[4] Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "Sweet Black Angel" is one of the few outright political songs released by the Rolling Stones.
[6][7] Initial recording took place at Stargroves, Mick Jagger’s home in England during the mid 1970 Sticky Fingers sessions with overdubs and final mixing being completed later at Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles between December 1971 and March 1972.
Richard “Didymus” Washington plays marimba while producer Jimmy Miller lends support on percussion.
[7] Steve Kurutz writes in his review: Having never heard of Angela Davis, a listener could easily overlook the political lyrics and get lost in the circular acoustic plucking or the washboard rhythm that propels the song so well.
Yet, by knowing the case history one realizes how deft and clever Mick's lyrics could be, even if he hides behind his best backwoods diction and garbled annunciation [sic] obscure[s] the point.Davis is not mentioned by name in the lyrics: Well de gal in danger, de gal in chains, but she keep on pushin', would you do the same?