The Rolling Stones released It’s Only Rock ’n Roll 52 years ago this month, but the album’s title track has a surprising secret: David Bowie sang backup, future Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood helped create it, and several musicians on the recording weren’t actually members of the band.

Released October 18, 1974, the album featured “It’s Only Rock ’n Roll (But I Like It),” a song that began taking shape at Wood’s London home. According to MusicRadar’s June 2026 retrospective , the recording retained contributions from musicians outside the Stones’ official lineup.

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David Bowie Helped Record a Rolling Stones Hit

David Bowie, wearing an eye patch conducts a press conference at the Amstel Hotel, Amsterdam on February 13 1974 (Photo by Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns) Photo by Getty Images

Before joining the Stones, Wood was playing with the Faces and recording at his Richmond home, known as The Wick.

In a recollection…