Here’s wishing a very Happy Birthday to former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor, who turned 76 on Friday, January 17. Taylor played with The Stones from 1969 to 1974, and lent his ample blues-guitar skills to many of the band’s most beloved songs and enduring hits.
After playing lead guitar as a teenager in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Taylor joined the Rolling Stones after the band parted ways with founding member Brian Jones.
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Mayall suggested Taylor to Mick Jagger, after Jagger asked the U.K. blues legend if he could recommend a good candidate for the group’s new guitarist.
Taylor wound up playing on a couple tracks on The Rolling Stones’ classic 1969 album Let It Bleed, then contributed to most or all of the tracks on Sticky Fingers (1971), Exile on Main St. (1972), Goats Head Soup (1973), and It’s Only Rock ’n Roll (1974).
Shortly after It’s Only Rock ’n Roll’s release, Taylor surprised his bandmates by announcing he was quitting the group.
In the ensuing years, Taylor collaborated with a variety of other musicians, including some of his former Stones bandmates. He also released a couple of solo studio albums.
Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Rolling Stones in 1989. In 2012 and 2013, Taylor was a featured special guest throughout The Stones’ 50th anniversary tour.
In honor of Taylor’s birthday, here are four cool songs he played guitar on by various famous artists during his post-Stones career:
“A Apolitical Blues” (Live) – Little Feat (1978)
In August 1977, American rock band Little Feat played a series of shows at the Rainbow Theatre in London and recorded them. At the shows, Taylor joined the group to play a couple of songs.
Some of the performances from the London concerts ended up on Little Feat’s acclaimed 1978 live album Waiting for Columbus, including a version of the band’s 1972 tune “A Apolitical Blues” that featured Mick.
Taylor’s deft slide-guitar licks are a highlight of the performance along with frontman Lowell George’s gritty vocals.
“Sweetheart Like You” – Bob Dylan (1983)
Taylor played guitar throughout Bob Dylan’s acclaimed 1983 studio album Infidels. Among the standout tracks featuring Mick is the bluesy ballad “Sweetheart Like You.” Taylor plays a beautifully melodic and fluid solo at the end of the song, which also features Infidels co-producer Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits on guitar.
“Sweetheart Like You” was a minor chart hit for Dylan, peaking at No. 55 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“I Hate Myself for Loving You” – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (1988)
In 1988, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts scored their last Top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with the infectious rock anthem “I Hate Myself for Loving You.” The song, which was co-written by Joan Jett and Desmond Child, appeared on the band’s sixth studio album, Up Your Alley.
Taylor makes a guest appearance, delivering a blistering solo on the track.
“I Hate Myself for Loving You” peaked at No. 8 on the Hot 100.
“I Could Have Stood You Up” – Keith Richards (1988)
Co-founding Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards released his debut solo album, Talk Is Cheap, in 1988. The album featured a raved-up homage to old-time rock ‘n’ roll called “I Could Have Stood You Up.”
The raucous tune featured Chuck Berry’s longtime piano player Johnnie Johnson, Rolling Stones touring keyboardist Chuck Leavell and saxophonist Bobby Keys, NRBQ bassist Joey Spampinato, and future Stones drummer Steve Jordan.
Richards tapped Taylor to play a couple of rip-roaring guitar solos.