Happy

One of Richards' most overlooked riff-based performances, a nagging, circular guitar figure that locks in with Watts to create something almost meditative in its relentlessness. The track came from a session where Richards was the only Stones member present, playing multiple instruments, and that self-contained quality is palpable — it's slightly more introverted than typical Stones material, the groove turned inward. Jagger's vocal is conversational rather than performative, and the lyric — such as it is — barely exists, which allows the instrumental texture to carry the weight. It appeared on Exile on Main St. where it fit perfectly alongside tracks that similarly prized mood over message. There's something genuinely joyful about the guitar sound here, which might seem obvious but contrasts with the album's general spirit of survival and dissolution. This is music for late afternoon when the work is done and you've earned the right to simply exist.