<P> Some of the performances , as well as one of the two photography sessions for the album cover featuring Charlie Watts and a donkey , are depicted in the documentary film Gimme Shelter , and shows Jagger and Watts on a road in Birmingham , Alabama in early December 1969 posing with the donkey . The actual cover photo however was taken in early February 1970 in London , and does not originate from the 1969 session . The photo by David Bailey , featuring Watts with guitars and bass drums hanging from the neck of a donkey , was inspired by a line in Bob Dylan 's song , `` Visions of Johanna '' : `` Jewels and binoculars hang from the head of the mule '' ( though , as mentioned , the animal in the photo is a donkey , not a mule ) . The band would later say `` we originally wanted an elephant but settled for a donkey '' . Watts said that his wardrobe ( which includes a t - shirt with a picture of woman 's breasts ) was his usual stage getup along with Jagger 's striped hat . </P>
<P> Some of the performances , as well as one of the two photography sessions for the album cover featuring Charlie Watts and a donkey , are depicted in the documentary film Gimme Shelter , and shows Jagger and Watts on a road in Birmingham , Alabama in early December 1969 posing with the donkey . The actual cover photo however was taken in early February 1970 in London , and does not originate from the 1969 session . The photo by David Bailey , featuring Watts with guitars and bass drums hanging from the neck of a donkey , was inspired by a line in Bob Dylan 's song , `` Visions of Johanna '' : `` Jewels and binoculars hang from the head of the mule '' ( though , as mentioned , the animal in the photo is a donkey , not a mule ) . The band would later say `` we originally wanted an elephant but settled for a donkey '' . Watts said that his wardrobe ( which includes a t - shirt with a picture of woman 's breasts ) was his usual stage getup along with Jagger 's striped hat . </P>
who is on the cover of get yer ya ya 's out
who is on the cover of get yer ya ya 's out
Charlie Watts
Charlie Watts