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Cover of Beggars Banquet by The Rolling Stones
Cover: Beggars Banquet

Song · The Rolling Stones

“Sympathy For The Devil” by The Rolling Stones

From the album Beggars Banquet (1968)

“Sympathy For The Devil” by The Rolling Stones appears on 156 radio countdowns from 40 stations between 1982 and 2026. It was first released in 1968 on the album Beggars Banquet. Its best result is #1 on the WMGK Philly 500 (2024). In the combined RockLists rankings it is #352 alternative song of all time.

156countdowns
40stations
#1best position
1#1 finishes
20top 10 finishes
1982–2026years charted

Watch

The Rolling Stones - Sympathy For The Devil (Official Video) [4K]

Video from YouTube (ABKCOVEVO). Pressing play loads YouTube's player. Watch on YouTube

"Sympathy for the Devil" throws open Beggars Banquet, the Rolling Stones' 1968 album. Mick Jagger wrote it, though it carries the usual Jagger/Richards credit, and Jimmy Miller produced it with Glyn Johns recording.

What grabs you first is the rhythm. Rocki Dzidzornu lays down a rolling bed of congas and cowbell, Charlie Watts plays along with a loose, sinuous groove, Bill Wyman rattles a shekere and Jagger shakes the maracas, so the whole thing moves like a slow, hypnotic procession. Nicky Hopkins pounds the piano, Brian Jones strums acoustic guitar, and Keith Richards handles the bass as well as the electric guitar, which stings like a live wire whenever it cuts through. Behind it all, Jones, Richards, Watts and Wyman chant the backing vocals, with Hopkins, Marianne Faithfull and Anita Pallenberg joining in. Jagger rides on top, sly and theatrical, all showman's grin and leer.

It is a heady, menacing, darkly funny record, and it hasn't lost its power to unsettle. Rolling Stone still had it at No. 106 on its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2021.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.

