Brian Jones was the key cultural force that united The Rolling Stones, providing the band its initial vision and name. However, by 1968, his struggles with substance abuse and accompanying mood fluctuations had distanced him from the group, limiting his contributions to a mere shadow of his former brilliance.
Amidst those late recordings, traces of vitality can still be detected. ‘Let It Bleed’—the last album featuring Brian Jones—includes him on only two tracks, where he plays congas and autoharp on ‘Midnight Rambler’ and ‘You Got The Silver’, respectively.
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One particular song stands out. ‘No Expectations’ is a blues tribute, with lyrics reminiscent of Robert Johnson’s ‘Love In Vain’ (which the band would later cover). Originally released as the B-side of ‘Street Fighting Man’, it’s a remarkable, deeply atmospheric recording, with the poignant line – “I’ve got no expectations / To pass through here again” – potentially reflecting the deteriorating relationships between the band and Brian Jones.
Jones’ slide guitar work is exceptional, and ‘No Expectations’ was featured in their iconic performance, Rock and Roll Circus. Although it was not released at the time, it ultimately became Brian Jones' final appearance with the band.
“That’s Brian on slide guitar,” Mick Jagger recounted years later. “We were sitting in a circle on the floor, singing and playing, recording with open microphones. That was the last moment I recall Brian being fully engaged in something meaningful. He was present with the rest of us. It’s interesting how memories work – but that was the last occasion I saw him that way, as he had begun to lose interest in everything.”
Bass guitarist Bill Wyman also contributed to the recording and reflected on that time in his memoir Stone Alone: “Brian had at least two sides to his personality. One side was introverted, shy, sensitive, and thoughtful. The other was an ostentatious peacock, sociable, artistic, and desperately seeking validation from others. He pushed every friendship to its limits and beyond.”
Take a moment to revisit ‘No Expectations’ below.
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Brian Jones was the cultural driving force that united The Rolling Stones, providing the band with its initial vision and name. By 1968,