Although the Rolling Stones, in their early years at any rate, were thought of as something of a band for the proletariat, they really didn't put much concrete advocacy for the common man in their songs. The most notable instance of a nod in that direction was "Salt of the Earth," one of the better tracks on Beggars Banquet. Like most of that album, "Salt of the Earth" drew from acoustic country blues for its musical bed, adding a good amount of gospel, particularly in the backing vocals by the Watts Street Gospel Choir. Its tender, contemplative mood was apt for the lyrics, which quite directly champion and drink a toast to the working class. While it's movingly and convincingly sung, it goes into more abstract and uncertain territory on the bridge, when Mick Jagger sings of looking into a faceless crowd -- the Stones' audience, perhaps? -- and doesn't make it clear whether the people there seem real to him or not. Musically, "Salt of the Earth" benefits enormously from electric slide guitar by Keith Richards, who also sings the first verse -- the first instance of a Richards lead vocal on a Rolling Stones record, and one that works precisely because his singing actually does seem like that of a common nonprofessional man suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Also worthy of note is Nicky Hopkins' gently loping piano, some of the finest session work he gave the Stones, and the rousing finale, where the tempo of the ballad doubles and the gospel choir goes to the forefront. A weary Rolling Stones can be seen singing the song as the closing number to their late-'60s television special Rock and Roll Circus, though that film and its soundtrack weren't released until a few decades later. A much gentler song than the Rolling Stones were usually known for, "Salt of the Earth" was covered by two folk-based stars whom few people would associate with Rolling Stones material, Joan Baez and Judy Collins. Another version of note was the grandiose orchestrated one in the late '60s by the Rotary Connection, the soul-psychedelic group that included Minnie Riperton as a vocalist.