The Wizards of Vision and Sound

Welcome to the second installment of my new recurring feature on prominent music producers and sound engineers. The inaugural post about George Martin is here. Of course, I had to kick off the series in early January with a personality closely associated with The Beatles. A second close to my favorite band of all time are The Rolling Stones, which brings me to my pick for this post: Jimmy Miller.

I suspect this “everyday man-sounding” name may be less familiar than George Martin. But it’s also safe to assume that most folks have heard of Stones gems like Beggars Banquet, Sticky Fingers and Exile On Main St. Or how about The Second Album (The Spencer Davis Group), Mr. Fantasy (Traffic) and Overkill (Motörhead) to name a few other albums that were produced or co-produced by Miller?

Jimmy Miller (center) with Keith Richards (left) and Mick Jagger

The American record producer and musician, who was born James Miller on March 23, 1942, started getting into music as an 8-year-old, picking up the drums and beginning to write music. I suspect his surroundings played a role. His dad Bill Miller served as entertainment director for several large Las Vegas casinos from the ’50s to the ’70s, booking top acts like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and, yes, Elvis Presley.

Miller’s intro to the music business happened under record executive Stanley Borden who introduced him to Jamaican-British record producer and Island Records founder Chris Blackwell. Blackwell brought Miller to the UK where his first job was to remix Gimme Some Lovin’, a single by The Spencer Davis Group, who Blackwell had signed to Island in 1964. Miller’s remix not only broke the band in the U.S. with their first top 10 hit but also started his relationship with Steve Winwood.

Miller’s production of albums by Traffic and Blind Faith was followed by the first two Spooky Tooth records, as well as the March 1970 Delaney & Bonnie live album On Tour with Eric Clapton, which he co-produced with Delaney Bramlett. And let’s not forget the Stones who first came into the picture in the spring of 1968 with the aforementioned Beggars Banquet, the first of five Stones albums Miller produced in a row.

In the late 70s, Miller collaborated with Motörhead and produced their albums Overkill (March 1979) and Bomber (October 1979). He continued to work as a producer in the ’80s and early ’90s until his untimely death from liver failure in October 1994 at age 52. Let’s take a closer look at some of Miller’s work.

The Spencer Davis Group/Gimme Some Lovin’ (1966)

Gimme Some Lovin’, written by Winwood and released in October 1966, became the U.S. breakthrough single for The Spencer Davis Group, climbing to no. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Songfacts notes Gimme Some Lovin’ was written with the goal to make it appealing for the U.S. market. Miller added percussion and a female chorus.

The Rolling Stones/You Can’t Always Get What You Want (1969)

Not only did Jimmy Miller produce for The Rolling Stones, but in some cases he also contributed as a musician. One example is You Can’t Always Get What You Want, which features Miller on drums. Songfacts explains the line, I was standing in line with Mr. Jimmy/And man, did he look pretty ill, may be a reference to Miller, adding it might refer to Jimmy Hutmaker, a local character who wandered the business district in Excelsior, Minnesota. Songfacts also notes Charlie Watts did not play on this track for the simple reason he was technically unable to figure out the beat for this unusual groove and rhythm. Credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the closer of the Let It Bleed album also appeared separately as a B-side to non-album single Honky Tonk Women.

Blind Faith/Can’t Find My Way Home (1969)

Can’t Find My Way Home is a gem written by Steve Winwood, off the sole self-titled studio album by Blind Faith. In addition to Winwood (vocals, keyboards, guitar), the short-lived English super-group featured Eric Clapton (guitar), Ric Grech (bass) and Ginger Baker (drums). In contrast to Cream and Clapton’s electric guitar god status – something he wanted to get away from – he played acoustic guitar on this track.

Delaney & Bonnie/Where’s a Will There’s a Way (1970)

Where There’s A Will There’s A Way as a great soulful song co-written by Bonnie Bramlett, Delaney Bramlett and Bobby Whitlock. It appears on the aforementioned Delaney & Bonnie live album On Tour with Eric Clapton, which came out in March 1970 and was co-produced by Miller and Bramlett. Miller also produced Whitlock’s second solo album Raw Velvet released in November 1972.

Motörhead/Stay Clean (1979)

Overkill, Motörhead’s sophomore release from March 1979, was the first of two consecutive albums produced by Miller. One track, Tear Ya Down, lists Neil Richmond as producer. Stay Clean was credited to the group’s three members Ian Fraser Kilmister (Lemmy), Eddie Clarke (“Fast” Eddie Clarke) and Phil Taylor (Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor). Bomber, the second album produced by Miller, came out only seven months after Overkill.

Primal Scream/Movin’ On Up

The final song I’d like to call out is Movin’ On Up, one of two tracks produced by Miller for Screamadelica, the third studio album by Scottish rock band Primal Scream, which appeared in September 1991. It was co-written by the group’s lead vocalist Bobby Gillespie and guitarists Andrew Innes and Robert Young – great song! The album credits also list Miller for mixing.

Last but not least, here’s a Spotify playlist of the above and additional tracks produced or co-produced by Jimmy Miller.

Sources: Wikipedia; YouTube; Spotify

New Music Musings

Just in time before seeing off the year, I’d like to take a final look at new music. This post highlights my six favorite albums of 2023 I reviewed.

Highway 61 – Driving South

After 30 Years and an incredible background story including the global pandemic, a near-fatal cancer episode and the death of a music mentor, Los Angeles blues rock four-piece Highway 61 released their debut album Driving South on March 24. While after their formation in the early ’90s the band managed to establish themselves on the Southern California club circuit, the record deal they sought remained elusive, and they broke up in 1993. Fast forward to the summer of 2022 when they reconvened for the first time in decades at an L.A. studio to finally record their first album. Highway 61 blend flavors of The Rolling Stones and Tom Petty with dashes of The Black Crowes and Stevie Ray Vaughan. For a little taste, here’s the kickass opener Walk On Water (full album review). Thanks again to Gregg Bell of Wanted Management, who brought Highway 61 on my radar screen!

