"Chip Away the Stone" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. Written by Richie Supa, a friend and sometime collaborator with the band, it was released in 1978 as the only single to support the band's live album '' Live! Bootleg''. It also appeared on the '' Cal Jam II'' live album, despite being the same recording from ''Live! Bootleg'' at Santa Monica.Davis, p. 328 The lyrics describe the narrator's attempt to seduce a beautiful woman who is "actin' like a prima donna ndplayin' so hard to get", and who is attracting the attention of men who compete for her attention: "while the boys all promenade." The live version that appears on ''Live! Bootleg'' was recorded in Santa Monica on April 8, 1978. The single also featured a studio version of the track, which was recorded at Long View Farm studio in Massachusetts on June 4, 1978, with the single's B-side being live versions of both "Chip Away the Stone" and " S.O.S. (Too Bad)" from their 1974 album ''

Get Your Wings ''Get Your Wings'' is the second studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released on March 1, 1974. The album was their first to be produced by Jack Douglas, who also was responsible for the band's next three albums. Three singles were rel ...

''. The front and back cover of '' Night in the Ruts'' come from a photoshoot originally intended for the cover of this single.Davis, p. 320 "Chip Away the Stone" peaked at #77 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1978, breaking the band's run of Top-40 charting singles in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

at the time. The song was also included on the albums ''

Gems Gems, or gemstones, are polished, cut stones or minerals. Gems or GEMS may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Gems'' (Aerosmith album), 1988 * ''Gems'' (Patti LaBelle album), 1994 * ''Gems'' (Michael Bolton album), 2011 * Gems TV, ...

'' in 1988 (studio version - its first appearance on an Aerosmith album), ''

Pandora's Box Pandora's box is an artifact in Greek mythology connected with the myth of Pandora in Hesiod's c. 700 B.C. poem ''Works and Days''. Hesiod reported that curiosity led her to open a container left in the care of her husband, thus releasing physi ...

'' in 1991 (alternate studio version), and '' Greatest Hits 1973–1988'' in 2004. Live video is also featured on '' Aerosmith Video Scrapbook''. The song re-charted in 1988 at #13 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, when it was included on the collection ''Gems'', 10 years after its initial release. The 1989 single contains the original studio version of "S.O.S (Too Bad)" as the B side. The song was a regular part of the setlist in Aerosmith concerts in 1978, but only occasionally played live after that year. 35 years after its release, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry performed this song with Randy Jackson and members of the house band on ''

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that first aired from May 25, 1992, to May 29, 2009. It resumed production on March 1, 2010 and ended on February 6, 2014. The fourth incarnation of the ...

'' on January 20, 2012.

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single. The video was directed by Arnold Levine.

Cover versions

Humble Pie covered the song on their 1981 album '' Go for the Throat''.

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covered the song on their 2003 album ''Switchblade Tongues, Butterknife Brains''. Vince Neil,

Blues Saraceno Blues Saraceno (born October 17, 1971) is an American rock guitarist, composer and music producer, currently residing in Los Angeles, California. He was discovered by '' Guitar for the Practicing Musician'' magazine at the age of 16, which assi ...

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Pat Torpey Patrick Allan Torpey (December 13, 1953 – February 7, 2018) was an American drummer and singer, best known as the drummer and backing vocalist for the rock band Mr. Big. As well as playing for other various singers and artists such as; John ...

and Paul Taylor covered the song for the Aerosmith tribute album ''Not the Same Old Song and Dance'' (Eagle Records, 1999). Backing vocals were by

David Glen Eisley David Glen Eisley (born September 5, 1952) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. Personal life Eisley was born in Los Angeles, California and is the son of actor Anthony Eisley and Judith Tubbs Eisley. While in high school, he pl ...

. The Hot Club of Cowtown did a tongue-in-cheek country-style version on their 2002 album ''Ghost Train''. Guns N' Roses covered part of the song during their Up Close and Personal Tour. RagDolls, an all female Aerosmith tribute band, performed the song as part of their set during their premier performance in October 2020.

References

{{authority control Aerosmith songs 1978 singles Songs written by Steven Tyler Songs written by Joe Perry (musician) Songs written by Richard Supa Columbia Records singles Song recordings produced by Jack Douglas (record producer) 1978 songs Live singles