Jumpin' Jack Flash is a song by the Rolling Stones, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. It was recorded in May 1968 and released as a single on June 5, 1968. The song remained at number one on the UK Singles Chart for seven weeks and reached number three on the US Singles Chart.
The song was written in May 1968 at Villa Nellcôte, Keith Richards' residence in France, where the Rolling Stones had set up base camp to escape British tax lawsuits. Jagger and Richards were inspired by the rhythm of the soul and R and B music they heard on French radio and by Robert A. Johnson's book, Me and the Devil Blues. The first version of the song was recorded on May 2, 1968 with Charlie Watts on drums, Bill Wyman on bass and Brian Jones on slide guitar. The final version of the song, recorded on May 4, 1968, was produced by Jimmy Miller and used a rhythm section consisting of Watts, Wyman and session bassist Danny Kortchmar.
The song was written in reaction to what Jagger and Richards perceived as an oppressive atmosphere at Nellcote. Jagger later said, "We were locked in this big house, with bars on the windows, and there were these fucking French police everywhere. It was a very strange and scary time. I think Jack Flash was a way for us to release all that tension."
The song was released as a single on June 5, 1968, with "Child of the Moon" on the B-side. "Jumpin' Jack Flash" was included on the album Beggars Banquet, released in December 1968.