Ian Hunter – Defiance Part 1

Ian Hunter may be an octogenarian, but he sure as heck can show all the young dudes how to rock. After his departure as lead vocalist from British glam rockers Mott the Hoople in 1974, Hunter launched a solo career and has released his own albums at a fairly steady pace. He frequently collaborated with Mick Ronson until the untimely death of David Bowie’s former sideman in 1993 at the age of 46. His 15th and latest album Defiance Part 1, recorded during COVID lockdown and released on April 21, features the late Jeff Beck, Slash, Billy Gibbons, Todd Rundgren and Ringo Starr, among others, who all added contributions at their home studios. The album also includes Hunter’s longtime collaborator Andy York, one of John Mellencamp’s guitarist, who also served as co-producer. Here’s This Is What I’m Here For, written by Hunter and featuring the late Taylor Hawkins (formerly of Foo Fighters) on drums, Waddy Wachtel (guitar) and Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott (backing vocals) (full album review).

Lucinda Williams – Stories From a Rock n Roll Heart

Lucinda Williams may be among the ultimate rock & roll survivors. Only two and a half years ago, things looked pretty bleak for the singer-songwriter, who turned 70 in January. After her East Nashville home had been damaged by a tornado in March 2020, she suffered a debilitating stroke in November of the same year. Not only did the stroke limit Williams’ physical mobility, but it also took away her ability to play guitar, the instrument she had relied on to write her songs. None of this stopped Williams. After intense rehab, she returned to the stage. Still unable to play guitar, she adjusted her way to write music, collaborated with her husband and co-producer Tom Overby and others, and recorded the incredible album Stories From a Rock n Roll Heart, which dropped on June 30. I don’t mean to romanticize hardship, but I find Williams’ strength truly inspiring. Here’s the de facto title track Rock n Roll Heart, co-written by Williams, Overby and Travis Stephens, guitarist and Williams’ road manager. The song features Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa on backing vocals (full album review). Only select songs of the album are available on streaming services.

Cordovas – The Rose of Aces

East Nashville, Tenn.-based Americana and country rock band Cordovas have become one of my favorite contemporary groups since the summer of 2018 when I coincidentally caught them at a free open air summer concert in New Jersey. Their three-part harmony vocals and warm sound remind me of other groups like The Band, Grateful Dead, Eagles and Little Feat. Cordovas were formed in 2011 by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joe Firstman  after he had put out a series of solo projects and served as bandleader on NBC’s former late-night TV show Last Call with Carson Daly from 2005 to 2009. On August 11, they released their fourth studio album The Rose of Aces, another gem. Here’s Love Is All It Takes, a song written by Firstman with a neat Allman Brothers Band vibe (full album review).

The Rolling Stones/Hackney Diamonds

Hackney Diamonds is no Sticky Fingers or Exile On Main St., but the first new Rolling Stones album with original music in 18 years still marks a late-stage career highlight. Released on October 20, Hackney Diamonds sounds remarkably fresh and dynamic for a band that has existed for 61 years! The first Stones album since the 2021 death of longtime drummer Charlie Watts features Elton John, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Bill Wyman, Paul McCartney and even Watts, among others. One of the most effective contributions are Lady Gaga’s backing vocals on Sweet Sounds of Heaven, a great soulful ballad credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. It also includes Wonder on keyboards and piano, but you don’t notice unless you carefully listen to Jagger telling Wonder, ‘Play me something, Steve’, at around the 5:30-minute mark or check the credits – a relatively small wrinkle on what I think is the Stones’ best studio album since 1989’s Steel Wheels (full album review).

Raze Regal & White Denim Inc. – Raze Regal & White Denim Inc.

The collaboration between Raze Regal, who AllMusic calls an eclectic, psych, jazz, and rock-influenced guitarist, and James Petralli, vocalist of Austin, Texas indie rock band White Denim who he co-founded in 2006, is one of my most intriguing new music discoveries this year. The album’s sophisticated sound blending jazz, rock, soul and pop at times reminds me of Steely Dan and some of Gino Vannelli’s work I’ve heard. Here’s the cool opener Ashley Goudeau, named after a local Austin morning news anchor, a song about a parasocial relationship with a TV personality (full album review).

Sources: Wikipedia; AllMusic; YouTube; Spotify

Happy Belated Birthday, Keef

“We age not by holding on to youth, but by letting ourselves grow and embracing whatever youthful parts remain.”
Keith Richards (as recounted by American Songwriter)

This Monday, December 18, Keith Richards turned 80. While I certainly don’t feel an obligation to cover birthdays of each music artist I dig, leaving out this one somehow felt wrong. After all, The Rolling Stones have been among my top favorite bands for 40-plus years, and the Stones simply wouldn’t have been the Stones without their riff master who was instrumental in popularizing open G guitar and other tunings!

Richards got into the guitar during his childhood, a noteworthy anecdote. One day, a guitar on a shelf caught the little boy’s interest, but it was too high to reach. It belonged to his maternal grandfather, Augustus Theodore “Gus” Dupree, who played in a jazz big band. Richards wanted to grab the guitar, so Dupree told him that if he could somehow reach it, he could have it. Richards proved to be resourceful, took a chair and stapled books and cushions on top of each other until he finally got high enough to grab the instrument.

Not only did Dupree keep his promise, but he also taught Richards the rudiments of Malagueña, his first guitar tune! Richards turned out to be an eager student, practicing the song all the time. When his grandpa noticed the boy’s enthusiasm, he allowed him to keep the guitar for good. While Richards’ father Herbert William Richards, a factory worker, disparaged his son’s musical enthusiasm, little Keef couldn’t be stopped.

