August 1964.

Yes, but is it? Is it really on our side? Is time ever on anybody’s side but it’s own? Especially when you’ve lost an hour over the weekend to the clocks changing. One of the most important hours as well. One of the sleep hours! No, this morning it doesn’t feel like it’s on my side at all.

Originally written by US songwriter Jerry Ragovoy, under the pseudonym of Norman Meade, this was first recorded by Dutch-born jazz trombonist Kai Winding in 1963. His version was mainly instrumental with the only lyrics being the title sung in the background. The first version with full lyrics, written by Jimmy Norman, was recorded in 1963 by New Orleans soul singer Irma Thomas.

The only version to have a chart impact was released by the Rolling Stones in 1964. They actually recorded two version of the song, the first being a loose version of the original that was released in the US in 1964 and later included on their US album 12 X 5. The second version, a much tighter arrangement, was released in the UK in early 1965 and it’s this version that still receives the most airplay today.

On its release the song became the band’s first US top ten hit, reaching number six on the Billboard Hot 100, whilst also reaching the top ten in Canada, Belgium and the Netherlands. Whilst it doesn’t appear to have made much impact on the UK charts at the time, a live version of the song, released from their 1982 album Still Life, did eventually make it to number sixty-two.