Recording 'It's Only Rock 'n Roll' at Stargroves: Mobile Truck, Tent, and a Chandelier

The Rolling Stones recorded the title track for It’s Only Rock ’n Roll in May 1974 at Stargroves, Mick Jagger’s country estate in England. Rather than use a traditional studio, the band set up on the lawn inside a huge tent, with the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio truck parked just outside to capture everything. The tent was originally intended as a film set, but it became the actual recording space—complete with a chandelier hanging overhead for atmosphere.

The unusual setup gave the track a loose, live feel. Ronnie Wood, then still a guitarist for Faces, was visiting and ended up playing on the song, marking his first recording with the Stones even though he wouldn’t officially join for another year. The tented stage allowed the band to play together in one room, something they rarely did in the layered, overdub-heavy sessions of the early 70s. The result was a raw, communal sound that matched the defiant, shrugging lyrics of the title.