Fast forward to October 1961, when 17-year-old Richards ran into his former classmate and childhood friend Mick Jagger on a Dartford Railway Station platform. When he noticed Jagger was carrying records by Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters, it became evident they dug the same music. A musical partnership started shortly thereafter, which less than two years later culminated in the formation of the world’s greatest rock & roll band.

This shall suffice for general background, given there are countless biographical write-ups on Richards and the Stones. Instead, I’d like to focus on music, specifically six songs in which Richards played a significant role, either as lead vocalist and/or writer, drawing from both the Stones and his solo career. These songs will also be featured in a Spotify playlist at the end of this post, along with 14 others.

Jumpin’ Jack Flash (non-album single, May 1968)

Credited to Jagger and Richards, though Bill Wyman claimed he wrote part of it, Jumpin’ Jack Flash not only is among my all-time favorite Stones songs but also features one of Keef’s best riffs. “When you get a riff like ‘Flash,’ you get a great feeling of elation, a wicked glee,” Richards told Rolling Stone, as captured by Songfacts. “I can hear the whole band take off behind me every time I play ‘Flash’ – there’s this extra sort of turbo overdrive. You jump on the riff and it plays you. Levitation is probably the closest analogy to what I feel.”

You Got the Silver (Let It Bleed, November 1969)

While with Something Happened to Me Yesterday Keef had official lead vocal parts as early as on the Stones’ January 1967 album Between the Buttons, the band’s first song to solely feature him in this role was You Got the Silver. Credited to Jagger and Richards, the song from the Let It Bleed album was written by Richards about his then-girlfriend, Anita Pallenberg, who used to go out with Brian Jones – a situation that further estranged Jones from the band. He still played autoharp on the recording, one of his final song contributions before the Stones parted ways with him.

Before They Make Me Run (Some Girls, June 1978)

Before They Make Me Run, off the Some Girls album, is another Stones song that solely features Richards on lead vocals. He also did most of the work on the track, which was recorded while he was out of jail on bail after he had gotten arrested in Toronto for drug trafficking in 1977. He ended up with probation. “That song, which I sang on that record, was a cry from the heart,” explained Richards in his book Life (2010), as documented by Songfacts. “But it burned up the personnel like no other. I was in the studio, without leaving, for five days… I had an engineer called Dave Jordan and I had another engineer, and one of them would flop under the desk and have a few hours’ kip and I’d put the other one in and keep going. We all had black eyes by the time it was finished.”

Start Me Up (Tattoo You, August 1981)

This brings me to the final Stones track highlighted in this post. Opening with one of Keef’s trademark riffs, Start Me Up was initially recorded with a reggae beat in 1977 during the sessions for Some Girls. But the Stones didn’t like the result and shelved the track – until it reemerged for Tattoo You. “The story here is the miracle that we ever found that track,” Richards explained, according to Songfacts. “I was convinced – and I think Mick was – that it was definitely a reggae song. And we did it in 38 takes – ‘Start me up. Yeah, man, cool. You know, you know, Jah Rastafari.’ And it didn’t make it. And somewhere in the middle of a break, just to break the tension, Charlie and I hit the rock and roll version. And right after that we went straight back to reggae. And we forgot totally about this one little burst in the middle, until about five years later when somebody sifted all the way through these reggae takes. After doing about 70 takes of ‘Start Me Up’ he found that one in the middle.”

Take It So Hard (Talk Is Cheap, October 1988)

Let’s next turn to Keef’s first solo album Talk Is Cheap. By the mid-’80s, his relationship with Jagger was on the rocks. When the Stones frontman was more interested in pursuing his solo career than touring behind the group’s March 1986 album Dirty Work, Richards teamed up with Steve Jordan (who has been the Stones’ touring drummer since Charlie Watts’ death in 2021) to write songs. Richards also gathered an impressive backing band whose core members in addition to Jordan (drums) included Waddy Wachtel (guitar), Ivan Neville (piano, keyboards, backing vocals) and Charley Drayton (bass). They became known as The X-Pensive Winos. Here’s Take It So Hard, which also appeared as a single.

Crosseyed Heart (Crosseyed Heart, September 2015)

My final pick is Crosseyed Heart, an homage to one of Richards’ key influences, and the title track of his third and most recent solo album. Like Talk Is Cheap, it featured the X-Pensive Winos. “The ‘Crosseyed Heart’ one came because I wanted to start it off where basically all the music that I know and I’ve played came from,” Richards told Uncut, according to Songfacts. “One of the wellsprings was Robert Johnson, and I’ve always wanted to do something in his style, so ‘Crosseyed Heart’ came from that.”

Richards’ 80th birthday coincided with his 40th wedding anniversary. On December 18, 1983, he married then-27-year-old American model and actress Patti Hansen. They have two daughters, Theodora Dupree, born 1985 and named after Keef’s grandpa; and Alexandra Nicole, born 1986.

“About myself I have no great illusions. I know what I am. I know what I’m good at. I know what I ain’t. I’m always hoping to surprise myself. But I do have a love of music and I do love to communicate it, and that’s the best I can do, really. And I can raise a good family, too.”
Keith Richards (as recounted by American Songwriter)

Last but not least, here’s the aforementioned Spotify playlist.

Sources: Wikipedia; American Songwriter; Songfacts; YouTube; Spotify

Only Rock & Roll, But I Like It

After re-publishing my most recent December contribution to Turntable Talk yesterday, it occurred to me I never posted my submission for November’s installment of the great monthly participatory feature hosted by fellow blogger Dave from A Sound Day. The culprit was a temporary hiatus from blogging due to a family vacation in Europe, combined with bad memory – after my return, I simply forgot!

