Merry Clayton's 'Gimme Shelter' vocal – the take so fierce it nearly melted the tape

In October 1969, a pregnant Merry Clayton was woken up at 2 AM and driven to a Hollywood studio to sing on the Rolling Stones’ ‘Gimme Shelter.’ She nailed the line “Rape, murder, it’s just a shot away” with such raw power that her voice cracked on the word “murder” – and the tape engineer later said the recording level was so hot it nearly destroyed the master.

Mick Jagger, hearing the playback, reportedly turned to the control room and said: “That’s the best take we’ve ever had.” The Stones kept her performance, crack and all, and it became one of the most iconic moments in rock history. Clayton didn’t even know the song had been released until a friend called her weeks later.