It appears that the legendary Rolling Stones might need to be forcibly removed from the stage – they’ve been captivating audiences for such an extended period that fans have essentially witnessed their transformation from youthful, ambitious rock stars into highly skilled and seasoned touring musicians. This remarkable journey has been filled with incredible performances and unforgettable moments that resonate deeply with their loyal fanbase.

During a performance in 2018, Mick Jagger humorously remarked, “When you go out in front of all those people, you get an enormous rush of chemicals in your body — your own chemicals, not chemicals you’ve put in. Let’s face it, it is a huge buzz. Must be like playing football or something.” His lighthearted comments highlight the electrifying atmosphere that the band consistently generates during their live shows, making every concert a unique and exhilarating experience.

With an extensive catalog boasting over 400 songs, the Stones have a wealth of material to select from when crafting their set lists for live performances. Naturally, some of their iconic tracks are rarely performed, while others may have never graced the stage at all. However, for this list, we will focus on songs that have, at one time or another, made it onto their set lists, showcasing their incredible versatility and depth as a band.

Utilizing data sourced from setlist.fm, we have meticulously compiled a list of the most and least played songs from 15 of the Rolling Stones’ albums, arranged chronologically. Each of these selections has achieved a remarkable milestone of 300 live performances or more, underscoring their enduring popularity and appeal.

Album: Aftermath (1966)
Most-played: “Paint It Black”
Least-played: “Doncha Bother Me”

We begin our exploration with the groundbreaking 1966 album Aftermath, a pivotal moment in the Stones’ evolution, as it marked their debut album comprised entirely of original tracks. More than five decades later, “Paint It Black,” which was featured on the U.S. edition but not the U.K. version, has proven to be timeless, achieving over 450 live performances. Despite the fact that several songs from Aftermath, such as “Flight 505,” “High and Dry,” and “It’s Not Easy,” have yet to be performed live, “Doncha Bother Me” has had the honor of being included in two performances during the band’s 1966 U.S. tour.

Album: Between the Buttons (1967)
Most-played: “Let’s Spend the Night Together”
Least-played: “She Smiled Sweetly”

The reality for artists who have been in the music industry for most of their lives is that many of their early works may not see the light of day in live performances. This is particularly true for several tracks from the 1967 album Between the Buttons. “She Smiled Sweetly,” for instance, received a solitary live performance on September 30, 2002, at the now-closed Roseland Ballroom in New York City, fortunately captured on recording. In stark contrast, the lively “Let’s Spend the Night Together” has delighted fans with over 300 performances, solidifying its status as a concert favorite.

Album: Beggars Banquet (1968)
Most-played: “Sympathy for the Devil”
Least-played: “Parachute Woman”

It is no surprise that “Sympathy for the Devil” has emerged as the most frequently played song from the acclaimed album Beggars Banquet. The exhilarating experience of an entire stadium of fans joining in to sing the iconic backing “woo! woo!” vocal part creates an electric atmosphere. Interestingly, there are three tracks from this album that have never been performed live: “Dear Doctor,” “Jigsaw Puzzle,” and “Prodigal Son.” Meanwhile, “Parachute Woman” has only graced the stage twice — first for the 1968 The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus concert film, and again in Boston in 2002.

Album: Let It Bleed (1969)
Most-played: “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”
Least-played: “Let It Bleed”

Things take an intriguing turn with the album Let It Bleed. Technically, the Rolling Stones have not performed “Country Honk” live; however, they have frequently played its non-country version, “Honky Tonk Women,” over a thousand times. This leads us to the next least-played track, the album’s title song, which has seen a little over 100 performances. As anticipated, the most frequently played track is the seven-minute epic “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” featuring a powerful choir and French horn solo that adds to its grandeur.

Album: Sticky Fingers (1971)
Most-played: “Brown Sugar”
Least-played: “I Got the Blues”

The last performance of “Brown Sugar” by the Rolling Stones took place in 2019, and the band subsequently chose to omit it from their 2021 tour due to lyrics that have not aged well, to put it mildly. Since then, “Brown Sugar” has been absent from their set lists. Nevertheless, the album Sticky Fingers boasts numerous other fantastic tracks that have all been performed live at various points. In contrast, “I Got the Blues” has only been played eight times, likely due to its more languid tempo, characteristic of the blues genre.

Album: Exile on Main St. (1972)
Most-played: “Tumbling Dice”
Least-played: Tie Between “Ventilator Blues” and “Sweet Black Angel”

A special mention is warranted for the individual who recorded the sole performance of “Ventilator Blues,” which occurred in June 1972 in Vancouver, Canada. According to Charlie Watts, the band often struggled to replicate the song’s essence in live performances: “It’s a great track, but we never play it as well as the original. Something will not be quite right; either Keith will play it a bit differently, or I’ll do it wrong. It’s a fabulous number, but a bit of a tricky one.” Additionally, “Sweet Black Angel” has only been played once, also in June of 1972. In contrast, “Tumbling Dice” has consistently been a staple in the band’s set lists since its release.

