Mick Jagger / Keith Richards / 4:53
Musicians
Mick Jagger: vocals, shakers
Keith Richards: rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Bill Wyman: bass
Charlie Watts: drums
Ron Wood: rhythm and lead guitar
Chuck Leavell: organ
Matt Clifford: keyboards
Roddy Lorimer: trumpet
Lisa Fischer: backing vocals
Recorded
AIR Studios, Montserrat: March 29–May 5, 1989
Olympic Sound Studios, London: May 15–June 29, 1989
Technical Team
Producers: Chris Kimsey, the Glimmer Twins
Sound engineer: Christopher Marc Potter
Assistant sound engineer: Rupert Coulson
Mixing: Michael H. Brauer
I’m rutting like a goat/I’m horny as a hog… The Glimmer Twins, and Mick Jagger in particular, resort to animal metaphors to describe the terrifying love that has overcome them. I get these strange strange strange desires, sings Jagger to a hypnotic, dance-like beat, reminiscent of the “Hot Stuff” era. “Terrifying” was released in Europe (including the United Kingdom) in two main formats: a single (with “Wish I’d Never Met You” as the B-side) and a maxi single (comprising the 12- and 7-inch remixes, the album version, and “Wish I’d Never Met You”). Neither managed to enter the charts.
The Stones give an excellent performance of this highly energetic funk-rock number. In all likelihood, “Terrifying,” with its relentless groove, came into being under the influence of Bill Laswell and Nile Rodgers—the producers of Jagger’s She’s the Boss. The rhythm section is fearsomely efficient, with Charlie and Bill each making an outstanding contribution. According to Martin Elliott, Chris Kimsey reports that Michael H. Brauer, the sound engineer in charge of the mixing, was keen to get the best possible sound out of Bill’s bass, and he succeeded. It is also interesting to note that Bill is almost certainly playing his English-made Wal bass. The guitarists are no less worthy of praise, Keith and Ronnie each playing a superbly funky rhythm part. It seems to be Woody who takes the one and only solo, which occurs in the intro, on what is most likely his Stratocaster with fairly pronounced chorus/phasing. Another important element is Matt Clifford’s synthesizer. He can be heard producing vibraphone (or celesta) sounds and coming in with numerous percussion effects (including timbales and cowbells), probably on a Yamaha DX7. These can be heard from 4:13. Chuck Leavell, meanwhile, is on organ. Roddy Lorimer of the Kick Horns plays some very jazzy and entirely appropriate phrases on the trumpet. Mick delivers a strong vocal take, singing in a low register that is just right for the song.