RockLists rankings

Alternative & Modern Rock

Indie & Adult Alternative

Classic Rock

Hard Rock & Metal

All Rock Formats

All-time and decade countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
1982 28 95.5 KLOS KLOS Memorial Day 500 (1982) 499
1987 56 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1987) 100
1988 61 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1988) 100
1989 63 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1989) 100
1990 20 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1990) 100
1990 77 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1990) 100
1991 26 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1991) 100
1991 87 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1991) 100
1991 45 WNEW-FM WNEW Firecracker 500 (1991) 500
1992 22 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1992) 100
1993 29 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1993) 100
1994 33 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1994) 100
1994 32 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1994) 1000
1995 26 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1995) 100
1995 33 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1995) 1000
1996 25 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1996) 100
1996 11 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1996) 1000
1996 12 WNEW-FM WNEW Firecracker 500 (1996) 500
1997 12 102.3 WBAB WBAB Top 1,023 Rock and Roll Songs of All Time (1997) 1023
1997 67 100.7 WZLX WZLX Memorial 500 (1997) 499
1997 28 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1997) 100
1997 93 104.5 KZEP KZEP Memorial Weekend Top 500 (1997) 500
1998 19 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1998) 1000
1998 35 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1998) 100
1999 657 CD101 CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 2000
1999 13 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1999) 998
1999 36 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1999) 150
2000 657 CD101 CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000) 2001
2000 62 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2000) 100
2001 663 CD101 CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 2002
2001 98 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 500
2001 71 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2001) 100
2001 48 WFPK WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time 2000
2002 663 CD101 CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002) 2003
2002 64 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2002) 100
2002 78 92.3 KGON KGON Top 923 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2002) 923
2002 336 100.7 WZLX WZLX Memorial 500 (2002) 500
2003 663 CD101 CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) 2004
2003 52 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2003) 100
2004 663 CD101 CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 2005
2004 93 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 500
2004 58 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2004) 100
2004 77 92.3 KGON KGON Top 923 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2004) 923
2004 5 WXPN WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2004) 885
2005 102 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 500
2005 37 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 100 Brit Songs of All-Time (May 2005) 100
2005 62 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2005) 100
2006 104 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2006) 500
2006 65 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2006) 100
2007 11 WTMD WTMD Top 897 Songs of All Time 897
2007 58 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2007) 100
2008 87 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2008) 100
2009 85 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2009) 100
2009 138 WYEP WYEP 913 Essential Songs 913
2009 33 WXPN WXPN 885 Desert Island Songs (2009) 885
2010 80 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2010) 100
2010 34 97.9 The Loop The Loop USO Rock 'N' Roll 500 (2010) 500
2010 77 WXPN WXPN 885 Ultimate Road Trip Songs (2010) 885
2011 34 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1100 Countdown (2011) 1100
2011 79 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2011) 100
2011 28 97.9 The Loop The Loop Rock N Roll 500 (2011) 500
2012 35 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1200 Countdown (2012) 1200
2012 83 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2012) 100
2012 123 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2012) 500
2012 36 WYEP WYEP Top 500 Songs Countdown 500
2012 5 WXPN WXPN 885 Greatest Rock Songs (2012) 885
2013 3 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Firecracker 500 (2013) 500
2013 440 Big 100 BIG 500 Labor Day Countdown (2013) 500
2013 218 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR CT 500 (2013) 500
2013 26 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Grand Jam 1000 (2013) 1000
2013 89 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2013) 100
2013 15 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2013) 500
2014 21 Big 100 BIG 1000 New Year's Countdown (2014) 1000
2014 97 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX 1K Countdown (2014) 1000
2014 93 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2014) 100
2014 9 WXPN WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2014) 885
2014 9 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Firecracker 400 (2014) 400
2015 5 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Firecracker 500 (2015) 499
2015 224 102.9 The Whale 102.9 The Whale Hartford 500 (2015) 500
2015 11 I-95 I-95 Memorial Day Weekend Top 500 (2015) 500
2015 27 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1007 Classic Rock Countdown (2015) 1007
2015 99 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2015) 100
2016 9 103.5 The Fox The Fox Memorial Day 500 (2016) 299
2016 99 102.9 The Whale 102.9 The Whale Hartford 500 (2016) 500
2016 95 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2016) 500
2016 13 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2016) 500
2016 11 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1007 Countdown for 2016 1007
2016 90 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2016) 100
2017 101 97.9 The Loop 97.9 The Loop Top 540 Countdown (2017) 540
2017 29 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2017) 500
2017 51 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2017) 500
2018 28 The Current The Current's 893 Essential Songs 892
2018 30 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2018) 500
2018 46 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2018) 500
2019 139 WYEP WYEP Big Spring Countdown 2019 1017
2019 97 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2019) 500
2019 58 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2019) 500
2019 25 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2019) 500
2019 72 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2019) 499
2019 139 WYEP WYEP Labor Day Weekend Countdown 2019 1099
2019 11 102.5 KZOK KZOK Top 1025 of 2019 1025
2019 7 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2019) 500
2020 75 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2020) 500
2020 105 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2020) 500
2020 20 WXPN WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time 2020
2020 107 Q105.7 Q105.7 Memorial Day 500 (2020) 499
2020 13 102.5 KZOK KZOK Classic Rock Top 1025 (2020) 1025
2020 6 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2020) 500
2021 29 100.7 KSLX KSLX Arizona 500 (2021) 499
2021 234 WCSX WCSX Rock & Roll 500 (2021) 499
2021 105 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2021) 500
2021 94 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2021) 500
2021 17 WYEP WYEP 2021 Labor Day Countdown 168
2021 13 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2021) 1043
2021 5 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2021) 500
2022 7 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2022) 500
2022 128 100.7 KSLX KSLX Arizona 500 (2022) 500
2022 3 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2022) 500
2022 395 KEXP KEXP Top Songs of the Last 50 Years (1972-2022) 491
2022 212 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2022) 500
2022 236 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2022) 500
2022 15 97.1 The River River 500 (2022) 500
2022 168 94.1 KRNA KRNA Memorial Day 500 (2022) 500
2022 15 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2022) 1043
2022 114 102.5 KZOK KZOK Classic Rock Top 1025 (2022) 1025
2023 168 101.5 WPDH WPDH Top 1015 (2023) 1015
2023 20 WYEP WYEP Countdown to Fall 2023 1229
2023 6 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2023) 500
2023 8 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2023) 500
2023 65 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of All Time 909
2023 67 97.1 The Drive 97.1 The Drive Memorial Day Weekend Rock N Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 183 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 230 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 64 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2023) 500
2023 346 KSHE 95 KSHE 95 Rock N' Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 15 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2023) 1043
2024 12 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2024) 1043
2024 11 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2024) 500
2024 8 KQRS KQRS KQ 500 (2024) 499
2024 1 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2024) 500
2024 49 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2024) 499
2024 220 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2024) 500
2024 68 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2024) 498
2024 469 KSHE 95 KSHE 95 Rock N' Roll 500 (2024) 500
2025 16 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2025) 1043
2025 8 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2025) 500
2025 2 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2025) 500
2025 80 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2025) 500
2025 69 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2025) 498
2025 203 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2025) 500
2026 267 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2026) 500
2026 22 WYEP WYEP Greatest Songs of All Time 1180
2026 194 100.7 KSLX KSLX Arizona 500 (2026) 500
2026 3 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2026) 500
2026 10 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2026) 500
2026 156 KSHE 95 KSHE 95 U-Man 500 (2026) 499

Also listed as: Sympathy for the Devil; Sympathy For the Devil.

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