Keith Richards, the legendary guitarist of The Rolling Stones, has spent more than 60 years making music that shaped rock and roll. But even someone as iconic as Keith has his own musical heroes. In his autobiography Life and in interviews, he shared two songs that he believes are among the greatest ever recorded: “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes and “Mystery Train” by Elvis Presley.
“Be My Baby” – The Ronettes (1963)
Keith Richards first heard Be My Baby in the early 1960s, and it immediately struck him as one of the greatest songs ever made. Produced by Phil Spector, the song became a defining track of the “girl group” era. But for Keith, it was more than just a hit.
The Stones once toured with The Ronettes, and Keith admits he quietly fell in love with lead singer Ronnie Bennett (later known as Ronnie Spector). He said that her voice was so powerful it could cut straight through Spector’s famous “wall of sound” production. To him, the Ronettes didn’t even need all that production — their voices alone were enough to move people.
Over the years, Keith stayed close friends with Ronnie, even inducting The Ronettes into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. When she passed away in 2022, he shared how much he would miss her laugh, her voice, and her presence.
“Mystery Train” – Elvis Presley (1955)
The second song Keith Richards called one of the best is Mystery Train by Elvis Presley. Unlike Be My Baby, this track doesn’t even have drums. And that’s exactly why Keith loves it.
He explained that rhythm doesn’t always need to be obvious — sometimes the body creates it naturally. The rhythm of trains, tracks, and machinery has always influenced blues and rock musicians. For Keith, Mystery Train shows how music can suggest rhythm without spelling it out, and still make listeners feel it deep inside.
He also admired Elvis’ early band — guitarist Scotty Moore, bassist Bill Black, and drummer D.J. Fontana — saying they had an energy and joy that made the music sound pure and effortless.
Why These Songs Matter
By choosing Be My Baby and Mystery Train, Keith Richards showed us what he values most in music:
Emotion – Songs that hit you in the heart, not just the ears.
Simplicity – Music that doesn’t need to be overdone to be powerful.
Timelessness – Both songs still feel fresh and alive decades later.
For Keith, the best songs are the ones that stay with you forever. They don’t just entertain — they move you, inspire you, and connect you to something bigger.