--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Back when I was working with the Stones…" description: "\"Back when I was working with the Stones and with Joe Cocker and Neil Young and Neil Diamond and all of those - 'the boys,' I call them - it was fun.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/merry-clayton-27309_back_back-when-i-was-working-with-the-stones_2297186.jpg" --- # Back when I was working with the Stones and with Joe… ![“Back when I was working with the Stones and with Joe Cocker and Neil Young and Neil Diamond and all of those - 'the boys,' I call them - it was fun.” quote by Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/merry-clayton-27309_back_back-when-i-was-working-with-the-stones_2297186.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/merry-clayton-27309_back_back-when-i-was-working-with-the-stones_2297186.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/merry-clayton-27309_back_back-when-i-was-working-with-the-stones_2297186.jpg) > “Back when I was working with the Stones and with Joe Cocker and Neil Young and Neil Diamond and all of those - 'the boys,' I call them - it was fun.” [Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The musician reminisces about a vibrant era working with famous rock artists, highlighting the joy and camaraderie of that time. **In simple terms:** Remembering fun collaborations with rock legends. Key Takeaway Cherish creative collaborations. Themes music nostalgia collaboration rock era joy Mood reflective joyful Type historical personal When to use this quote - music festivals - recording sessions - band reunions - documentary projects Key Concepts cultural history artist networks creative synergy Questions to Reflect On - What made those collaborations meaningful? - How can that spirit be revived today? A Different Perspective Nostalgia may idealize past, ignoring challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boy/) [Boys Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys-fun-500035/) [Call](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/call/) [Cocker Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cocker-neil-5419140/) [Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diamond/) [Diamond Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diamond-boys-5419138/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joe/) [Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neil/) [Neil Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neil-diamond/) [Neil young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neil-young/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stones/) [Stones Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stones-joe-5419139/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Those](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those/) [Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [That's right. I'm not about to let you boys have all the fun. -John Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pocahontas/that-s-right-i-m-not-about-to-let-you-boys-have-all-the-fun-john-smith/) [Pocahontas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pocahontas/) > [I love bad boys. They're the most fun to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-meraz/i-love-bad-boys-they-re-the-most-fun-to-play/) [Alex Meraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-meraz/) > [It's fun being one of the boys. It's fun to have a character that's rough and gets down and dirty and not to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-kruger/it-s-fun-being-one-of-the-boys-it-s-fun-to-have-a-character-that-s/) [Diane Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-kruger/) > [Mozart and Neil Diamond may have begun with the same idea, but that a work of art is more than an idea is confirmed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/mozart-and-neil-diamond-may-have-begun-with-the-same-idea-but-that-a/) [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) > [At 10, I heard Neil Diamond's 'Solitary Man' and it moved me so deeply I stood, frozen in place during school recess, feeling such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hill/at-10-i-heard-neil-diamond-s-solitary-man-and-it-moved-me-so-deeply-i/) [Dan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hill/) > [“One year later, I got beat up at a Neil Diamond concert by a guy named Scrunchie!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/one-year-later-i-got-beat-up-at-a-neil-diamond-concert-by-a-guy-named/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [I'm not a professional entertainer. I'm not Neil Diamond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/i-m-not-a-professional-entertainer-i-m-not-neil-diamond/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) > [There was always music in my house when I was a kid. On Saturday mornings, my mother would clean house to 45s blaring out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kazee/there-was-always-music-in-my-house-when-i-was-a-kid-on-saturday/) [Steve Kazee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kazee/) > [I'm not full of malice, but I do dislike Neil Diamond a lot, and I'm sorry that I've done a Neil Diamond song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/i-m-not-full-of-malice-but-i-do-dislike-neil-diamond-a-lot-and-i-m/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [“Performing is the easiest part of what I do, and songwriting is the hardest.” —Neil Diamond”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-oliver/performing-is-the-easiest-part-of-what-i-do-and-songwriting-is-the-2/) [Brian Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-oliver/) > [Maybe people would be surprised to know that I listen to old Neil Diamond albums from time to time. The man rocks. I defy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/maybe-people-would-be-surprised-to-know-that-i-listen-to-old-neil/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [While the House of Blues slogan has been 'In blues we trust,' its stages are usually filled with more reliable moneymakers - Neil Diamond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/while-the-house-of-blues-slogan-has-been-in-blues-we-trust-its-stages/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [If I had a ringtone, it would probably be Neil Diamond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-spiegel/if-i-had-a-ringtone-it-would-probably-be-neil-diamond/) [Evan Spiegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-spiegel/) > [Growing up, I didn't come from a musical family. Neither of my parents played an instrument, sang out loud, or listened to the radio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/growing-up-i-didn-t-come-from-a-musical-family-neither-of-my-parents/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [Now one thing I think is really lame, is if you're an artist and you go to a karaoke bar and sing your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-aldean/now-one-thing-i-think-is-really-lame-is-if-you-re-an-artist-and-you/) [Jason