Waiting on a Friend: Difference between revisions

"Waiting on a Friend"
"Waiting on a Friend"
Single by the Rolling Stones
from the album Tattoo You
B-side	"Little T&A"
Released	November 1981
Recorded	1972/1973 and 1981
Genre	Pop rock
Length	4:35
Label	Rolling Stones
Songwriter(s)	Jagger/Richards
Producer(s)	The Glimmer Twins
The Rolling Stones singles chronology
Music video
	"Waiting on a Friend” on YouTube
Tattoo You track listing
	11 tracks Side one "Start Me Up"; "Hang Fire"; "Slave"; "Little T&A"; "Black Limousine"; "Neighbours"; Side two ; "Worried About You"; "Tops"; "Heaven"; "No Use in Crying"; "Waiting on a Friend";

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"Waiting on a Friend" is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones from their 1981 album Tattoo You. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and released as the album's second single, it reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the US.

History

Recording of "Waiting on a Friend" (as 'Waiting for a Friend') began in late 1972 through early 1973 in Kingston, Jamaica, during the Goats Head Soup sessions. Mick Taylor was a band member at that time, but does not play on the official released version.^{[citation needed]}

In the liner notes to 1993's compilation album Jump Back, Mick Jagger said, "We all liked it at the time but it didn't have any lyrics, so there we were... The lyric I added is very gentle and loving, about friendships in the band." Jagger also had stated that the 1981 lyrics were contemplated for a future possible video, making the song the first Rolling Stones single to be packaged as a possible video for the emerging MTV channel.

The lyrics see a more mature side of singer Jagger represented. He speaks of setting aside women and vices in favor of making some sense of his life and finding the virtues inherent in true friendship:

Don't need a whore, I don't need no booze, don't need a virgin priest. But I need someone I can cry to, I need someone to protect.

The song is noted for its dreamy qualities brought on by the soft guitars, smooth rhythm, and Jagger's lilting refrain of "doo-doo-doo". Veteran Stones collaborator Nicky Hopkins performs the track's running piano.^[1] The Stones hired jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins to perform the solo on this song, as well as two other songs on the album. On his contribution to the track, Jagger said in 1985:

"I had a lot of trepidation about working with Sonny Rollins. This guy's a giant of the saxophone. Charlie said, 'He's never going to want to play on a Rolling Stones record!' I said, 'Yes he is going to want to.' And he did and he was wonderful. I said, 'Would you like me to stay out there in the studio?' He said, 'Yeah, you tell me where you want me to play and DANCE the part out.' So I did that. And that's very important: communication in hand, dance, whatever. You don't have to do a whole ballet, but sometimes that movement of the shoulder tells the guy to kick in on the beat."^[2]

Additional percussion, comprising claves, cabasa, güiro and conga, by Michael Carabello, was added during overdub sessions in April and June 1981, as well as acoustic guitar by Jagger.^[3]

Music video

The video, shot on 2 July 1981,^{[citation needed]} directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg (who also directed their 1968 special The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus), became very popular on MTV. Matching the song's lyrics, Jagger is seen waiting for Keith Richards in the doorway of an apartment block, with Peter Tosh sitting on the steps. The building, at 96–98 St. Mark's Place in Manhattan, is notable for having also appeared on the cover of Led Zeppelin's 1975 album Physical Graffiti. The two then walk down the street and enter the St. Mark's Bar & Grill where the other three band members are already drinking. Ronnie Wood appears in the video, although he was not a musician on the original recording.^[4] Jagger sings the song to Richards and the video concludes with the band setting up for a gig at the back of the bar, largely ignored by the other patrons.^[5]

Release

Released as the second single after "Start Me Up", "Waiting on a Friend" became a radio staple in the US, where it reached No. 13 on the singles chart in early 1982. It did not fare as well in Europe, reaching a modest No. 50 on the UK Singles Chart but as high as No. 9 in the Netherlands.

Billboard called it a "ballad that has a subtle honky tonk feeling" and a "tasty contrast" to the Rolling Stones' previous single "Start Me Up".^[6] Record World said that "Jagger's magnetíc vocal, Sonny Rollins sax phrases and the hypnotic chorus make this one of the Stones most enticing pieces in recent memory."^[7]

"Waiting on a Friend" was included on the Stones' compilation albums Rewind (1971–1984) (1984), Jump Back (1993), and GRRR! (2012). A 1981 live performance of the song featured on the concert film Let's Spend the Night Together (1983). A 1997 performance with saxophonist Joshua Redman was recorded during the Bridges to Babylon Tour and released in 1998 on the live album No Security and the concert film Bridges to Babylon Tour '97–98.