Before finally getting to it, I’d like to acknowledge yesterday’s 80th birthday of Keith Richards, which feels especially appropriate, given this is a post about The Rolling Stones! Richards joined the club of octogenarians after Mick Jagger did this past July. Who would have thought in the early ’70s when the Stones arguably hit their high The Glimmer Twins would still be rocking in their ’80s! ‘On with the show,’ as I’ve heard Keith say during Stones gigs.

# # #

I can’t believe Turntable Talk is hitting 20 – congrats on this milestone, Dave, and keeping this such a fun feature by continuing to come up with great topics. This time you asked, Do we still care about the Rolling Stones? I guess you won’t be surprised about my spontaneous answer: hell, yes!

Unlike The Beatles who have been my favorite band since my early teenage years back in Germany, my love for The Rolling Stones started a few years later and developed more gradually. If asked today whether to pick The Beatles or the Stones, I would still go with The Fab Four, though the Stones would be a close second. I also feel it’s difficult to directly compare the two groups since their styles ended up being very different.

How do you assess the relevance of a music artist objectively? The first thing I thought was their sales of music. I found this website, ChartMasters, which calculates total equivalent album sales (EAS) across all music formats. Using their methodology, The Rolling Stones have 244.55 million EAS. This puts them at no. 6, ahead of Pink Floyd (238.57 million) and behind Madonna (248.35 million) – certainly not a spot that would suggest irrelevance! The Beatles top the list with 423.9 million EAS – of course, they do!😊

Since the aforementioned sales volumes are cumulative, I figured they favor acts who started selling music a long time ago compared to those who are newer. Next, I thought that looking at top grossing concert tours should provide a more level playing field. Last year, The Rolling Stones came in at no. 6 on Billboard’s Top Tours 2022, grossing $179.35 million, behind Coldplay ($208 million) and ahead of Red Hot Chili Peppers ($177 million). Again, an impressive showing!

A third gauge I came up with to capture current relevance is followers on Spotify, something ChartMasters tracks as well. The top 3 are Ed Sheeran (114.9 million), Ariana Grande (94.26 million) and Arijit Singh (93.2 million). By comparison, the Stones and The Beatles have 13.4 million and 26.31 million followers, respectively. I think this outcome is a good illustration that assessing relevance very much depends on how you measure it.

The other day, I learned about Perplexity AI, an AI-powered search engine and chatbot. Putting my decidedly mixed feelings about AI aside, I was curious to see what kind of answer I would get to the question, Are The Rolling Stones still relevant? Here’s what I got (with references, which I removed):

The Rolling Stones are still relevant today, despite having been around for over 60 years. Here are some reasons why:

• Live shows: The Rolling Stones remain one of the most electrifying live acts in music, and their tours continue to draw large crowds and sell out stadiums.
• Timeless music: The songs recorded by the Rolling Stones in the 60s continue to cast a lasting influence on popular culture, and their music is still enjoyed by both old and new generations of fans.
• Adaptability: The Rolling Stones have managed to adapt and anticipate new musical trends while remaining true to their rock ‘n roll and blues roots. They have also continued to release new music, with their last album “Blue & Lonesome” being a return to their blues days.
• Cultural legacy: The Rolling Stones are one of the most important bands in the history of music, and their impact on popular culture cannot be overstated. They have influenced countless musicians and continue to be studied and analyzed by scholars.

Overall, the Rolling Stones are still relevant today due to their continued success in live performances, their timeless music, their adaptability, and their cultural legacy.

This doesn’t look like a bad answer, especially if you consider it only took a couple seconds to obtain it. Obviously, Perplexity AI missed Hackney Diamonds, the new album by the Stones – one illustration AI-generated content isn’t entirely up to date. Not yet!

After all the above attempts to address the topic as objectively as possible, I came to the brilliant conclusion that all of the above matters relatively little. None of it changes the fact that The Rolling Stones remain relevant to me. Why? Because I love their music – it’s really as simple as that at the end of the day!

I’d like to leave you with five Stones songs I dig:

The Last Time (single, February 1965)

I always loved the guitar riff. While credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the song is adapted from a traditional gospel song The Staples Singers released in 1954 as It May Be the Last Time. The Last Time became the Stones’ third no. 1 on the UK Singles Chart.

She’s a Rainbow (single Nov 1967)

While it’s perhaps uncharacteristic for the Stones, I’ve liked She’s a Rainbow from the first time I heard it many moons ago. That great piano part was played by Nicky Hopkins. John Paul Jones, then still a session musician who would later join Led Zeppelin, provided the string arrangement. This was the second upfront single from Their Satanic Majesties Request, a studio album the Stones released in December 1967.

Jumpin’ Jack Flash (single, May 1968)

This non-album single is another terrific riff-based song. The Stones recorded it during the Beggars Banquet sessions. While it certainly didn’t lack great songs, I’m still somewhat puzzled Jumpin’ Jack Flash didn’t make the album. I once read Richards still the kicks playing the song during live shows – can’t blame him!

Dead Flowers (Sticky Fingers, April 1971)

One of my all-time favorite songs by The Rolling Stones, off my favorite album Sticky Fingers. This song came together during a time when Richards’ friendship with Gram Parsons influenced his writing. I love the guitar lines he traded with Mick Taylor throughout the track. The solo in place of a third verse was performed by Taylor – perhaps the ultimate bar band song!

It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It) (It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll, October 1974)

The title track from the Stones’ 74 studio album kind of sums up why I love the Stones: It’s only rock & roll, but I like it. Then-future Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood collaborated with Jagger on the song, though it’s only credited to Jagger and Richards, as usual. David Bowie sang backing vocals to Jagger’s lead. Also notable, bass and drums were provided by Willie Weeks and Kenny Jones, respectively, instead of Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts.

