From Detroit to Birmingham: The Rolling Stones best cover of Motown classics

The Rolling Stones – ‘Ain’t Too Proud To Beg’ (1974)

When Mick Jagger and the gang first touched down on American soil in 1964, they immediately became entranced by the funk, soul, and R&B sounds dominating the pop charts at that time. In fact, the band owe a lot to the inspiration of Motown, as can be heard on their self-titled debut album, which includes a cover of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Can I Get A Witness’. For this list, however, their 1974 version of the Motown classic ‘Ain’t Too Proud To Beg’ takes some beating.

Originally written by Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland Jr for one of Motown’s flagship outfits, The Temptations, the song topped the R&B charts for eight weeks after its release in 1966. However, the soul-soaked sounds of the Whitfield-Holland composition almost seem naturally suited to The Rolling Stones, who rendered the anthem in their distinctive rock style, earning themselves a spot at 17 in the US pop charts in the process.

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