Personnel

The Rolling Stones

Mick Jagger – lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
Keith Richards – lead and rhythm guitar
Bill Wyman – bass guitar
Charlie Watts – drums

Additional musicians

Mick Taylor - rhythm and lead guitar
Nicky Hopkins – piano
Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone
Michael Carabello – güiro, claves, cabasa and congas

Charts

Chart (1981–1982)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[8]	44
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[9]	15
Canada RPM Top Singles^[10]	10
Finland (Soumen Virallinen)^[11]	28
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[12]	17
UK Singles (OCC)^[13]	50
US Billboard Hot 100^[14]	13

Year-end chart (1982)	Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)^[15]	94

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[16]	Gold	35,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

^ Janovitz, Bill. The Rolling Stones "Waiting on a Friend". allmusic. 2007 (accessed 19 May 2007).
^ "Tattoo You". Time Is On Our Side. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
^ "The Complete Works of the Rolling Stones – Database". Nzentgraf.de. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
^ "Stones LP, Tour Due Soon". Rolling Stone. 20 August 1981. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
^ The Rolling Stones - Waiting On A Friend - OFFICIAL PROMO on YouTube
^ "Top Single Picks". Billboard. 28 November 1981. p. 75.
^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 28 November 1981. p. 1. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "The Rolling Stones – Waiting on a Friend" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 13 February 1982. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. p. 240. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
^ "The Rolling Stones – Waiting on a Friend" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Rolling Stones: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "The Rolling Stones Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Talent in Action: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 51. 25 December 1982. p. TIA-20.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 30 November 2023.

[1] Janovitz, Bill. The Rolling Stones "Waiting on a Friend". allmusic. 2007 (accessed 19 May 2007).

[time-2] "Tattoo You". Time Is On Our Side. Retrieved 13 December 2009.

[3] "The Complete Works of the Rolling Stones – Database". Nzentgraf.de. Retrieved 7 November 2015.

[4] "Stones LP, Tour Due Soon". Rolling Stone. 20 August 1981. Retrieved 22 April 2020.

[5] The Rolling Stones - Waiting On A Friend - OFFICIAL PROMO on YouTube

[6] "Top Single Picks". Billboard. 28 November 1981. p. 75.

[rw-7] "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 28 November 1981. p. 1. Retrieved 2 March 2023.

[8] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[sc_Flanders_The_Rolling_Stones-9] "The Rolling Stones – Waiting on a Friend" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[10] "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 13 February 1982. Retrieved 7 September 2019.

[11] Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. p. 240. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.

[sc_Dutch100_The_Rolling_Stones-12] "The Rolling Stones – Waiting on a Friend" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_Rolling_Stones-13] "Rolling Stones: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_Billboardhot100_The_Rolling_Stones-14] "The Rolling Stones Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[15] "Talent in Action: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 51. 25 December 1982. p. TIA-20.

[AustraliaThe_Rolling_StonesWaiting_on_a_FriendsingleCertRef-16] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 30 November 2023.

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[3]

[4]

