Blue & Lonesome is a covers album by the Rolling Stones--their 23rd British and 25th American studio album--released on 2 December 2016. It is the band's first album to feature only cover songs, and their first studio release since 2005's A Bigger Bang. Despite the short time length of just around 43 minutes, the album was released as a double LP. "Just Your Fool", a Buddy Johnson cover (though the Rolling Stones version is based on Little Walter's arrangement) was released as the first single from the album on 6 October. Eric Clapton contributed guitar on two tracks.
Video Blue & Lonesome (The Rolling Stones album)
Background
Blue & Lonesome 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". Richards said the album would feature "a lot of Chicago blues". Eric Clapton plays guitar on two tracks; he was recording his own album 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.
This is the first album since Dirty Work (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 (1974) 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 "Just Your Fool".
Maps Blue & Lonesome (The Rolling Stones album)
Promotion
On 6 October 2016, the Rolling Stones changed their "tongue and lips" logo, which first appeared on their Sticky Fingers album, from red to blue.
On 8 November 2016, the Rolling Stones released a video for "Hate to See You Go".
On 25 November 2016, the Stones released a one-track limited edition electric blue 10" vinyl record of "Ride 'Em on Down" (on the UMC label) on the occasion of the Record Store Day Black Friday 2016. The track is a cover of Eddie Taylor's "Ride 'Em on Down" originally recorded by Taylor in Chicago on 5 December 1955 for the Vee-Jay Label (and released as VJ 185).
On 1 December 2016, they released a video for "Ride 'Em on Down". The video features actress Kristen Stewart driving through Los Angeles in a blue 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback.
Release and reception
The album received very positive reviews. During its first week the album moved 106,000 sales to debut at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, the second-highest opening sales week for an album in the UK in 2016. On 3 February 2017 it was certified Platinum there, for sales over 300,000 copies. It also debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 with 123,000 album-equivalent units, of which 120,000 were pure album sales. It was also the No. 2 best selling album of the week in the US. By 17 February 2017 the album had reached global sales of 2,000,000.
Accolades
The album won Album of the Year at the 2017 Jazz FM Awards. The Rolling Stones also won the Blues Artist of the Year Award at the event, held in April 2017.
On January 28, 2018, Blue & Lonesome received a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album of the Year at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. The award was the Stones' third Grammy of their career and their first win since the 1995 show.
Track listing
Personnel
Adapted from AllMusic.
The Rolling Stones
- Mick Jagger - vocals, harmonica
- Keith Richards - electric guitar
- Ronnie Wood - electric guitar
- Charlie Watts - drums
Additional musicians
- Eric Clapton - slide guitar (on "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing"); lead electric guitar (on "I Can't Quit You Baby")
- Darryl Jones - bass
- Matt Clifford - keyboards
- Chuck Leavell - keyboards
- Jim Keltner - percussion (on "Hoo Doo Blues")
Production and design
- Andy Cook - assistant engineer
- Jason Elliott - assistant engineer
- The Glimmer Twins - producer
- Richard Havers - liner notes
- Stephen Marcussen - mastering
- Ron McMaster - mastering
- Krish Sharma - engineer, mixer
- Pierre de Beauport - Crew Chief
- Don McAulay - drum technician
- Derrick Stockwell - assistant engineer
- Don Was - producer
Charts
Certifications
References
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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