If you haven’t checked out Hackney Diamonds, I can highly recommend it. This latest album by the Stones provides my evidence the greatest rock & roll band in the world remains very relevant, at least in my completely unbiased opinion!😊

Sources: Wikipedia; ChartMasters; Billboard; Perplexity AI; YouTube

Still Only Rock & Roll, Still Liking It

Unless you’ve lived under a rock, which I largely did in the ’90s when it came to music, by now, you’ve heard The Rolling Stones are out with their long-awaited new album. Hackney Diamonds dropped on Friday, October 20, and I’ve since spent some time with it. I guess you already figured out my overall sentiment is pretty positive. To me, Hackney Diamonds represents a late-stage highlight in the Stones’ remarkable 61-year career, which sounds surprisingly dynamic and fresh!

When I listened to the first single Angry about a month ago, I certainly wasn’t mad, thinking it sounds like the Stones but I wasn’t exactly floored either. The second upfront single Sweet Sounds of Heaven, which I covered here around the time it was released, definitely got my attention and raised expectations about the album. So did the punkish Bite My Head Off, featuring Paul McCartney on bass. I included that song in my latest weekly new music review.

The Rolling Stones are rocking on, 61 years into their career (from left): Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards

Hackney Diamonds is the Stones’ first album with new material since A Bigger Bang, which dates back to September 2005 – that’s a whopping 18 years! They released a blues covers collection, Blue & Lonesome, in December 2016, after abandoning their initial plan to create new music. I immediately liked Blue & Lonesome for what it was and posted about it at the time. To me, it felt like the Stones had come full circle with their early days when they actually were a blues cover band.

When reading Hackney Diamonds features prominent guests, including Elton John, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Bill Wyman and Paul McCartney, you could be forgiven to think it’s a playbook we’ve seen before, especially by more mature artists. In this case, I don’t feel this had any negative impact on the overall outcome but will add you really wouldn’t know that Elton John, Stevie Wonder or Bill Wyman are on the album, if they wouldn’t be listed in the credits.

The Rolling Stones with some of the guests on their new album (from left): Lady Gaga, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and producer Andrew Watt, who also provided bass, guitar, percussion, keyboards and backing vocals

I wish these artists would be more noticeable, particularly John and Wonder with their distinct piano and harmonica sounds, respectively. By contrast, Lady Gaga provides compelling backing vocals on Sweet Sounds of Heaven, the same song on which Stevie Wonder plays keyboards and piano. If it wasn’t for Mick Jagger who says, ‘play me something, Steve,’ at around 5:30 minutes into the track, frankly, it would be easy to miss Wonder. McCartney, on the other hand, is way more noticeable with a short punkish fuzz bass solo on Bite My Head Off. As such, he and Gaga not only were able to showcase their chops but also added to what are two highlights on the album.

Another key player I’d like to call out is producer Andrew Watt. The 33-year-old, who McCartney suggested to Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, has produced for a remarkable variety of artists, including Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jam and Iggy Pop, among many others. Watt also is a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar in the Earthlings, Eddie Vedder’s backing band for solo endeavors.

While Watt is a talented musician, I was surprised to see him listed in the credits as playing bass instead of the Stones’ longtime bassist Darryl Jones. Last year, American Songwriter reported the Stones including Jones and their current drummer Steve Jordan had laid down basic tracks for the album in New York. Evidently, whatever was recorded then with Jones didn’t make the final mix. I also like to call out two other individuals listed in the credits: Benmont Tench (Hammond organ), previously with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; and prominent producer Don Was who co-produced album track Live by the Sword.

Time for some music! I’m skipping Angry and go right to Get Close. It very much feels like a classic guitar riff-driven Stones song without coming across as dusty – kudos to Watt! Mick Jagger’s vocals sound outstanding, which also is the case on all of the other tracks. James King throws in a nice saxophone solo. Get Close is the first of two songs featuring Elton John on piano, except you can’t hear him. Perhaps the caveat here is I have some high-frequency hearing loss, so I cannot make out John’s piano, not even with headphones, but maybe others can when they get close! 🙂

On Dreamy Skies, the Stones remind us of their country chops, which they illustrated a long time ago on songs like Dear Doctor, Country Honk, Sweet Virginia and, of course, Dead Flowers. While the guitar work doesn’t reach the brilliance of the latter, Dreamy Skies still is a song I could well picture on my all-time favorite Stones album Sticky Fingers, released in April 1971.

Mess It Up is one of two tracks featuring drums by the late Charlie Watts thanks to modern technology. It’s great to hear the man again! The guitar work is pretty solid and resembles classic Stones. I also like the funky vibe of the song, which would fit well on Steel Wheels. Their August 1989 album saw the Stones return to a more classic style after they had embraced a commercial ’80s sound on their two previous albums.

Live By the Sword not only is the second track on Hackney Diamonds with drums by Watts, but it also pairs them with bass provided by Bill Wyman, thus recreating the Stones’ classic rhythm engine. The song, which as noted above was co-produced by Don Was, also is the second track to feature Elton John. Unlike Get Close, at least I can hear the piano man occasionally in the background. Once again, I feel it would have been even better to give Sir Elton at least a short solo or make his honky piano more prominent in the mix.

Next up is Tell Me Straight, another highlight on the album, featuring Keith Richards on lead vocals. I have to agree with various reviews I read that noted Richards hasn’t sounded as good in many years. I also think the song’s reflective lyrics are noteworthy:…I need an answer, how long can this last?/Just tell me straight/ Don’t make me wait/Is my future all in the past? Yeah, tell me straight, tell me straight…

This brings me to the final track I’d like to highlight, even though it’s “only a cover.” In fact, it’s the sole cover on the album, Rolling Stone Blues, an obvious nod to the past. Originally titled Rollin’ Stone, it was recorded by Muddy Waters in 1950, who in turn based it on Catfish Blues, a delta blues dating back to the 1920s. The Stones worshipped Muddy Waters, and it was that very song that inspired the name The Rolling Stones.