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Use British English|date=January 2020}}
-{{Infobox single
+{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
-| Name           = Waiting on a Friend
+{{Infobox song
-| Cover          = Waitingonafriend2.jpg
-| Artist         = [[The Rolling Stones]]
+| name       = Waiting on a Friend
-| from Album     = [[Tattoo You]]
+| cover      = Waitingonafriend2.jpg
-| B-side         = "[[Little T&A]]"
+| alt        =
-| Released       = 30 November 1981
+| type       = single
-| Format         = [[vinyl record|7"]]
+| artist     = [[the Rolling Stones]]
-| Recorded       = 1972/1973 and 1981
+| album      = [[Tattoo You]]
-| Genre          = [[Rock music|Rock]]
+| B-side     = [[Little T&A]]
-| Length         = 4:35
+| released   = November 1981
+| recorded   = 1972/1973 and 1981
-| Label          = [[Rolling Stones Records|Rolling Stones]]
-| Writer         = [[Jagger/Richards]]
+| studio     =
-| Producer       = [[The Glimmer Twins]]
+| venue      =
-| Last single    = "[[Start Me Up]]"<br />(1981)
+| genre      = [[Pop rock]]
+| length     = 4:35
-| This single    = "'''Waiting on a Friend'''"<br />(1981)
+| label      = [[Rolling Stones Records|Rolling Stones]]
-| Next single    = "[[Hang Fire]]"<br />(1982)
+| writer     = [[Jagger/Richards]]
-| Misc = {{Extra tracklisting
-| Album = [[Tattoo You]]
+| producer   = [[The Glimmer Twins]]
+| prev_title = [[Start Me Up]]
-| Type = Studio
+| prev_year  = 1981
-| Tracks = {{Tattoo You tracks}}
+| next_title = [[Hang Fire]]
+| next_year  = 1982
+| misc       = {{External music video|{{YouTube|MKLVmBOOqVU|"Waiting on a Friend”}}
+}}{{Extra track listing
+ | album  = [[Tattoo You]]
+ | type   = studio
+ | tracks = {{Tattoo You tracks}}
 }}
 }}
-"'''Waiting on a Friend'''" is a song by [[the Rolling Stones]] from their 1981 album ''[[Tattoo You]]''. Released as the album's second single, it reached #13 on the US singles chart.
+"'''Waiting on a Friend'''" is a song by the English rock band [[the Rolling Stones]] from their 1981 album ''[[Tattoo You]]''. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and released as the album's second single, it reached {{thinspace|No.|13}} on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] singles chart in the US.
 ==History==
-Recording of "Waiting on a Friend" (as 'Waiting for a Friend') began in late 1972 through early 1973 in [[Kingston, Jamaica]], during the ''[[Goats Head Soup]]'' sessions when the band still had [[Mick Taylor]] as a member.
+Recording of "Waiting on a Friend" (as 'Waiting for a Friend') began in late 1972 through early 1973 in [[Kingston, Jamaica]], during the ''[[Goats Head Soup]]'' sessions. [[Mick Taylor]] was a band member at that time, but does not play on the official released version.{{cn|date=January 2023}}
-His guitar piece made it to the overdubbing sessions in April 1981 when the song was selected by ''Tattoo You'' producer [[Chris Kimsey]] as one the band could re-work for the album.
-[[File:Physical Led Zeppelin.jpg|thumb|left|96-98 St. Mark's Place]]
-In the liner notes to 1993's compilation album ''[[Jump Back: The Best of The Rolling Stones|Jump Back]]'', [[Mick Jagger]] said, "We all liked it at the time but it didn't have any lyrics, so there we were... The lyric I added is very gentle and loving, about friendships in the band." Jagger also had stated that the 1981 lyrics were contemplated for a future possible video, making the song the first Rolling Stones single to be packaged as a possible video for the emerging [[MTV]] channel.
+In the liner notes to 1993's compilation album ''[[Jump Back: The Best of The Rolling Stones|Jump Back]]'', [[Mick Jagger]] said, "We all liked it at the time but it didn't have any lyrics, so there we were... The lyric I added is very gentle and loving, about friendships in the band." Jagger also had stated that the 1981 lyrics were contemplated for a future possible video, making the song the first Rolling Stones single to be packaged as a possible video for the emerging [[MTV]] channel.
-The video, directed by [[Michael Lindsay-Hogg]] (who also directed their 1968 special ''[[The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus]]''), became very popular on MTV. Matching the song's lyrics, Jagger is seen waiting for [[Keith Richards]] in the doorway of an apartment block. The building, at 96-98 [[St. Mark's Place (Manhattan)|St. Mark's Place]] in [[Manhattan]], is notable for appearing on the cover of [[Led Zeppelin]]'s 1975 album ''[[Physical Graffiti]]''. The two then walk down the street and enter a [[Bar (establishment)|bar and grill]] where the other three band members are already drinking. Jagger sings the song to Richards and the video concludes with the band setting up for a gig at the back of the bar, ignored by the other patrons
 The lyrics see a more mature side of singer Jagger represented. He speaks of setting aside women and vices in favor of making some sense of his life and finding the virtues inherent in true friendship:
+{{cquote|''Don't need a whore, I don't need no booze, don't need a virgin priest. But I need someone I can cry to, I need someone to protect''.}}
+The song is noted for its dreamy qualities brought on by the soft guitars, smooth rhythm, and Jagger's lilting refrain of "doo-doo-doo". Veteran Stones collaborator [[Nicky Hopkins]] performs the track's running piano.<ref>Janovitz, Bill. [{{AllMusic|class=song|id=t2766888|pure_url=yes}} The Rolling Stones "Waiting on a Friend"]. ''allmusic''. 2007 (accessed 19 May 2007).</ref> The Stones hired jazz saxophonist [[Sonny Rollins]] to perform the solo on this song, as well as two other songs on the album. On his contribution to the track, Jagger said in 1985:
