Although credited to
Mick Jagger and Stones guitarist
Keith Richards, it is entirely a Mick Jagger composition. Jagger's earliest versions were from 1968 before Jones was expelled from the Stones due to his inability to tour. A version of the song, under the title "(Can't Seem To) Get a Line on You," was made by Leon Russell at
Olympic Studios in October 1969 with assistance from Jagger (lead vocals),
Charlie Watts (drums), Leon Russell (piano), and probably also
Bill Wyman (bass) and
Keith Richards (guitar). The recording was made during the recording sessions for the album
Leon Russell (released 1970), where Watts and Wyman contributed drums and bass to some of the tracks. However, the song was shelved until 1993, when it finally surfaced as a bonus track on the 24K gold re-release by DCC Compact Classics (DCC Compact Classics GZS 1049). After Jones's death in 1969, the song resurfaced. Following revisions by Jagger, it was recorded again in July 1970 as "Shine a Light". A third recording at
London's Olympic Sound Studios in December 1971 resulted in the final version of the song released on
Exile on Main St. This final version featured Jagger on vocals, Stones producer Jimmy Miller on drums instead of Watts, and
Mick Taylor on electric guitar and bass guitar. According to Wyman, he played bass on the song and Taylor was erroneously credited with playing bass, having pointed out the error via an advance copy of the album. He also says that he played bass on more tracks than was specified in the album's credits and that Jagger had gotten the credits wrong. Also performing on the song are back-up singers
Clydie King,
Joe Greene,
Venetta Fields and Jesse Kirkland.
Billy Preston performs both piano and organ for the recording and had a distinct influence on Jagger and the song while mixing the album at Los Angeles'
Sunset Sound Studios. Jagger claims visits to Preston's local church inspired the gospel influences apparent on the final recording while Richards was absent from these sessions. An alternative version without the backing singers and with a different guitar solo by Mick Taylor was released on bootlegs. ==Reception==