“We had a lot of material recorded, but we weren’t very excited with the results,” Jagger told Spanish daily newspaper El País in a recent interview about the album. “Some of the songs were okay, but they weren’t great. We said, ‘We’re going to work harder and we’re going to set a deadline.’ And that’s when the magic started to happen. We recorded the whole thing in three or four weeks. We wanted to make the record fast and keep ourselves excited the whole time. And I think we achieved our goal.”

During the same interview, Jagger was also very complimentary about producer Andrew Watt. “Andy is fantastic because he’s young and he plays guitar, bass, he sings… He knows the history of music. When he talks to me, Keith, or Ronnie, you can tell he knows all of our records. He knows all the chords to Tumbling Dice or any song. He’s not someone who approaches recording from an intellectual or electronic point of view.”

Overall, Hackney Diamonds has been well received. Variety called it the best album by the Stones since 1981’s Tattoo You, which is widely considered their last great album. I would perhaps characterize it as their most compelling work since the aforementioned Steel Wheels, an album I’ve always enjoyed. Regardless which of the two albums you want to use, the Stones sound remarkably classic, vital and fresh on Hackney Diamonds.

Now perhaps to the obvious question: Is it the last time we will have heard new music by the greatest rock & rock band in the world? It goes without saying the Stones don’t have the luxury to wait for another 18 years; even another seven years (the time span between Blue & Lonesome and Hackney Diamonds) look like a stretch. Based on the speed Hackney Diamonds ultimately came together, there may be some reason to be optimistic. In case Hackney Diamonds should turn out to be their final studio album, it would mean The Rolling Stones certainly ended on a high note.

Sources: Wikipedia; American Songwriter; El País; Variety; The Rolling Stones website; YouTube; Spotify

New Music Musings

Lately, the weeks seem to be flying by ever-faster. I can’t believe it’s Saturday again! Welcome to my weekly new music review. This time, the first four of the six featured artists/bands are entirely new to me. All picks are from albums that dropped yesterday (October 20).

Billy Raffoul/Tangerine

First up is Canadian singer-songwriter Billy Raffoul from Leamington, Ontario. A previous announcement of Raffoul’s latest full-length album For All Those Years notes his father Jody Raffoul was a regionally prominent and prolific performer introducing his son to music at an early age. After signing with Interscope Records in 2017 and a few singles and EPs, he released his full-length debut album A Few More Hours at YYZ in 2020. AllMusic characterizes Raffoul’s music as recalling a mixture of Jeff Buckley, Joe Cocker and Bruce Springsteen. From For All These Years, his third album, here’s Tangerine. His ragged vocals and his soulful delivery drew me in.

Sun June/Mixed Bag

Sun June are an indie pop band from Austin, Texas. Starting with their 2018 debut album Years, they have released three albums to date. Their latest it titled Bad Dream Jaguar. Here’s Mixed Bag, which is credited to all six members of the band: Laura Colwell (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Michael Bain (lead guitar), Stephen Salisbury and Santiago Dietche (guitar, vocals each), Justin Harris (bass) and Sarah Schultz (drums). This song has a pleasant laidback feel to it.

Skinny Lister/Company of the Bar

Skinny Lister are a British folk band blending elements of folk punk and folk pop. AllMusic notes The Pogues and Mumford & Sons. I’m also bit reminded Boston’s Dropkick Murphys. Skinny Lister were formed in London in 2009 and have released six albums to date. Their new one is titled Shanty Punk. Here’s the upbeat Company of the Bar. I like this!

Dirt Buyer/Gathering Logs

Dirt Byer are an Emo folk group around singer-songwriter and guitarist Joe Sutkowski who hails from New Jersey is now based in Brooklyn, New York. He started as a duo in 2018 with drummer Ruben Radlauer when both were students at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. After the release of Dirt Buyer’s eponymous debut album in January 2019, Radlauer left. Dirt Buyer subsequently became a trio who in addition from Sutkowksi includes Tristan Allen (bass) and Mike Costa (drums). Gathering Logs is a song off the second album appearing under the Dirt Buyer name, Dirt Buyer II.

Blues Traveler/Qualified

If the name Blues Traveler doesn’t ring a bell, chances are you know the blues rock and alternative rock band’s catchy 1995 hit Run-Around. They were formed eight years earlier in Princeton, New Jersey and put out their eponymous debut album in May 1990. Led by John Popper (lead vocals, harmonica, acoustic guitar), Blues Traveler have since released 13 additional albums. Apart from Popper and co-founders Chan Kinchla (guitar) and Brendan Hill (drums), the group’s current line-up features Tad Kinchla (bass) and Ben Wilson (keyboards), who each have been members for more than 20 years. Off their new album Traveler’s Blues, here’s Qualified a great tune with a soulful vibe

The Rolling Stones/Bite My Head Off

The Rolling Stones are finally out with Hackney Diamonds, their long-awaited first album of new music in 18 years. I previously covered the second upfront single Sweet Sounds of Heaven, a great soulful ballad featuring Lady Gaga on backing vocals and Stevie Wonder on Fender Rhodes. There are other prominent guests on the album, including Elton John, Bill Wyman and Paul McCartney. The late Charlie Watts can be heard on two tracks as well. The other drum parts are handled by the Stones’ current drummer Steve Jordan. Based on scanning some reviews, Hackney Diamonds appears to have been well received. Variety called it the best album by the Stones since 1981’s Tattoo You. Here’s Bite My Head Off, featuring Macca on fuzz bass, who even throws in a short solo. While unfortunately I haven’t had the time yet to give the album the attention it deserves, I know this: Bite My Head Off rocks!

