The ultimate Rolling Stones concert setlist

Here's a realistic setlist for my upcoming show at Soldier Field in Chicago that would give me some 'Satisfaction' — even if I have to hear that song

I’ve listened to the Rolling Stones since I can remember. Now that I’m seeing them in concert for the first time on Sunday, July 30, indulge me in geeking out on a potential setlist.

I’m going to be realistic, but also dare to dream.

First, a little background on my Stones fandom:

Today, the Stones are in my top three all-time favorites. But they used to hover a little lower — only in the last couple years did they climb the ladder.

Hot Rocks 1964-1971 was a greatest hits double CD that got a lot of people my age into the Rolling Stones.

It started with what I heard on the “oldies” channel as a teenager — the mid-60s hits, particularly “Satisfaction” and “Get Off My Cloud.” I moved on to Hot Rocks, which included both the mid- and late-60s greatest hits — a great starting point for the Stones for sure.

Some Girls wasn’t my parents’ Stones, and I was intrigued and awed that the band had such a deep catalogue.

From there, though, my Stones’ fandom took a long and weird path. After Hot Rocks, during college, I found Some Girls (1978) on the discount cassette rack at K-Mart and had heard and loved “Miss You” and “Beast of Burden,” but was pleasantly surprised by the rest of what was a late-era Stones classic.

Tattoo You is loaded start to finish. Released in 1981, it’s the last great Stones album, though they’ve done plenty of quality work in the 40-plus years since its release.

Right after I got out of college, my friend Lars used to always play Tattoo You (1981) on vinyl and, when I finally got a record player a couple years ago, it was among my first purchases. I’d, of course, heard “Start Me Up,” but the rest of the album was a revelation — particularly “Waiting on a Friend,” “Worried About You” and “Little T&A.”

Alas, I no longer have the zip-up Sticky Fingers CD — it got stolen, along with most of my CDs.

Next, I picked up a release of Sticky Fingers (1971) on a CD that you could zip the zipper on the jeans on the cover up and down. I’d heard the hits, but was shocked to find those were the worst songs on the what’s probably the best Stones album.

The final of the greatest four-album run in rock history, Exile on Main St.

Like the rest of my music listening, I stagnated on the Stones for a long time until my recent “renaissance.” I realized I had some big holes in my Stones depth, so I dove in … Exile on Main St. (1972), Let It Bleed (1969) and Beggars Banquet (1968) hit me a lot like Sticky Fingers; while Goats Head Soup (1973), It’s Only Rock n’ Roll (1974), Black and Blue (1976) and Emotional Rescue (1980) are all good records. Even the 90s-2000s albums — Voodoo Lounge (1994), Bridges of Babylon (1997) and A Bigger Bang (2005) — have their high points. The only real duds, in my view, are Undercover (1983), Steel Wheels (1989) and the Stones’ worst album, Dirty Work (1986). But, even the Allman Brothers sucked in ‘80s — it was a dark time for music.

The surprisingly good 2023 album, Hackney Diamonds.

I really like the Stones’ newest album, Hackney Diamonds, though I don’t care for the two songs from the album the band does most on tour.

I can also live without anything the Stones did before 1968. It’s not that those songs are bad, I’d just prefer to hear something from 1968 to 1981 in every case. I just don’t think the Stones really became the Stones until 1968 — the Mick/Keith harmonies with Keith singing the high parts, and Keith’s open G tunings … .

The setlist

I wanted to be realistic. I could make a dream setlist of all my favorite Stones songs, but that’s not going to happen.

I’m going to include the songs the Stones will definitely play, and also a lot they’ll probably play. But I also threw a couple in there I really HOPE they play.

Here it is:

1. Start Me Up — This is been the first song every night so far. It was the Stones’ last major hit song. I’ve had my fill of this one, but it does make a lot of sense as an opener.

2. It’s Only Rock n’ Roll — While this one is also overplayed, it’s classic 70s Stones and WAY better that “Get Off My Cloud,” which is often the other option here.

3. Loving Cup — OK, I’m going to take my big swing here. They’ve shaken things up in this spot (or somewhere early in the set) throughout the tour, and this is my favorite Stones song. It might be the perfect Jagger/Richards song — drunk and horny, but also sweet and profound. They used to do it not that far back, but it hasn’t been on this tour. I’d also be happy with “Bitch,” but hopefully it’s NOT “Let’s Spend the Night Together.”

