28010 Boulder Bridge Drive, Excelsior
Listing courtesy of Coldwell Banker Realty.
(952) 473-1000
Real Estate Company
The Rolling Stones’ 1969 anthem “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” is a song that resonates across generations. Featured on the iconic album Let It Bleed, it has long stood as a cultural touchstone for themes of desire, disappointment, and acceptance. But beyond its sweeping choral arrangement and poetic lyrics lies a lesser-known origin story that may trace back to a small lakeside town in Minnesota—and a man known simply as “Mr. Jimmy.”
In June 1964, The Rolling Stones were not yet celebrities in the United States and remained largely unknown to American audiences. They booked a stop at Big Reggie’s Danceland, a wooden dance hall at Excelsior Amusement Park, just off the shore of Lake Minnetonka. Despite their now-legendary status, only 283 people attended that night. But what happened the following morning would become the stuff of local legend—and perhaps music history.
According to multiple accounts, Mick Jagger visited Bacon Drug Store on Water Street the morning after the show. There he met James Hutmaker, a well-known, excitable town figure affectionately called “Mr. Jimmy.” Hutmaker, known for his quirky charm and daily strolls around town, allegedly ordered a Cherry Coke, but was served a regular Coke instead. Turning to Jagger, he said, “You can’t always get what you want.”
The story goes that Jagger, struck by the line—and perhaps by Mr. Jimmy himself—never forgot the encounter. Years later, the phrase would resurface as the now-famous lyric that opens and defines the song. “But if you try sometimes,” Hutmaker is also rumored to have added, “you just might find you get what you need.”
While there’s no official record from the band confirming the tale, Jagger did mention “Mr. Jimmy” by name in the song’s first verse. Whether coincidence or homage, locals have long claimed it as a nod to the eccentric character from Excelsior. The connection is further strengthened by the song’s tone—a blend of melancholy and optimism—that mirrors Hutmaker’s cheerful resilience and offbeat wisdom.
The Danceland venue where the Stones performed would close just a few years later, and the building was destroyed by fire in 1973. But the memory of that night—and the chance drug store encounter the next morning—have become a meaningful part of Excelsior’s identity. Nestled along Lake Minnetonka’s southern shore, this small town may have quietly shaped one of the greatest rock songs of all time.
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” remains a timeless reflection of the human experience. Its slow build, gospel choir, and poignant message continue to inspire. While the Mr. Jimmy story may live somewhere between folklore and fact, its staying power shows how a moment in a Midwestern drug store could echo through music history.
From a wooden dance hall on Lake Minnetonka to a line immortalized in song, the connection between The Rolling Stones and Excelsior is more than myth—it’s a reminder that inspiration often comes from the most unexpected places.
Whether you're looking to buy into the rich legacy of Lake Minnetonka or sell a home with a story to tell, let’s connect. Just like that day in Excelsior when music history quietly unfolded, the right moment—and the right buyer—can come when you least expect it.
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