The Rolling Stones: All Number 1 Songs Ranked Worst To Best
4. Angie
US #1, UK #5, 1973
Much like Ruby Tuesday, Angie was a 'quiet storm' moment in the Stones' singles discography. In it, Jagger sings, yet again, about the impeding end to a relationship, knowing it is well beyond repair but acknowledging that at least the involved parties tried their best.
It's an impeccably delivered, heartbreaking ballad - you can feel the pain in Jagger's performance, even though the track was penned by Keith Richards (despite what the credits say). There is great stigma nowadays associated with singers who don't write their own songs and many mainstream acts are constantly put down over that; while Jagger was a songwriter himself, Angie offers proof that a singer can take someone else's song and make beautiful art with it. Eight years after The Last Time, Jagger had grown into one of the best vocal actors in rock history, and he doesn't get nearly enough credit for that.
Fun Fact: There have been many theories about who the Angie in question is, if anyone at all. The best rumour? That Angela Bowie caught her then-husband David in bed with Mick Jagger and the Stones wrote her a song to keep her quiet. If that's true, it did not work.