2120 South Michigan Avenue

For the 2011 album by George Thorogood, see 2120 South Michigan Ave..
"2120 South Michigan Avenue"
Song by The Rolling Stones from the album 12 X 5 (U.S.)/Five By Five (UK)
Released 14 August 1964
Recorded 11 June 1964
Genre Rhythm and Blues, instrumental rock
Length 2:07 (EP and original 12 X 5 album version)
3:38 (German album and 2002 12 X 5 CD version)
Writer Nanker Phelge

"2120 South Michigan Avenue" is an original instrumental by the Rolling Stones recorded for their second EP Five by Five. It was also released on their second US album 12 X 5 in 1964. Composer credit goes to Nanker Phelge, a title giving credit equally to all members of the band. In the book Rolling with the Stones, Bill Wyman recalls that the composition process started with him playing a bass riff and that the others followed on jamming.[1]

The title refers to the address of the offices and recording studios of Chess Records and Checker Records in Chicago where the five songs for the EP were recorded in June 1964.[2]

AllMusic reviewer Richie Unterberger described the song as "a great groovin' original blues-rock jam".[3] The song was originally released at just over two minutes in length, fading early for lack of time available on a conventional EP in 1964. A full length (3:38 minute) version appears on the 1964 West German Decca LP Around And Around, and the 2002 CD re-release of 12 X 5.[3] There is also a rarer second take which has a rougher, more blues-based sound than the better known Five by Five rock-groove version.[4] This version, with its short but distinctive tremolo guitar riff, was under consideration as the title track of an eventually unreleased 1964 blues album.[5]

In 1965, Sly Stone released a single, Buttermilk that copied the 2120 South Michigan Avenue riff and overall sound. In 2011, George Thorogood and the Destroyers released an album called 2120 South Michigan Ave., which includes a cover of this song as well as covers of other Chess Records artists.

Washington DC DJ Cerphe Colwell at WHFS would play it as his signature song at the end of his daily broadcast in the 1970s.

Personnel

External links

References

  1. ↑ McPherson, Ian. "2120 South Michigan Avenue". Time Is On Our Side. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  2. ↑ "Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation (former home of Chess Records Office and Studio)". Explorechicago.org. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  3. 1 2 Unterberger, Richie. "The Rolling Stones: 5x5". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  4. ↑ "Second Take version". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  5. ↑ "2120 Michigan Ave - the 1964 unreleased blues album". Cousin-mike.ucoz.com. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  6. ↑ "RollingStones.com".
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