Aldean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-aldean/) ## More by Merry Clayton > [My dad sung and played piano. But he was also a man of God. He was a minister. So when Sam Cooke would come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/my-dad-sung-and-played-piano-but-he-was-also-a-man-of-god-he-was-a/) [Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) > [I was very proud to be Mrs. Curtis Amy. My thing in life when I married Curtis Amy was being Mrs. Curtis Amy. Career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/i-was-very-proud-to-be-mrs-curtis-amy-my-thing-in-life-when-i-married/) [Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) > [I was signed to A&M, I was signed to Lou Adler, who had a company within a company, which was A&M Records, and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/i-was-signed-to-a-m-i-was-signed-to-lou-adler-who-had-a-company/) [Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) > [My family is part Creole, and were Indian, and were also very, very black. My father was so black, he was blue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/my-family-is-part-creole-and-were-indian-and-were-also-very-very/) [Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) > [Carole King is one of my dearest friends. Were like family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/carole-king-is-one-of-my-dearest-friends-were-like-family/) [Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) > [I started with Bobby Darin. He signed me to Capitol when I was 15. I was 14, getting ready to be 15. Then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/i-started-with-bobby-darin-he-signed-me-to-capitol-when-i-was-15-i/) [Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) > [I remember working with Ray Charles when I was quite young, and I would wonder, 'Why would he sing 'Georgia On My Mind' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/i-remember-working-with-ray-charles-when-i-was-quite-young-and-i/) [Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) > [Oh boy, I grew up hearing Sam Cooke, The Soul Stirrers, Mahalia Jackson, sitting on Mahalia Jackson's lap in my dad's church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/oh-boy-i-grew-up-hearing-sam-cooke-the-soul-stirrers-mahalia-jackson/) [Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) > [I have always said every good thing is divinely sent from heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/i-have-always-said-every-good-thing-is-divinely-sent-from-heaven/) [Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) > [Carole King is one of my dearest friends. We're like family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/carole-king-is-one-of-my-dearest-friends-we-re-like-family/) [Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) > [My mother was a lupus patient. I was a child with the lupus gene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/my-mother-was-a-lupus-patient-i-was-a-child-with-the-lupus-gene/) [Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) > [I was able to endure and play a special part in music history. And I always managed to keep working, even if I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/i-was-able-to-endure-and-play-a-special-part-in-music-history-and-i/) [Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) > [Stay cool, stay humble, stay beautiful, and just do the work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/stay-cool-stay-humble-stay-beautiful-and-just-do-the-work/) [Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) > [I felt like if I just gave my heart to what I was doing, I would automatically be a star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/i-felt-like-if-i-just-gave-my-heart-to-what-i-was-doing-i-would/) [Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) > [I always say that I went to the College of Blossoms and the University of Ray Charles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/i-always-say-that-i-went-to-the-college-of-blossoms-and-the/) [Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) [Explore all 20 Merry Clayton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) ## More Back quotes > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [Drumming's pretty physical. We sit at the back of the stage getting beat up like a workhorse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/drumming-s-pretty-physical-we-sit-at-the-back-of-the-stage-getting/) [Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/) > [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/) [George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/) > [I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/i-ve-always-stuck-my-arms-behind-my-back-anyway-when-trying-to-block/) [Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/) > [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/) [Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/) > [Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/any-time-someone-achieves-success-before-they-ve-earned-it-it-always/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/) [Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/) > [Ronaldo is just an athlete. He works so hard and back to back; he is always there. But if you work hard, can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/ronaldo-is-just-an-athlete-he-works-so-hard-and-back-to-back-he-is/) [Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) [Browse all 9,709 Back quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Back when I was working with the Stones and with Joe Cocker and Neil Young and Neil Diamond and all of those - 'the boys,' I call them - it was fun.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Merry Clayton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/back-when-i-was-working-with-the-stones-and-with-joe-cocker-and-neil/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Back" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/back-when-i-was-working-with-the-stones-and-with-joe-cocker-and-neil/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/merry-clayton-27309_back_back-when-i-was-working-with-the-stones_2297186.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/merry-clayton-27309_back_back-when-i-was-working-with-the-stones_2297186.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/merry-clayton-27309_back_back-when-i-was-working-with-the-stones_2297186.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Back when I was working with the Stones and with Joe Cocker and Neil Young and Neil Diamond and all of those…” — Merry Clayton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Merry Clayton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Back when I was working with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/back-when-i-was-working-with-the-stones-and-with-joe-cocker-and-neil/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/back-when-i-was-working-with-the-stones-and-with-joe-cocker-and-neil/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```