-{{cquote|''Don't need a whore, I don't need no booze, don't need a virgin priest/But I need someone I can cry to, I need someone to protect''.}}
+<blockquote>"I had a lot of trepidation about working with Sonny Rollins. This guy's a giant of the saxophone. Charlie said, 'He's never going to want to play on a Rolling Stones record!' I said, 'Yes he is going to want to.' And he did and he was wonderful. I said, 'Would you like me to stay out there in the studio?' He said, 'Yeah, you tell me where you want me to play and DANCE the part out.' So I did that. And that's very important: communication in hand, dance, whatever. You don't have to do a whole ballet, but sometimes that movement of the shoulder tells the guy to kick in on the beat."<ref name=time>{{cite web |title=Tattoo You |url=http://www.timeisonourside.com/lpTattoo.html |work=Time Is On Our Side |access-date=13 December 2009}}</ref></blockquote>
+Additional percussion, comprising [[claves]], [[cabasa]], [[güiro]] and [[conga]], by [[Michael Carabello]], was added during overdub sessions in April and June 1981, as well as acoustic guitar by Jagger.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Complete Works of the Rolling Stones – Database |url=http://www.nzentgraf.de/books/tcw/works1.htm |publisher=Nzentgraf.de |access-date=7 November 2015}}</ref>
-The song is noted for its dreamy qualities brought on by the soft guitars, smooth rhythm, and Jagger's lilting refrain of "doo-doo-doo"'s.  Stones-recording veteran [[Nicky Hopkins]] performs the track's running piano.<ref>Janovitz, Bill. [{{Allmusic|class=song|id=t2766888|pure_url=yes}} The Rolling Stones "Waiting on a Friend"]. ''allmusic''. 2007 (accessed 19 May 2007).</ref> The Stones hired [[jazz]] [[saxophonist]] [[Sonny Rollins]] to perform the solo on this song, as well as two others on the album. On his addition to the track, Jagger said in 1985:
+==Music video==
-<blockquote>"I had a lot of trepidation about working with Sonny Rollins. This guy's a giant of the saxophone. Charlie said, 'He's never going to want to play on a Rolling Stones record!' I said, 'Yes he is going to want to.' And he did and he was wonderful. I said, 'Would you like me to stay out there in the studio?' He said, 'Yeah, you tell me where you want me to play and DANCE the part out.' So I did that. And that's very important: communication in hand, dance, whatever. You don't have to do a whole ballet, but sometimes that movement of the shoulder tells the guy to kick in on the beat."<ref name=time>{{cite web| last =| first =| title = Tattoo You| work = Time Is On Our Side| publisher =| url =http://www.timeisonourside.com/lpTattoo.html| accessdate = 2009-12-13}}</ref></blockquote>
+[[File:Physical Led Zeppelin.jpg|thumb|96-98 St. Mark's Place]]
+The video, shot on 2 July 1981,{{cn|date=July 2021}} directed by [[Michael Lindsay-Hogg]] (who also directed their 1968 special ''[[The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus]]''), became very popular on MTV. Matching the song's lyrics, Jagger is seen waiting for [[Keith Richards]] in the doorway of an apartment block, with [[Peter Tosh]] sitting on the steps. The building, at 96–98 [[St. Mark's Place (Manhattan)|St. Mark's Place]] in [[Manhattan]], is notable for having also appeared on the cover of [[Led Zeppelin]]'s 1975 album ''[[Physical Graffiti]]''. The two then walk down the street and enter the St. Mark's Bar & Grill where the other three band members are already drinking. [[Ronnie Wood]] appears in the video, although he was not a musician on the original recording.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Stones LP, Tour Due Soon |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/stones-lp-tour-due-soon-232450/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=20 August 1981 |access-date=22 April 2020}}</ref> Jagger sings the song to Richards and the video concludes with the band setting up for a gig at the back of the bar, largely ignored by the other patrons.<ref>{{YouTube|MKLVmBOOqVU|The Rolling Stones - Waiting On A Friend - OFFICIAL PROMO}}</ref>
-Percussion ([[claves]], [[cabasa]], [[guiro]] and [[conga]]) was added during overdub sessions in April and June 1981 by [[Mike Carabello]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzentgraf.de/books/tcw/works1.htm |title=The Complete Works of the Rolling Stones - Database |publisher=Nzentgraf.de |date= |accessdate=2015-11-07}}</ref> An acoustic guitar and a tambourine heard in the known [[outtake]]s did not make it to the final version.
 ==Release==
-Released as the second single after "[[Start Me Up]]," "Waiting on a Friend" became a radio staple in the US where it reached #13 on the singles chart in early-1982. It did not fare as well in Europe, reaching only #50 on the [[UK Singles Chart]] but as high as #9 in the Netherlands.
+Released as the second single after "[[Start Me Up]]", "Waiting on a Friend" became a radio staple in the US, where it reached {{thinspace|No.|13}} on the singles chart in early 1982. It did not fare as well in Europe, reaching a modest {{thinspace|No.|50}} on the [[UK Singles Chart]] but as high as {{thinspace|No.|9}} in the Netherlands.
