Song, Written in 30 Minutes for Aretha Franklin, Is Still a a Cross-Generational Hit 58 Years Later
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