Album: Goats Head Soup (1973)
Most-played: “Angie”
Least-played: “100 Years Ago”

The haunting ballad “Angie” served as the lead single for 1973’s Goats Head Soup, quickly becoming a beloved slower number at Stones concerts. Interestingly, there is no real-life “Angie”; it was simply a name that encapsulated the mood and melody of the song. Notably, nearly half of the songs from Goats Head Soup have never been performed live, including “Coming Down Again,” “Hide Your Love,” “Winter,” and “Can You Hear the Music.” The least played track, “100 Years Ago,” has only been performed twice, despite being written by Jagger two years prior.

Album: It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (1974)
Most-played: “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It)”
Least-played: “Dance Little Sister”

Similar to the previous album, It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll features four songs that audiences have yet to experience live: “Till the Next Goodbye,” “Time Waits for No One,” “If You Really Want to Be My Friend,” and “Short and Curlies.” Perhaps one day they will be performed. The track “Dance Little Sister” has only been played three times, with one of those performances immortalized in the relatively recent 2022 live release El Mocambo 1977. In contrast, the album’s title track, “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (but I Like It),” has amassed over 800 plays since its debut in 1975, continuing to be a fan favorite throughout the Stones’ tours up until 2024.

Album: Some Girls (1978)
Most-played: “Miss You”
Least-played: “Lies”

Another quintessential example of a Stones anthem, “Miss You” is a song that compels listeners to join in with a joyous “woo” at concerts. Jagger’s playful engagement with the audience often elicits enthusiastic responses, confirming that fans are always ready to participate. “Miss You” stands as the most-played song from Some Girls, an album where every track has been performed live at some point during the band’s illustrious career. In contrast, “Lies” is the least performed, with only 20 live renditions, and it has not appeared on any set lists since 1978, the year of the album’s release.

Album: Emotional Rescue (1980)
Most-played: “She’s So Cold”
Least-played: “Dance Pt.1”

Interestingly, only half of the tracks from 1980’s Emotional Rescue have been performed live, but there may still be opportunities for those fans eager to hear the remaining songs. For fans of “Summer Romance,” “Send It to Me,” “Indian Girl,” “Where the Boys Go,” and “Down in the Hole,” we regret to inform you that these tracks remain unperformed. The least-played song, “Dance Pt. 1,” has only seen seven performances. Even the most-played track, “She’s So Cold,” has only had 154 performances, which is minimal compared to other songs in their catalog, particularly considering the Stones did not tour in 1980.

Album: Tattoo You (1981)
Most-played: “Start Me Up”
Least-played: “Tops”

Is there a more fitting song than “Start Me Up” to kick off a live set? The answer is likely no, especially given that it was originally discarded during the sessions for Emotional Rescue and nearly faded into obscurity. Now, it’s hard to imagine a Rolling Stones concert without it, as it has achieved over 900 performances. Only three tracks from Tattoo You have yet to grace the stage: “Slave,” “Heaven,” and “No Use in Crying.” In contrast, “Tops” has only been performed three times, all in 1981, possibly due to the departure of guitarist Mick Taylor, whose contributions were significant to the track.

Album: Steel Wheels (1989)
Most-played: “Slipping Away”
Least-played: “Blinded by Love”

The 1980s proved to be a challenging era for the Rolling Stones, yet by the close of the decade, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards had reconciled sufficiently to focus on songwriting and launching a new tour. To clarify, this was the longest tour the band had ever embarked upon until that point. During the Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour, the Stones excluded only four songs from the album: “Hold on to Your Hat,” “Hearts for Sale,” “Continental Drift,” and “Break the Spell.” The next least-played track, “Blinded by Love,” was performed twice in Spain and once in Portugal. Meanwhile, “Slipping Away” rose to the top of the list, continuing to secure its place on subsequent tour set lists.

Album: Voodoo Lounge (1994)
Most-played: “You Got Me Rocking”
Least-played: “Moon Is Up”

Out of the 15 tracks on Voodoo Lounge, only nine have been performed live. While the album was commercially successful, it unfortunately did not yield a Top 40 hit in America. However, “You Got Me Rocking,” the most-played song from the album, achieved No. 23 in the U.K. and managed to maintain its presence on set lists during the Stones’ 2005–2006 A Bigger Bang Tour. On the contrary, “Moon Is Up” has only been performed once, during a London show in 1999, and it has not been revisited since.

Album: Bridges to Babylon (1997)
Most-played: “Out of Control”
Least-played: Tie Between “How Can I Stop,” Low Down” and “Might as Well Get Juiced”

Three tracks from Bridges to Babylon have yet to see the stage: “Gunface,” “Always Suffering,” and “Too Tight.” The three least-played songs have fared similarly poorly — “How Can I Stop,” “Low Down,” and “Might as Well Get Juiced” have each only seen one performance. In 1997, the Stones undertook an extensive tour to promote the album but oddly only included four of its songs in their set. Among those was “Out of Control,” which has been performed just over 200 times.

Album: A Bigger Bang (2005)
Most-played: “Rough Justice”
Least-played: “It Won’t Take Long”

Given that A Bigger Bang features a total of 16 tracks, it is understandable that only half have made it to the set lists. Leading the charge is “Rough Justice,” the opening track that Richards claims came to him in a dream, or at least the guitar riff did. In contrast, “It Won’t Take Long” has only been performed twice, which, while not a significant number, is still better than none.