Which Alternate Mix of 'Waiting on a Friend' Features Nicky Hopkins' Piano and No Sax Solo?

The rare mix without the signature Sonny Rollins saxophone solo is known as the “Alternate Version” of “Waiting on a Friend” and it first appeared on the 2021 super deluxe reissue of Tattoo You. Here the piano part by Nicky Hopkins is pushed way up in the mix, essentially replacing the sax as the melodic counterpoint to Jagger’s vocal.

You can hear this version on the Tattoo You (Super Deluxe) set — specifically on the “Lost & Found” disc or the “Rarities” disc depending on the format. It’s also streaming on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music under the deluxe edition tracklist.