Why the Rolling Stones' First Single Was a Chuck Berry Cover — and Why They Stopped Doing That

The Rolling Stones’ debut single in 1963 wasn’t an original — it was a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Come On,” and that tells you everything about where they started. They were a rhythm and blues band first, playing the Chicago blues and early rock and roll records they loved, and “Come On” was a natural pick. It didn’t chart high (it peaked at No. 21 in the UK), but it set the template: raw, loose, built on Berry’s driving guitar and a boogie-woogie piano lick.

By 1966, the Stones had almost completely stopped recording covers. The shift happened fast because the market demanded it. The Beatles were writing their own songs and selling millions, and the Stones’ managers and label were pushing for a Jagger/Richards songwriting partnership that could generate hit singles. Early original attempts like “Tell Me (You’re Coming Back)” were tentative, but by “The Last Time” (1965) and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (1965), the band realized they didn’t need to lean on Chuck Berry or Slim Harpo anymore — they could synthesize those influences into something fresh. By late 1966’s Aftermath, the first album of all original material, the cover era was officially over. The Stones had gone from being fans playing other people’s songs to being the source material for the next generation.