09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
The Rolling Stones just dropped their best single in decades — on a Bay Area label
The Rolling Stones have released a spirited cover of Clifton Chenier's 'Zydeco Sont Pas Salés' — sung entirely in French by Mick Jagger — on a small Bay Area label with deep roots in American folk and roots music.
The track leads 'A Tribute to the King of Zydeco,' a 14-song compilation celebrating what would have been Chenier's 100th birthday. The album features contributions from Lucinda Williams, Taj Mahal, Steve Earle and others.
Founded in 1960 by Chris Strachwitz, Arhoolie became a vital archive of regional American music, documenting artists such as Texas bluesman Lightnin' Hopkins, accordionist Flaco Jiménez and Chenier himself, the Louisiana Creole accordionist widely regarded as the father of zydeco.
More than half a century after Arhoolie helped elevate zydeco from Louisiana dancehalls to global audiences, it now brings the genre to one of the most iconic rock bands in the world.
Produced by Louisiana musician C.C. Adcock, the Stones' version features accordionist Steve Riley and longtime Chenier drummer Robert St. Julien, blending traditional zydeco elements with the band's signature swagger.
Stones guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood recorded their parts in New York and London.
The recording appears on a limited-edition 7-inch single, paired with Chenier's original 1965 version. Proceeds benefit the Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship Fund and support Smithsonian Folkways' preservation work.
'The Stones are truly honored to be on this tribute album amongst a stellar cast of artists and musicians,' the band said in a statement. 'Clifton Chenier was one of the most influential musicians to come out of Louisiana. He turned so many people onto the wonderful free-spirited dance music of Zydeco, including ourselves back in the day.'
The Rolling Stones previously covered 'You've Gotta Move,' a Mississippi Fred McDowell song recorded by Strachwitz, on their 1971 album 'Sticky Fingers.'
This November, Smithsonian Folkways will release 'Clifton Chenier: King of Louisiana Blues and Zydeco,' a box set produced by Grammy winner Adam Machado. The collection includes rare live material, a career-spanning retrospective and a 160-page book of essays and photographs.
A 1971 live recording of 'Mr. Charlie,' broadcast on KSAN in San Francisco, is available digitally now.
