Like many songs by the Stones–especially back in their early days–the lyrics of “Honky Tonk Women” were highly suggestive…but subtle enough to get past the extremely strict BBC censorship in the UK’.

If the BBC would allow a song about sex, drugs and Rock & Roll, it would certainly play in The U.S…and it did! But According to Keith Richard, it started as a COUNTRY song based on Hank Williams’ 1952 hit “Honky Tonk Blues.” They obviously changed their minds–at least temporarily–and turned it into a rocker for single release from the album “Through the Past Darkly.”

Chartwise, it was a top 5 hit just about everywhere…reaching #1 in the UK, The US, and a handful of other countries.

Now let me explain why I said they “temporarily” changed their minds:

The Stones actually DID release a country version called “Country Honk,” a few months later on their

“Let It Bleed.” album! You can check out both songs below.
 “Honky Tonk Women” by The Rolling Stones: Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll, and a Great Song of 1969.

Country Honk:

== MIke Cook