Just Another Night

The Zoo Crew is spinning Just Another Night by Mick Jagger, a track from his 1985 solo debut album She’s the Boss, and the Zoo Freaks are loving it. This song, a high-energy rock-dance hybrid, hit number one on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart and reached number 12 on the Hot 100. Its music video, directed by Julien Temple, stars actress Rae Dawn Chong as Jagger’s love interest, weaving a narrative of a washed-up rock star rediscovering his passion for music. The video’s long-form version, part of a larger project for the album, included a controversial 90-minute cut with graphic scenes that Chong later called “icky” and “not tasteful,” though she clarified she and Jagger were never romantically involved during filming, despite earlier personal encounters in 1977 when she was 15 and he was 33.

A notable controversy surrounding Just Another Night involved a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Jamaican reggae singer Patrick Alley, who claimed Jagger’s song ripped off his 1979 track of the same name. Interestingly, drummer Sly Dunbar, of the reggae duo Sly and Robbie, played on both versions and alerted Alley to the similarities. Alley was shocked to find no credit on Jagger’s record, saying, “I looked at the record for some credit of my name, and I didn’t see it.” Jagger defended himself in a 1988 trial, presenting homemade and studio tapes to show the song’s development and stating he didn’t particularly like Alley’s track, calling it “sentimental.” A six-member jury ruled in Jagger’s favor, with Jagger remarking, “My reputation is really cleared. If you’re well-known, people stand up and take shots at you.” Despite an appeal by Alley, the verdict held, as the jury believed Jagger couldn’t have heard Alley’s song.

Mick Jagger, born Michael Philip Jagger on July 26, 1943, in Dartford, Kent, began his musical journey in the early 1960s. Growing up, he met Keith Richards at age four, but they lost touch until a chance meeting in 1960 on a Dartford train line, where they bonded over a shared love for rock ‘n’ roll and blues. This sparked the formation of The Rolling Stones between 1960 and 1962, with Jagger as the lead singer. Initially playing covers of American rhythm and blues artists like Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley, the band, encouraged by manager Andrew Loog Oldham, began writing original songs. Jagger and Richards’ songwriting partnership became one of rock’s most successful, leading to early UK number-one hits like It’s All Over Now and Little Red Rooster. Jagger’s distinctive voice and energetic performances cemented his status as a rock icon, though his early career also drew attention for his countercultural lifestyle, including romantic entanglements and drug use.

While Jagger’s primary fame comes from The Rolling Stones, his solo career, starting with She’s the Boss, allowed him to explore diverse musical styles. Recorded at Compass Point Studios in Nassau and co-produced by Nile Rodgers and Bill Laswell, the album featured talents like Jeff Beck and Herbie Hancock. Jagger’s solo work continued with albums like Primitive Cool and Wandering Spirit, though none matched the commercial success of his Stones output. His 1985 Live Aid performance, including Just Another Night, reached an estimated 1.9 billion viewers, showcasing his global appeal. Beyond music, Jagger has acted in films like Performance and The Burnt Orange Heresy and supports music education through the Mick Jagger Centre in Dartford.

Zoo Freaks can connect with Mick Jagger online via his Facebook, where he has over 3.6 million followers, his Instagram, with around 2.5 million followers, and his X account. Fans share their love for Jagger and The Rolling Stones on platforms like the r/rollingstones Reddit community, with 35,000 subscribers, and It’s Only Rock’n Roll (IORR), a fan-run site offering news, tour updates, and forums. The Rolling Stones Fan Group on Facebook also provides a space for fans to discuss Jagger’s music and legacy, keeping the spirit of the Zoo Freaks alive.