Tracklist front / back album covers
Side one
1. "If You Can't Rock Me" 3:46
2. "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" 3:30
3. "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" 5:07
4. "Till the Next Goodbye" 4:37
5. "Time Waits for No One" 6:37
Side two
6. "Luxury" 5:00
7. "Dance Little Sister" 4:11
8. "If You Really Want to Be My Friend" 6:16
9. "Short and Curlies" 2:43
10. "Fingerprint File" 6:33
The Rolling Stones Band Members / Musicians
Mick Jagger – lead vocals (all tracks), backing vocals (1–6, 9), acoustic guitar (4), electric guitar (10)
Keith Richards – electric guitar (all including slide on 4), backing vocals (1–6, 8, 9), acoustic guitar (4, 8), bass guitar (1)
Mick Taylor – electric guitar (1, 5, 7–9), acoustic guitar (4, 5), bass guitar (10)
Bill Wyman – bass guitar (2, 4–9), synthesizer (5, 10)
Charlie Watts – drums (all but 3)
Nicky Hopkins – piano (4–6, 8, 10)
Billy Preston – piano (1, 2, 10), clavinet (2, 10), organ (8)
Ian Stewart – piano (3, 7, 9)
Ray Cooper – percussion (1, 2, 5, 6)
Blue Magic – backing vocals (8)
Charlie Jolly – tabla (10)
Ed Leach – cowbell (2)
Basic track on "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)"
Kenney Jones – drums
Willie Weeks – bass guitar
David Bowie – backing vocals
Ronnie Wood – twelve–string acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Andy Johns – recording engineer
Keith Harwood – recording engineer, mixing
George Chkiants – overdub engineer
Glyn Johns – mixing (on "Fingerprint File")
Guy Peellaert – cover art design and painting
Bob Clearmountain – 1994 remastering
It's Only Rock 'n Roll is the 12th British and 14th American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 18 October 1974 by Rolling Stones Records. It was the last Rolling Stones album to feature guitarist Mick Taylor; the songwriting and recording of the album's title track had a connection to Taylor's eventual replacement, Ronnie Wood. It's Only Rock 'n Roll combines the core blues and rock 'n' roll–orientated sound with elements of funk and reggae. It's Only Rock 'n Roll reached number one in the United States and number two in the UK.
Though it was not as successful as their prior albums, It's Only Rock 'n Roll was an important transitional album for the Rolling Stones. Following the departure of long-time producer Jimmy Miller, the album was self-produced by guitarist Keith Richards and singer Mick Jagger under the pseudonym "The Glimmer Twins". Taylor, bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts played on most of the tracks, while frequent collaborators Ian Stewart, Nicky Hopkins, and Billy Preston contributed additional instrumentation. The album featured the first appearance of percussionist Ray Cooper, who would continue to work with the Rolling Stones into the 1980s.
The title track was recorded separately from the rest of the album. The basic rhythm track had been laid down by members of the Faces, including Wood and drummer Kenney Jones, during a jam session with Jagger, David Bowie, and bassist Willie Weeks. Jagger liked the song so much that he brought the basic track to Richards, who added some guitar overdubs, and after some polishing, it was put on the album as-is. In 1975, the band began auditioning guitarists including Jeff Beck, Wayne Perkins, Harvey Mandel and Rory Gallagher as possible replacements after the departure of Taylor, while recording the next studio album, Black and Blue (1976).