4. Angry — This has often been in this spot on the tour. When this was released as the first single, I was turned off by all the effects on Mick’s vocals and didn’t have high hopes for the album. I’m glad I was wrong, but hope “Angry” is better live. I’d much prefer “Close to You” from Hackney Diamonds.

5. Tumbling Dice — This Exile song is played at every Stones show, and I’m fine with that. It’s everything that’s great about the Stones.

6. Monkey Man — They’ve performed this Let It Bleed classic multiple times so far on tour, and usually fairly early in the setlist. The Stones have a LOT of great deep cuts, but this one ranks up there with any of them.

7. Mess It Up — This is another Hackney Diamonds song I don’t like. I think “Depending On You” would be a better choice. This is likely a bathroom/concession break.

8. You Can’t Always Get What You Want — This is a classic Stones song. I’m tired of it, and have never been a fan of the choir bits, but love the acoustic guitar and promise I’m be singing along with every word.

9. Tell Me Straight — They’ve added this recently to make it a three-song Keith section of the show, and I’m all in. This song, from Hackney Diamonds, isn’t the best Keith cut or even a highlight from the new album. But Keith is my favorite Stone and I’m excited for this part of the show where he gets lead for two or three songs.

10. Little T&A — I’ve always loved this nasty Keith song, and glad it gives Tattoo You another song on the setlist, though I’d probably sacrifice it for “You Got the Silver” or “Before They Make Me Run.”

11. Happy — Keith has cycled few some other songs in this spot, but it’ll be disappointing if I don’t get “Happy,” which is another all-time favorite.

12. Sympathy For the Devil — At this point in the show, there could be some surprises, but probably not many, and I’m mostly OK with that. The next four songs are why you buy your ticket to see the Stones. I’ve heard this one a few too many times, but look forward to the live spectacle of it.

13. Gimme Shelter — I don’t think I could hear this song too much.

14. Honky Tonk Women — This is another Stones song I never really get tired of.

15. Miss You — If I’m at a Stones show, I want to sing along with this.

16. Paint It Black — This isn’t a bad song, but it feels a little too 60s in sound and content. I’d just rather hear something from Sticky Fingers — “Sway” or “Moonlight Mile”? — which doesn’t get enough play on this tour.

17. Jumpin’ Jack Flash — This was the song that started 1968 for the Stones and probably the greatest run in rock history. The riff is classic, even if the lyrics feel really dated — “Jumpin’ Jack Flash is a gas, gas, gas,” sounds like something an old man would say.

18. Sweet Sounds of Heaven — Again, there are better songs on Hackney Diamonds, but this one gives everyone in the band a chance to shine, so I’m guessing it’s a lot of fun live.

19. Satisfaction — I mean, they’re the Stones, they don’t HAVE to play anything, but … I would love it if this was something different (“Live With Me,” “Torn and Frayed,” “No Expectations,” “Rocks Off,” “Tops,” “Memory Motel,” “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,” “Let It Loose,” “Let It Bleed,” “Slave,” “I Got the Blues,” “All Down the Line” …), but I’m also not going to walk out early or anything crazy like that.

Other possibilities

These are songs that have been done on this tour I didn’t mention above.

Beast of Burden — Yes, please.

Out of Time — Please, no.

Time Is On My Side — I’d like to have seen it with Irma Thomas in New Orleans, but otherwise, I’ll pass. Not a bad early Stones song, though.

Whole Wide World — It’s stunning to me that the Stones have picked to perform all the songs I like least on the album. It was between this and “Mess It Up” on the main setlist, and at least “Mess It Up” kind of sounds like a Stones song.

She’s So Cold — That would be interesting. Sure.

Like a Rolling Stone — I think it would be fun to hear this or some other cool cover.

You Got Me Rocking — Stones songs from the 90s are generally better than you think, and this one is strong.

Wild Horses — This is the one Sticky Fingers song I could probably live without, though if it was subbed in for “Paint It Black” late in the set, I’d be for that.

Shattered — They could perform Some Girls in its entirety and I’d be happy, so yes.

Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) — One of the rare 1970s Stones songs I’m not that into.

Midnight Rambler — Well hell yes I want “Midnight Rambler.”

Emotional Rescue — He can still do that falsetto? OK, I’m in.

She’s a Rainbow — One of my least favorite Stones songs. No.

Dead Flowers — This would be a really nice surprise.

Sweet Virginia — “Got to scrape that shit right off your shoes!” I’d be yelling that at the TOP of my singing voice.