Few bands have shaped rock music the way the Rolling Stones have. From their gritty blues beginnings to global stadium tours, the group has built one of the most iconic catalogues in music history.
With more than six decades of material behind them, it’s no surprise that their biggest tracks still pull in millions of streams each month.
But which songs have stood the test of time in the digital age? Here’s a ranking of their 10 most-played tracks on Spotify, based on current streaming figures.
10. Miss You (1978)
Streams: 266,323,364
Released during a period of major change in the music industry, ‘Miss You’ was the lead single from the Stones’ 1978 album Some Girls. Incorporating elements of disco and funk into their usual rock sound – and reportedly inspired by the club music of New York at the time – the track featured prominent bass from Bill Wyman and rhythm guitar from Keith Richards. It reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart.
9. Brown Sugar (1971)
Streams: 269,647,088
‘Brown Sugar’ was the opening track and lead single from the album Sticky Fingers. Written primarily by Mick Jagger, it was recorded in 1969 and released in 1971. The track reached No. 1 in the US and No. 2 in the UK. Known for its distinctive guitar riff and energetic delivery, the song also sparked debate due to its lyrical content, which references slavery, sexuality and race. Despite the controversy, it became a major commercial success and was a fixture in the band’s live performances for decades.
8. Wild Horses (1971)
Streams: 313,861,983
Also featured on Sticky Fingers, ‘Wild Horses’ marked a shift towards a slower, more acoustic ballad format. It was co-written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and is often associated with the band’s interest in American country and folk styles. It has since become one of the band’s most covered songs and appears regularly in their live setlists.
7. Angie (1973)
Streams: 414,807,738
Taken from the 1973 album Goats Head Soup, ‘Angie’ – recorded in Jamaica and produced by Jimmy Miller – is a piano-driven ballad with orchestral accompaniment. The song was noted for its shift away from rock instrumentation toward a softer, acoustic style. The track was a commercial success, topping the charts in the US and reaching No. 5 in the UK, and while the inspiration for the name “Angie” has been widely speculated, the band has never fed rumours of a specific source.
6. Beast of Burden (1978)
Streams: 520,660,626
‘Beast of Burden’ was the second single from Some Girls. It was built around guitar interplay between Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood and includes backing vocals from Jagger and Richards. Despite not charting in the UK, it became a long-term radio favourite in the US and was often included in live performances. The relaxed, rolling groove of it contrasts with the more aggressive tracks released in the same era.
5. Sympathy for the Devil (1968)
Streams: 644,831,742
First released on the album Beggars Banquet, ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ was developed in the studio over several takes and arrangements. Written by Jagger and Richards, the lyrics reference historical events from the perspective of the devil, with samba-inspired percussion and piano from Nicky Hopkins. Though not released as a single at the time, the track gained notoriety due to its lyrical content and association with broader cultural changes in the late 1960s.
4. Gimme Shelter (1969)
Streams: 690,906,325
The opening track on Let It Bleed, ‘Gimme Shelter’ was recorded in 1969 amid political unrest and the Vietnam War. The song was not released as a single but ended up becoming one of the band’s most impactful tracks, used in multiple films and documentaries. Its themes of violence, war and instability resonated widely with audiences at the time – especially given the socioeconomic state of the world in the dawn of the ‘60s.
3. Start Me Up (1981)
Streams: 764,943,976
Originally conceived as a reggae song during the Black and Blue sessions in the mid-1970s, ‘Start Me Up’ was reworked for Tattoo You and became a major commercial success. The song reached No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 7 in the UK. It gained further visibility after being used in Microsoft’s 1995 Windows launch campaign. Known for its driving riff and repeated chorus, it is also a consistent feature in the band’s stadium performances.
2. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (1965)
Streams: 827,065,507
One of those that everyone can at least hum along to. Recorded in 1965 and released in June of that year, Satisfaction became the Rolling Stones’ first No. 1 single in the United States and one of their most recognisable hits – mainly thanks to Keith Richards’ fuzz-drenched guitar riff. It stayed at No. 1 in the US for four weeks and peaked at No. 1 in the UK shortly after. The lyrics express frustration with commercialism and sexual tension, and made it one of the most iconic rock songs of the 20th century.
1. Paint It, Black (1966)
Streams: 1,436,287,187
Originally released as a single in May 1966 and later included on the US version of the album Aftermath, ‘Paint It, Black’ features a sitar played by Brian Jones and lyrics dealing with grief and psychological trauma. It was the first Rolling Stones single to feature Jones’s experiments with non-Western instruments. The song reached No. 1 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. With just under 1.5 million streams, it has also been used widely in film and television.