Get back to the basics...that's basically what the legendary Rolling Stones decided to do when talk came up of them recording their first studio album in over a decade, returning to their blues/R&B roots of the early/mid '60s heard on their original releases. Pretty much recorded live in the studio, Blue & Lonesome features a dozen blues classics, all remade by the Stones for todays audiences, and it's a gritty, sweaty, thrilling good listen. Mick Jagger sings like a man half his age, the twin guitar attack of Keith Richards & Ronnie Wood spitting out ragged, jagged blues licks, and the rhythm team of drummer Charlie Watts, bassist Darryl Jones, as well as keyboard players Chuck Leavell & Matt Clifford, provide top notch support. "Commit a Crime" grinds and tears, "All of Your Love" sees Jagger's tortured vocal sizzling over sultry piano and whiskey soaked guitar riffs, and the scorching title cut contains some of the albums best guitar solos from the duo. The harmonica driven rave up "I Gotta Go" shuffles and grooves as if it was 1964 all over again, and even old Slowhand, Eric Clapton, joins in on the fun for both "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing" and "I Can't Quit You Baby", Watts digging in deep while guitars sizzle and Jagger struts his stuff in fine fashion. For "Hoo Doo Blues" the band seem to crawl out of the swamps of Louisianna, while "Hate to See You Go" is sure to get you toe tappin' and gettin' your groove on with its shuffling rhythms and playful Jagger vocal.
Though they originally were going to write & record an album of all new original songs, this little detour into vintage Chicago blues actually worked out quite well and makes for a truly engaging and fun album from the worlds longest running rock and roll institution.
Track Listing
1
Just Your Fool
2:16
2
Commit A Crime
3:38
3
Blue And Lonesome
3:07
4
All Of Your Love
4:46
5
I Gotta Go
3:26
6
Everybody Knows About My Good Thing
4:30
7
Ride 'Em On Down
2:49
8
Hate To See You Go
3:20
9
Hoo Doo Blues
2:36
10
Little Rain
3:32
11
Just Like I Treat You
3:24
12
I Can't Quit You Baby