+''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' called it a "ballad that has a subtle [[honky tonk]] feeling" and a "tasty contrast" to the Rolling Stones' previous single "Start Me Up".<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top Single Picks |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bSQEAAAAMBAJ |magazine=Billboard |date=28 November 1981 |page=75}}</ref> ''[[Record World]]'' said that "Jagger's magnetíc vocal, Sonny Rollins sax phrases and the hypnotic chorus make this one of the Stones most enticing pieces in recent memory."<ref name=rw>{{cite magazine |title=Hits of the Week |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/80s/81/RW-1981-11-28.pdf |magazine=Record World |date=28 November 1981 |page=1 |access-date=2 March 2023}}</ref>
-Although included on both ''[[Jump Back]]'' and the earlier ''[[Rewind (1971–1984)]]'', it was not included on 2002's ''[[Forty Licks]]'' but is present on 2012's ''[[GRRR!]]''. A live performance with saxophonist [[Joshua Redman]] was recorded during the [[Bridges to Babylon Tour]] and released on the 1998 live album ''[[No Security]]'' and concert film ''[[Bridges to Babylon Tour '97–98]].''  A 1981 performance of the song featured on ''[[Let's Spend the Night Together (film)]]'' (1983). The song was later used in the film [[The Normal Heart]] (2014).
+"Waiting on a Friend" was included on the Stones' compilation albums ''[[Rewind (1971–1984)]]'' (1984), ''[[Jump Back]]'' (1993), and ''[[GRRR!]]'' (2012). A 1981 live performance of the song featured on the concert film ''[[Let's Spend the Night Together (film)|Let's Spend the Night Together]]'' (1983). A 1997 performance with saxophonist [[Joshua Redman]] was recorded during the [[Bridges to Babylon Tour]] and released in 1998 on the live album ''[[No Security]]'' and the concert film ''[[Bridges to Babylon Tour '97–98]]''.
 ==Personnel==
+'''The Rolling Stones'''
-*[[Mick Jagger]]&nbsp;– lead and backing vocals
-*[[Keith Richards]]&nbsp;– electric guitar, backing vocals
+*[[Mick Jagger]]&nbsp;– lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
-*[[Ronnie Wood]]&nbsp;– electric guitar, backing vocals
+*[[Keith Richards]]&nbsp;– lead and rhythm guitar
-*[[Mick Taylor]]&nbsp;– electric guitar
 *[[Bill Wyman]]&nbsp;– bass guitar
 *[[Charlie Watts]]&nbsp;– drums
+'''Additional musicians'''
+*[[Mick Taylor]]&nbsp;- rhythm and lead guitar
 *[[Nicky Hopkins]]&nbsp;– piano
-*[[Sonny Rollins]]&nbsp;– saxophone
+*[[Sonny Rollins]]&nbsp;– [[tenor saxophone]]
 *[[Michael Carabello]]&nbsp;– [[güiro]], [[claves]], [[cabasa]] and [[conga]]s
+==Charts==
+{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
+|-
+! scope="col"| Chart (1981–1982)
+! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
+|-
+|align="left"|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref>{{Cite book|title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]]|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=[[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives, NSW]]|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6 }}</ref>
+| style="text-align:center;"|44
+|-
+|{{singlechart|Flanders|15|artist=The Rolling Stones|song=Waiting on a Friend|access-date=18 June 2016}}
+|-
+|Canada ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web |title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0456&URLjpg=https%3a%2f%2ffanyv88.com%3a443%2fhttp%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0456.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0456 |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1982-02-13 |access-date=2019-09-07}}</ref>
+| style="text-align:center;"|10
+|-
+| align="left" |Finland (''[[The Official Finnish Charts|Soumen Virallinen]]'')<ref>{{cite book |last=Nyman |first=Jake |title=Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja |publisher=Tammi |year=2005 |isbn=951-31-2503-3 |edition=1st |location=Helsinki |page=240|language=fi}}</ref>
+|style="text-align:center;"|28
+|-
+|{{singlechart|Dutch100|17|artist=The Rolling Stones|song=Waiting on a Friend|access-date=18 June 2016}}
+|-
+|{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|50|artist=Rolling Stones|access-date=18 June 2016}}
+|-
+|{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|13|artist=The Rolling Stones|access-date=18 June 2016}}
+|}
+{| class="wikitable sortable"
+|-
+! Year-end chart (1982) !! Rank
+|-
+|[[Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1982|US Top Pop Singles (''Billboard'')]]<ref>{{cite magazine |date=25 December 1982 |title=Talent in Action: Top Pop Singles |page=TIA-20 |magazine=Billboard |volume=94 |issue=51}}</ref>
+|align="center"|94
+|}
+==Certifications==
+{{Certification Table Top}}
+{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Australia|artist=The Rolling Stones|title=Waiting on a Friend|award=Gold|certyear=2023|access-date=30 November 2023}}
+{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
 ==Notes==
 {{reflist}}
-==External links==
-* {{MetroLyrics song|rolling-stones|waiting-on-a-friend}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->
 {{The Rolling Stones}}
 {{The Rolling Stones singles}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:The Rolling Stones songs]]
 [[Category:1981 singles]]
 [[Category:1982 singles]]
-[[Category:Songs written by Jagger/Richards]]
+[[Category:Songs about friendship]]
-[[Category:Song recordings produced by the Glimmer Twins]]
+[[Category:Songs written by Jagger–Richards]]
+[[Category:Song recordings produced by Jagger–Richards]]
 [[Category:Music videos directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg]]
+[[Category:1972 songs]]

