"We're gonna feature a lot of Chicago Blues" - Keith Richards
This was recorded in just three days in December 2015. In April 2016, at the launch of the Rolling Stones career retrospective Exhibitionism, the band confirmed that their new album was due to be released "some time in the autumn". Apparently recorded very quickly, in an "almost live" studio setting, in order to give the album a raw feel, this was the long-waited Rolling Stones album of Chicago blues covers.
Keith Richards said the album would feature "a lot of Chicago blues". Eric Clapton plays guitar on two tracks; he was recording his own album I Still Do in the same studio as the Stones were and was asked to play on a few tracks. The album is entirely blues-based, consisting of covers of artists such as Howlin' Wolf and Little Walter. It is the first album since Dirty Work, in 1986, to not feature any guitar playing from Jagger (who instead concentrates completely on vocals and harmonica), although he is pictured in the album's booklet playing guitar during the album's sessions. It is also the first album since It's Only Rock 'n' Roll to not feature a lead vocal from Richards. Likewise, it is also the first album since Dirty Work to release a lead single that was not a Jagger/Richards composition with Little Walter's Just Your Fool.
Let's ride 'em on down....
That said track, Just Your Fool, kicks the album off in a lively fashion, full of blue riffs, blues harp, barroom piano and a general all round rollicking feel. The sound is a tiny bit dense and muffled, though, throughout the album. Maybe that was the intention, giving it that authentic blues sound, or maybe trying to replicate The Stones' sixties blues covers in its sound.
Howlin' Wolf's Commit A Crime is a big, bassy thumper of a number. It is clear that The Stones are playing here for the sheer, unfettered enjoyment of it. Mick Jagger's vocal on this one, and indeed on all of them, is excellent, sounding half his venerable age. His blues harp (harmonica) is already sounding the dominant accoutrement to the album.
Little Walter's Blue And Lonesome is solidly powerful, again the sound is a little indistinct, but I am sure by now it is deliberate. All the tracks are relatively short. This is not an album for drawn out Midnight Rambler-style soloing, it would seem. Magic Sam's All Of Your Love has a copper-bottomed blues riff, killer piano and another peerless vocal. If I didn't know better I would swear they put a hissy background on this track to make it sound more genuine. Actually, I'm sure they did. It's 2016, no need for any hiss.
I Gotta Go starts with some wonderful harp from Jagger. The sound, again, is almost mono, but a dull mono at that. In fact some of their original sixties mono blues covers actually sound much better. It is not a huge criticism, however, this material is still smokin' hot.
Everybody Knows About My Good Thing has a superb riff played by Eric Clapton. It is so good to hear these two giants of sixties UK blues playing together so well, all these years later. It contains a great line too in "call the plumber darling, there must be a leak in my drain...". Jagger's voice is superb here as well, he has always been one of the best white blues singers around.
Eddie Taylor's Ride 'Em On Down is an upbeat rocking blues, one of the liveliest on the album so far. It would have made a fine single, not that singles mattered anymore in 2016, did they? Little Walter's Hate To See You Go has that riff that seems to have appeared in a thousand blues songs. Play it - you'll know the one I mean. "Da-da-da-daah....". You can hear that riff over and over, but it always sounds good, doesn't it? Harmonica, guitar, drums and vocals in perfect bluesy harmony. If you like blues rock, it doesn't get much better.
Lightnin' Slim's Hoo Doo Blues is a menacing, down 'n' dirty grinder of a number. It is maybe the most authentic-sounding of all of them. The Stones were made to cut tracks like this. Originally by Jimmy Reid, Little Rain is a slow, powerful but mournful blues. You've got the sonic picture by now, I'm sure, either rockin' blues or sombre blues. Listen to that deep blues thump on this one, and the killer harmonica too.
Two Willie Dixon songs now. Firstly, Just Like I Treat You is a frantic blues rocker and Jagger once more sounds totally great on this one. Secondly, that old blueser Eric Clapton joins the boys again for a searing solo on I Can't Quit You Baby which has a great "live" feel to it. Indeed, the whole album has that ad hoc vibe. It is its great strength.
In conclusion, you would have thought this album has Keith Richards' stamp all over it. Funnily enough, it is Jagger who dominates the whole thing. He seems to be revelling in it. Despite the admittedly less than perfect sound (to my taste) this is still a highly enjoyable, pure album from a band who burst on to the scene, and into our lives, playing the blues. If this is to be their last studio album, then they went out playing the blues. As it should be.
But they didn't go out, though, did they?
