The scene : a variety band, mid-'70s, France. I've just joined, so I'm rehearsing drums in the BL's headquarters with the crew. On the menu..? The Stones 'Satisfaction'. No sweat, count in, off we go. Basically just straight 'pop rock' pattern, with light crashes on the 'cos I try...(pish...)' etc. Nothing too outrageous, but 'Stop, stop, stop..!' cries the BL (but in French, naturally...). 'That's not how it goes..! Play like the disk.' Hmm... I'm a bit stumped, as I knew the song, of course, but had never listened to the drum part specifically. We went on to play other stuff for this session, and I bought the single (pre-Internet days...) and listened to it. The next rehearsal, I played what Mr Watts played for the single. S'not hard, it's 'four on the floor', 'stomp, stomp, stomp' with both feet and both hands, with no respite, from end to end. The 'chachacha' is Jagger's tambourine, and is the sole relief throughout. It sounds dreadful when played like that. 'What on Earth..?', cries the BL. 'That's what you asked for', I reply, and play him the 45. He had to agree that it was rubbish. From then on, it was my drum parts that were played, with no more quibbles.
I did transcribe stuff like 'Hotel California', or Chicago's 'If you leave me now', but the musette, basic rock, disco or 'typique' Caribbean parts I would go by feel, and the response from the room.