Sources: Wikipedia; Nettwerk Music Group website; AllMusic; Dirt Buyer Bandcamp page; You Tube, Spotify

The Rolling Stones Drop Second Single From Long-Awaited Upcoming New Album

Yesterday, The Rolling Stones released their second upfront single from Hackney Diamonds, their long-awaited upcoming first album of original music in 18 years. Sweet Sounds of Heaven features Lada Gaga on backing vocals and none other than the great Stevie Wonder on Fender Rhodes, Moog and piano, as reported by Pitchfork and other entertainment outlets. While I may not exactly go ga ga over the soulful ballad with a gospel vibe, I feel the Stones have done a pretty decent job here and look forward to the album, which is scheduled for release on October 20.

SPIN reported Jagger penned Sweet Sounds of Heaven at his London home and was inspired by rustling leaves and slight wind blowing through the trees outside of his window. “Sweet Sounds of Heaven” was written by Jagger and Keith Richards, and was recorded at studios in Los Angeles, London, and the Bahamas. It comes three weeks after the first upfront single Angry.

As a longtime fan of The Rolling Stones, I can’t deny the possibility of bias here. I don’t know about you, after years of speculation about a new Stones album, I had largely given up on it until more specific news reports emerged. The fact that after 18 years since A Bigger Bang Mick Jagger (80) and his longtime Glimmer Twin Keith Richards (79) pulled off writing new music together is remarkable in and of itself, at least in my book.

‘But Lady Ga Ga?’, some observers may wonder (no pun intended!). Well, I humbly have to agree with Sir Mick who told Zane Lowe in an interview for Apple Music that “she’s really a great singer.” That’s different from saying I love her music. ‘Okay,’ some may think, ‘you can do a lot in the studio to make a voice sound great.’ True, but check out this live performance of Gimme Shelter, captured in 2012 during the Stones’ 50 & Counting Tour. If you’re in a hurry, forward to around 1:30 minutes into the clip and tell me this lady didn’t kill it!

The core members of The Rolling Stones (from left): Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Mick Jagger. Photo: Toby Melville/Reuters

Lady Ga Ga and Stevie Wonder aren’t the only notable guests appearing on Hackney Diamonds. To start with, there are also these two lads who originally hail from Liverpool and 60 years ago were in a band called The Beatles. Of course, I’m talking Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, who appear on one track. Additional contributions include Elton John, former Stones bassist Bill Wyman and even the band’s late drummer Charlie Watts. The album was produced by Andrew Watt who won the 2021 Grammy Award for Producer of the Year. Watt has worked with a diverse group of artists, such as Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jam and Iggy Pop.

I’m under no illusion there are cynics out there saying the Stones decided to embrace a playbook we have seen before where aging rockers beyond their prime time pack their album with prominent guests. Everybody is entitled to their opinion. All I can say is I’m happy, baby, not angry about what I’ve heard thus far!

Sources: Wikipedia; Pitchfork; SPIN; Apple Music; YouTube

Mick Jagger Hits 80!

Today, Mick Jagger turned 80 years. The Rolling Stones lead vocalist is one of the most amazing band frontmen I can think of. To celebrate Jagger’s admission to the club of the octogenarians, I’m republishing a post I put out for his 75th birthday. It has been slightly edited and updated at the end.

No matter whether you like him or not (and I love him!!!), I think there’s no question Mick Jagger has to be one of the coolest rock artists on the planet. To me, he’s the embodiment of rock & roll in all of its crazy shapes. Unlike the other members of The Rolling Stones, Jagger doesn’t show many signs of aging. He still has the energy and swagger he did when the Stones started out in the early ’60s.

I also don’t believe I know of any other rock artist who studied at the London School of Economics, though evidently, Jagger figured out pretty quickly that Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes weren’t as sexy as rock & roll. And, dare I say it, there are many economists, but there’s only one Mick Jagger!

Jagger’s biography has been told a million times, so I’m not going to write yet another iteration. Instead, I’d like to celebrate Sir Michael Philip Jagger’s 80th birthday with what he’s all about: rock & roll.

Let’s kick it off with the first officially recorded song Jagger co-wrote with his longtime partner in crime Keith Richards: Tell Me (You’re Coming Back), the only original track on the Stones’ eponymous U.K. album released in April 1964. While the tune’s early ’60s pop vibe doesn’t sound much like The Rolling Stones, I still find it charming.

Yes, it’s probably the most over-played song The Rolling Stones have ever released, but since it’s such a signature tune, how could I not include (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction in this post? Plus, the song from the Stones’ third British studio album Out Of Our Heads really seems to be a perfect fit for Jagger.

She’s A Rainbow from 1967’s Their Satanic Majesties Request may be an uncharacteristic tune by The Glimmer Twins, but I’ve always loved it.

I know many Stones fans consider Exile On Main Street or Some Girls as the band’s best studio album. If I would have to select one, I think it would be Sticky Fingers. Here’s Dead Flowers.

The song’s title sums it up perfectly: It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll (But I Like It). It was the lead single to the Stones’ 1974 studio album It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll, their 12th and 14th in the U.K. and U.S., respectively.

Here’s When The Whip Comes Down. According to Wikipedia, Jagger wrote the lyrics to the song, which first appeared on the Some Girls album from 1978, though it is credited to Jagger/Richards.

Tattoo You is considered by many folks to be the last decent album the Stones released in August 1981. The lead single was Start Me Up, which remains one of the band’s most recognizable tunes and a staple during their live concerts where they often play it as the opener. It’s a great tune and with its simple riff yet another example that less is oftentimes more in rock & roll.

I’ve always liked Steel Wheels, which the Stones released in August 1989. By that time Jagger and Richards had patched up their fragile relationship and wrote a great set of songs that are reminiscent of the Stones’ classic sound. Here’s Mixed Emotions.

To date, A Bigger Bang from September 2005 is the Stones’ most recent full studio album featuring original music. Here’s the opener Rough Justice.

I’d like to conclude this celebratory playlist with an amazing live clip: Can’t You Hear Me Knocking, from the Stones’ Sticky Fingers show on May 20, 2015 at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. It was captured in a great live album released last September as part of the band’s From The Vault series. To me, the Stones rarely sounded as fresh as they did that night!

