Mick Jagger / Keith Richards / 2:52
Musicians
Mick Jagger: vocals
Keith Richards: rhythm guitar
Mick Taylor: bass
Charlie Watts: drums
Bobby Keys: saxophone
Stephen Stills: guitar (?)
Rocky Dijon: congas
Recorded
Olympic Sound Studios, London: July 14–15, 1970
Technical Team
Producer: Jimmy Miller
Sound engineers: Glyn Johns, Andy Johns
The final track on Metamorphosis is also the best—at least for all those who consider Keith Richards’s guitar riffs to capture the Rolling Stones magic. The lyrics count for little, even if the image of God ringing someone’s doorbell and the notion of an uncontrollable urge to kill a mother-in-law and flee to Mexico have the merit, at least, of being clear. In truth, they are subservient to the rhythm of this irresistible rock number that recalls “Brown Sugar” and “All Down the Line.”
There are those who suggest that Keith Richards may not have played on “I’m Going Down,” but in that case, Stephen Stills (of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) has done an amazing job of imitating him! Is this possible? The handiwork of the master is so distinct, from the very first chord, that it is difficult to believe. He may have contributed more modestly than usual, but there only seems to be one guitar on the entire track. A plausible explanation would be that Stephen Stills did indeed collaborate on the session, but that his guitar has been buried in the mix. Similarly, the name of upright bass player Bill Plummer is mentioned by some (he would later play on a few tracks on Exile on Main St.). It has to be recognized, however, that the bass on the track is electric, in all likelihood played—excellently!—by Mick Taylor. Charlie Watts’s drumming, combining swing, power, and groove, is of a high caliber, with Jimmy Miller’s advice paying dividends. On the other hand, Rocky Dijon’s congas do not sit well with the pure, hard rock of this number, as their Latin flavor is out of keeping with the vibe. The same goes for Bobby Keys’s sax, which, despite a good performance, is not well-integrated into the track and has little in common with his solo on “Brown Sugar.” The problem for both one and the other, however, almost certainly stems from the mixing, which is very mediocre. Mick Jagger does not give one of his best performances. His voice doesn’t really take off, and this is a pity, because with a little more work, “I’m Going Down” could have been a great track. And the Stones must have believed this themselves as they seem to have worked on it back in 1969 (Olympic Studios, Sunset Sound Studios, and/or Electra Studios) before returning to it for the final time in July 1970.