v t e The Rolling Stones
Mick Jagger Keith Richards Ronnie Wood Brian Jones Ian Stewart Bill Wyman Charlie Watts Mick Taylor
Video releases	Let's Spend the Night Together (1983) Video Rewind (1984) Stones at the Max (1992) Sympathy for the Devil (1994) Voodoo Lounge Live (1995) The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus (1996) Bridges to Babylon Tour '97–98 (1998) Four Flicks (2003) Toronto Rocks (2004) A Bigger Bang: Special Edition (2005) The Biggest Bang (2007) T.A.M.I. Show (2010) Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones (2010) Some Girls: Live in Texas '78 (2011) Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones Live At The Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago 1981 (2012) Sweet Summer Sun: Live in Hyde Park (2013) Hampton Coliseum (Live 1981) (2014) L.A. Friday (2014) Live at the Tokyo Dome (2015) Live at Leeds (2015) Totally Stripped (2016) Havana Moon (2016) Voodoo Lounge Uncut (2018) Steel Wheels Live (2020)
Documentaries	Charlie Is My Darling (1966) The Stones in the Park (1969) Gimme Shelter (1970) Cocksucker Blues (1972) 25×5: the Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones (1989) Stripped (1995) Shine a Light (2008) Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! (2009) Stones in Exile (2010) Crossfire Hurricane (2012) Olé Olé Olé!: A Trip Across Latin America (2017) Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg (2024)
Tours	British Tour 1963 1964 tours 1965 tours 1966 tours European Tour 1967 American Tour 1969 European Tour 1970 UK Tour 1971 American Tour 1972 Pacific Tour 1973 European Tour 1973 Tour of the Americas '75 Tour of Europe '76 US Tour 1978 American Tour 1981 Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour Voodoo Lounge Tour Bridges to Babylon Tour No Security Tour Licks Tour A Bigger Bang Tour 50 & Counting 14 On Fire Zip Code América Latina Olé No Filter Tour Sixty Hackney Diamonds Tour
Associated places	Redlands Stargroves Nellcôte The Wick Downe House The Mick Jagger Centre Stones Fan Museum Ealing Jazz Club Marquee Club Crawdaddy Club
Associated people	Dick Taylor Ricky Fenson Tony Chapman Carlo Little Giorgio Gomelsky Andrew Loog Oldham Eric Easton Allen Klein Marshall Chess Nicky Hopkins Bobby Keys Jimmy Miller Glyn Johns John Pasche Marianne Faithfull Anita Pallenberg Chuck Leavell Darryl Jones Steve Jordan
Related articles	Discography Songs Awards and nominations Concert tours Jagger–Richards Nanker/Phelge Rolling Stones Records Promotone Altamont Free Concert The Rolling Stones' Redlands bust Rolling Stones Mobile Studio The Rolling Stones: An Illustrated Record Instruments played Stone Country: Country Artists Perform the Songs of the Rolling Stones Tongue and lips logo The Stone Age: Sixty Years of the Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones Museum
Category

