By TAYLOR FARNSWORTH
Staff Writer
Rolling Stones’ fans patiently awaited the release of their first studio album on Dec. 2 in over a decade, “Blue and Lonesome.” With the Stones leaving subtle clues, like putting up the tongue logo on their Facebook page in a shade of blue, fans were able to uncover the premise of the album before it was revealed.
The Stones, often referred to as “The World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band,” show their passion for American blues, specifically Chicago blues, in this 12-track album featuring renditions of blues covers from artists such as Little Walter, Eddie Taylor and Willie Dixon.
A blues album didn’t come as a surprise to most Stones fans, given the Stones’ history with blues and the foundation they built surrounding that genre in their earlier years. But the album is the Stones’ first all-blues record ever.
The album took three days to complete in December of last year at British Grove Studios in London. The Stones admitted to interviewers that they didn’t plan on recording a blues album at first; initially they were going to record original material. However, the idea to record a blues album had been thrown around multiple times over the years by Mick Jagger to Stones producer Don Was. When it did come time to record, the band said that these blues covers came naturally to them.
“Every time we rehearse we always do some blues songs, and I thought we should record them, then put out an album,” said Jagger in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.
“Blue and Lonesome” shows the growth of each member of the Stones. Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood and Jagger prove with this album that although they may be one of the best rock and roll bands of all time, they also do a great job with covering the blues.
With help from Eric Clapton on the guitar in two of the songs – “I Can’t Quit You Baby” and “Everybody Knows About My Good Thing” – the Stones showcase each of their individual talents in these Chicago blues covers. The band wanted to approach the album with as much spontaneity as possible, and by recording live in the studio without overdubs, they were able to do just that.
It’s a unique sound that shows harmony and diversity within the band, and growth within each member. The album focuses more on covering the actual song rather than elongated solos. But with Jagger’s harp playing alongside Richard’s guitar skills, it makes this album undoubtedly one of their best.
“The whole thing about this particular kind of record was trying to get as cohesive a sound on everything – where you’re not picking out any star performances, in a way,” said Jagger for the LA Times.
“Blue and Lonesome” is the band’s first all-covers studio release since 1964, as well as the band’s 25th American and 23rd British studio album.
“This album is manifest testament to the purity of their love for making music,” said Was in a statement to interviewers, “and the blues is, for the Stones, the fountainhead of everything they do.”
