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  | ROLLING STONES ~ BLUE & LONESOME (DELUXE EDITION)
POLYDOR 602557149463 (Barcode: 602557149463) ~ UK ~ Blues
Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016
This is the twenty-third British studio album (and twenty-fifth American studio album) by The Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist, separated by eleven years from their last studio effort "A Bigger BangFind albums with this title" form 2005. It features twelve covers of Blues standards, which makes it the first Stones album to comprise entirely of covers. In addition to the quartet Stones lineup: vocalist and harp player Mick JaggerFind albums by this artist, guitarists Keith RichardsFind albums by this artist and Ronnie WoodFind albums by this artist and drummer Charlie WattsFind albums by this artist, several other musicians participated in the recording sessions, which took place in London during just three days in December of 2015: bassist Darryl JonesFind albums by this artist and keyboardists Chuck LeavellFind albums by this artist and Matt CliffordFind albums by this artist. Eric ClaptonFind albums by this artist plays guitar on two tracks and Jim KeltnerFind albums by this artist plays percussion on one track. The Deluxe Edition contains no additional music in comparison to the standard edition, but is beautifully packaged and includes a hardcover book about the sessions and the origin of the songs and glossy photographs of the band.
For The Stones this album is a symbolic closing of a circle. They always were and never stopped to be a Blues band, even when they ventured into other territories, some closer to the Blues like Rhythm And Blues and Rock And Roll and others more remote, like Psychedelic Rock and Pop. But overall, they always had the Blues deep inside their musical guts, which probably is the main reason why they managed to survive and carry on for all these years, now in the sixth decade of their odyssey.
The album presents all the "usual" qualities every Stones´ album is blessed with: honesty, directness and no bullshit attitude, which made them always different from most other superstar groups, who came and went away over the years. As Jagger says in the album´s book, The Stones could have recorded this album in 1963 or 1964, and I wish they would have done so, as we would now have that recording to compare with the one made over fifty years later. But listening to the early Stones albums today is good enough to reach the conclusion that five decades made them better in many ways, but more importantly did not blemish any of their basic qualities, which make them what they are.
Although "white men can´t jump" might apply to some areas of life, but The Stones phenomenon is a living proof that white musicians can play the Blues with the same emotional and spiritual depth as the forefathers of the idiom. After all it´s not about the color of your skin, but about the color of your soul!
And the rest is history…
| | Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 10/03/2017 | CD 1 Digibook Box Set Recommend To A Friend |
  | ROLLING STONES ~ HACKNEY DIAMONDS
GEFFEN 602458122565 (Barcode: 602458122565) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 2019 - 2023 Released: 2023
This is the 24th studio album by the iconic British Rock group The Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist. Reduced to a trio following the death of their drummer Charlie WattsFind albums by this artist, this is the first album of original material since the 2005 album “A Bigger BangFind albums with this title”. Vocalist Mick JaggerFind albums by this artist and guitarists Keith RichardsFind albums by this artist and Ronnie WoodFind albums by this artist carry on the torch, supported by Rock stars like Elton JohnFind albums by this artist, Lady GagaFind albums by this artist, Paul McCartneyFind albums by this artist, ex-Stones bassist Bill WymanFind albums by this artist and numerous others. The album presents twelve songs, eight of which were written by the Jagger-Richards team, three were co-composed with the album’s producer Andrew WattFind albums by this artist and one is a Blues standard by Muddy WatersFind albums by this artist.
The music is exactly what one might expect from a classic Rolling Stones album, full of great songs and excellent instrumental performances, superb recording quality with a retro sound and a timeless atmosphere of Classic Rock, showing clearly that six decades of music making definitely did not manage to take Stones off their path. They have more stamina, talent and balls than any contemporary Rock outfit, if there are any real Rock groups out there at all these days.
The Stones really define the Classic Rock idiom better than any other musical group in history, not only because they managed to last all this years, but mostly because they managed to stay relevant all these years both a recording artists and phenomenal live performers. Their music has been an important part of the Soundtrack Of My Life for almost as long as I can remember, and never let me down since.
Overall, if you are a Stones fan, this album is a true joy from start to finish, which can be cherished minute by minute and savored repeatedly, staying on the favorites list probably forever. If you are not a fan, it’s probably too late for you to save your sanity ;)
| | Updated: 05/12/2023Posted: 05/12/2023 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
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