The Rolling Stones Scored First Original No. 1 Hit 61 Years Ago

The band's 1965 single "The Last Time" topped the UK charts and reached the Top 10 in the US.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 5:21pm

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On March 18, 1965, The Rolling Stones scored their first UK No. 1 hit with an original song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. "The Last Time" was based on the traditional gospel song "This May Be The Last Time" and featured a distinctive guitar riff from founding member Brian Jones. The track knocked Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual" from the top of the UK singles chart and spent three weeks at No. 1 before being replaced by "Concrete And Clay" by Unit 4 + 2. In the US, "The Last Time" became the band's second Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 9.

Why it matters

"The Last Time" was the first Rolling Stones song credited to Jagger and Richards that became a UK hit. It marked a significant milestone in the band's early songwriting development, as Mick and Keith had previously struggled to write material that fit the group's rebellious image. The song's success paved the way for future Jagger-Richards compositions like "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" to become global hits.

The details

The Rolling Stones recorded "The Last Time" at RCA Studios in Los Angeles in January 1965. The track features a distinctive repeating guitar riff played by founding member Brian Jones. In the US, "The Last Time" became the band's second Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 9. Prior to this, their first single to reach the Top 10 in the States was their cover of the Jerry Ragovoy-penned "Time Is On My Side," which peaked at No. 6 in 1964.

  • On March 18, 1965, "The Last Time" ascended to No. 1 on the UK singles chart.
  • "The Last Time" spent three weeks at No. 1 in the UK before being replaced by "Concrete And Clay" by Unit 4 + 2.
  • In the US, "The Last Time" peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965.

The players

The Rolling Stones

An English rock band formed in London in 1962, one of the most influential and commercially successful groups in the history of popular music.

Mick Jagger

The lead singer and co-founder of The Rolling Stones, known for his energetic stage presence and distinctive vocals.

Keith Richards

The co-founder and guitarist of The Rolling Stones, known for his innovative riffs and songwriting partnership with Mick Jagger.

Brian Jones

The original founder and multi-instrumentalist of The Rolling Stones, who played a key role in the band's early sound.

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What they’re saying

“It took us eight, nine months before we came up with 'The Last Time', which is the first one that we felt we could give to the rest of the guys without being sent out of the room. If I had gone to The Rolling Stones with 'As Tears Go By', it would have been 'get out and don't come back.'”

— Keith Richards, Guitarist, The Rolling Stones

“Andrew created an amazing thing in my life. I had never thought about songwriting. He made me learn the craft, and at the same time, I realized, yes, I am good at it. And slowly this whole other world opens up, because now you're not just a player, or trying to play like somebody else. It isn't just other people's expression. I can start to express myself, I can write my own music. It's almost like a bolt of lightning.”

— Keith Richards, Guitarist, The Rolling Stones

What’s next

The Rolling Stones are expected to perform "The Last Time" during their upcoming 2026 world tour, which will celebrate the 61st anniversary of the song's release.

The takeaway

The success of "The Last Time" marked a pivotal moment in the early songwriting partnership of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, as they transitioned from covering other artists' material to crafting their own distinctive sound and identity as the "World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band."