Composer: Willie
Dixon Original
performer: Howlin'
Wolf (1962)
Recording date: September
1964
Recording location: Regent Sound Studios,
London
Producer: Andrew
Oldham
Engineer:
Bill
Farley
Performed onstage: 1964-65,
1976-77, 1986, 1989-90, 1997-98, 2002-03, 2013


Probable line-up:
Drums: Charlie
Watts
Bass: Bill Wyman
Acoustic guitar: Keith
Richards
Slide electric guitar: Brian
Jones
Vocal: Mick Jagger
Harmonica: Brian
Jones
I am the little red rooster, too lazy to crow
for day
Keep everything in the farmyard upset in every
way
The dogs begin to barking, hounds begin to
howl
Watch out, strange cat people, little red
rooster's on the prowl
If you see my little red rooster, please drive
him home
Ain't had no peace in the farmyard since my
little red rooster's been gone
TrackTalk
I don't see why we should have to conform to any pattern. After all, wasn't Not Fade Away different from It's All Over Now? We try to make all our singles different, and so far every one has been in a different tempo. This time, I didn't want to do a fast beat number. If the fans don't like it, then they don't like it. I like it. It's a straight blues and nobody's ever done that. Except on albums. We thought just for a change we'd do a nice, straight blues on a single. What's wrong with that?... Course (it's) suitable for dancing. Charlie's drumming makes it good for dancing - you can double up the beat for dancing, I reckon.
I still dig Little Red Rooster, but
it didn't sell.