Ruby Tuesday

Ruby Tuesday's harmony stands out in the Stones' catalog for its baroque sensibility rather than their typical blues-rock approach. The descending bass line in the verse evokes Renaissance and Baroque musical conventions, while the bVII (Bb) chord in the chorus adds a modal color rarely heard in mid-60s rock. The interplay between the minor-centered verse and major-centered chorus mirrors the song's emotional arc — from wistful reflection to bittersweet farewell. The absence of blues influence is notable for a Stones track, making it one of their most harmonically distinctive compositions.

Keith Richards wrote the lyrics about Linda Keith, his girlfriend in the mid-1960s, while Brian Jones contributed to the musical composition. The song emerged during the sessions for the album Between the Buttons. Mick Jagger later acknowledged that both the melody and lyrics were primarily Richards' work, telling Jann Wenner in 1995: 'That's a wonderful song. It's just a nice melody, really. And a lovely lyric. Neither of which I wrote, but I always enjoy singing it.' Bill Wyman states in Rolling with the Stones that the lyrics were completely written by Richards with help from Jones on the musical composition.

Released as a double A-side with 'Let's Spend the Night Together' in January 1967, 'Ruby Tuesday' showcased a softer, more melodic side of The Rolling Stones. Featuring Brian Jones's haunting alto recorder countermelody and a descending bass line, the song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of the band's most beloved compositions.