v t e The Rolling Stones singles
Decca (UK) and London (US) singles	"Come On" "I Wanna Be Your Man" / "Stoned" "Not Fade Away" / "Little by Little" "It's All Over Now" "Tell Me" / "I Just Want to Make Love to You" "Time Is on My Side" "Little Red Rooster" "Heart of Stone" "The Last Time" / "Play with Fire" "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" / "The Spider and the Fly" "Get Off of My Cloud" / "I'm Free" "As Tears Go By" "19th Nervous Breakdown" / "As Tears Go By" "Paint It Black" / "Stupid Girl" "Mother's Little Helper" / "Lady Jane" "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?" "Let's Spend the Night Together" / "Ruby Tuesday" "We Love You" / "Dandelion" "In Another Land" / "The Lantern" "She's a Rainbow" / "2000 Light Years from Home" "Jumpin' Jack Flash" "Street Fighting Man" / "No Expectations" "Honky Tonk Women" / "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
Rolling Stones Records/Atlantic singles	"Brown Sugar" / "Bitch" / "Let It Rock" "Wild Horses" / "Sway" "Tumbling Dice" / "Sweet Black Angel" "Happy" / "All Down the Line" "Angie" / "Silver Train" "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" / "Dancing with Mr. D." "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" / "Dance Little Sister" "Fool to Cry" "Hot Stuff"
Rolling Stones Records singles	"Miss You" / "Far Away Eyes" "Beast of Burden" / "When the Whip Comes Down" "Respectable" / "When the Whip Comes Down" "Shattered" "Emotional Rescue" "She's So Cold" / "Send It to Me" "Start Me Up" "Waiting on a Friend" / "Little T & A" "Hang Fire" / "Neighbours" "Going to a Go-Go" (live) / "Beast of Burden" (live) "Time Is on My Side" (live) / "Twenty Flight Rock" (live) "Undercover of the Night" "She Was Hot" "Too Much Blood" "Harlem Shuffle" "One Hit (To the Body)" "Mixed Emotions" "Rock and a Hard Place" "Almost Hear You Sigh" "Highwire" / "2000 Light Years from Home" (live) "Ruby Tuesday" (live) / "Play with Fire" (live) "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (live) / "Tumbling Dice" (live)
Virgin singles	"Love Is Strong" "You Got Me Rocking" "Out of Tears" "I Go Wild" "Like a Rolling Stone" (live) / "Black Limousine" / "All Down the Line" "Wild Horses" (live) / "Live with Me" (live) / "Tumbling Dice" (live) "Anybody Seen My Baby?" "Saint of Me" / "Gimme Shelter" (live) "Out of Control" "Don't Stop" / "Miss You" (remix) "Streets of Love" / "Rough Justice" "Rain Fall Down" "Biggest Mistake" / "Before They Make Me Run" (live) "Laugh, I Nearly Died"
Universal singles	"Plundered My Soul" / "All Down the Line" "No Spare Parts" / "Before They Make Me Run" "Doom and Gloom" "One More Shot" "Just Your Fool" "Living in a Ghost Town" "Scarlet"
ABKCO singles	"I Don't Know Why" / "Try a Little Harder" "Out of Time" / "Jiving Sister Fanny"
Others	"Let It Bleed" / "You Got the Silver" (Japan) "Rocks Off" / "Sweet Virginia" (Japan) "Star Star" / "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" (France, Germany) "Angry" "Sweet Sounds of Heaven"