Jagger and Richards initially wrote "Neighbours" during the
Emotional Rescue (1980) sessions in June–July 1979. It was further worked on by Jagger and Richards for
Tattoo You in October 1979 and April–June 1981. Jagger was inspired by Richards' own run-ins with his neighbours after the guitarist was evicted from his
New York City apartment after complaints that he was playing music too loudly. On the story, Richards said at the time of release, "...
Patti [Hansen] (Richards' wife) and I (have been evicted from apartments in New York). Mick wrote the lyrics to that - and he never has trouble with neighbours... I have a knack of finding a whole building of very cool people, you know, but there'll be one uncool couple... 'Neighbours' is the first song I think Mick's ever really written for me. It's one I wish I'd written, that." Recording took place during the June–July 1979
Emotional Rescue sessions, between October and November 1980, and April through June 1981, at
Paris' Pathé Marconi Studios and
Atlantic Studios in New York City. With Jagger on lead vocals, electric guitars are performed by Richards and
Ronnie Wood, with Wood taking the solo.
Charlie Watts and
Bill Wyman perform drums and bass, respectively.
Sonny Rollins also contributes
saxophone, one of his three credits for the album.
Ian Stewart performs the song's piano. == Music video ==