For a number of years, there has been chatter about a new album by The Rolling Stones. It looks like this year it’s finally going to happen. In February, Deadline and other entertainment media reported a new album will appear later in 2023, featuring contributions by the late Charlie Watts, as well as two other rockin’ octogenarians: Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.

It’s only rock & roll, but I like it, yes, I do.

Happy birthday Mick Jagger!

Sources: Wikipedia; Deadline; YouTube

The Rolling Stones’ Latest Live Release Is GRRReat!

Following 10-plus official live albums and multiple concert releases from their vault, it’s fair to ask whether the world really needs another live collection by The Rolling Stones. After all, what could possibly trump gems like 1970’s Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! or 2017’s Sticky Fingers: Live At The Fonda Theater 2015, to name two of my all-time favorites. Well, GRRR Live!, which was released last Friday (February 10), may be no Ya-Ya’s, but it sure as heck is a great and surprisingly fresh-sounding collection!

The album and concert film mainly captures the Stones’ December 15, 2012 gig at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., which was part of the 50 & Counting Tour to celebrate their 50th anniversary. The tour featured guest appearances from The Black Keys, Gary Clark Jr., Lady Gaga, John Mayer, Bruce Springsteen and Mick Taylor. Since its original airing on pay-per-view in 2012, the show hasn’t been available. The concert has been re-edited and the audio has been remixed.

I’d say, let’s check out some of the goodies! And what could be better than starting us up with a great motto: It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It). Yes, I do! Man, it’s so nice to see Charlie Watts! Mick Jagger once again proves he’s one of the most compelling frontmen in rock & roll. Both Keef and Ronnie Wood evidently had a great night as well! Simply put: The Stones were on fire!

Next up is Gimme Shelter feat. Lady Gaga. Let’s be honest here. Sometimes, guest appearances can be a bit awkward. But holy cow, Gaga surely made Merry Clayton proud! Since I couldn’t find a clip from GRRR Live! that included video (grrr!), I grabbed footage from somebody who was in the audience that night. Unfortunately, it’s cut off at the 5-minute mark and misses the last 2 minutes, but I still thought it’s pretty good!

After that scorching Gaga performance let’s slow it down and set those horses free. Here’s Wild Horses!

Are we ready for another guest appearance? Here are John Mayer and Gary Clark Jr. Ironically, the song is titled Going Down, but I can promise you there was none of that! Both guitarists demonstrated impressive guitar chops. So did Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards. This is solo guitar porn! Again, I’m relying on a clip that’s not from GRRR Live! Best of all, this one isn’t cut off!

Even Doom and Gloom, a Jagger-Richards cowrite I wouldn’t consider ranking among their best tunes, sounds pretty compelling here. The Stones included it on their greatest hits compilation GRRR!, which came out in November 2012.

How ’bout Midnight Rambler featuring Mick Taylor? Ask and you really receive! Yeah, it may not be quite up there with Ya-Yah’s, but it sure as heck nicely shuffles!

Let’s throw in one Keef sang. And, yep, he looked pretty content. Also, check out Ronnie Wood on lap steel – damn! How does all of this make me feel? Happy!

Time to wrap things up. Did somebody say Bruuuuuuuce? Tumbling Dice! The Boss visibly seems to have a ball. I mean, he’s rockin’ with the f…ing Rolling Stones and even throwing in a guitar solo!

Last but not least, here’s a Spotify link to the entire album.

Sources: Wikipedia; YouTube; Spotify

Song Musings

Happy Wednesday and welcome to another installment of Song Musings. This recently introduced recurring feature looks at tunes I haven’t covered yet or only mentioned in passing. It pretty much could be any song regardless of whether the band or artist is famous or more obscure.

Well, my pick for this week definitely falls into the former category. How about “the world’s greatest rock & roll band?” And how about a tune that isn’t exactly what you typically associate with them?

Of course, I’m talking about The Rolling Stones, who I trust need no further introduction. But unless you’re a Stones fan you may be less familiar with a song titled Hot Stuff. At least I can say it hadn’t been on my radar screen until I stumbled across it on Twitter this past Sunday.

Hot Stuff, credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, is the opener of Black and Blue, the 13th British and 15th American studio album the Stones released in April 1976, and the first they recorded after Mick Taylor’s departure in December 1974. While it may not be the best they’ve ever done, it’s a cool funky tune that makes you want to move!

The song starts off with a nice funky guitar played by Richards. Drummer Charlie Watts and bassist Bill Wyman add an infectious groove. The Stones also got a little help from some friends: Harvey Mandel, formerly of Canned Heat, provides some neat wah-wah guitar action. The great Billy Preston is on piano and also contributes backing vocals, together with Richards and guitarist Ronnie Wood. There’s also prolific session musician Ollie E. Brown on percussion.

Hot Stuff also appeared separately as a promo single in the U.S. where it reached no. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 – decidedly less hot than Fool to Cry, the album’s lead single that became an internal hit, peaking at no. 2, no. 6, no. 8 and no. 10 in France, the UK, The Netherlands and the U.S., respectively.

Here’s another cool clip, which according to the description captures a rehearsal of Hot Stuff on August 16, 2002 in Toronto. This jives with a record on Setlist.fm, according to which the Stones played Palais Royale Ballroom there that day as part of their Licks World Tour.

Following are a few additional tidbits from Songfacts:

With Mick Taylor gone, The Stones were auditioning lead guitarists while recording Black And Blue. Harvey Mandel from Canned Heat played on this, but Ron Wood got the job.

This was dangerously close to disco – Donna Summer had a disco hit three years later with a the same title. [Let’s not forget about Miss You, which Richards, who at the time the Stones recorded the tune was absent, facing serious legal problems over a previous arrest for drug possession in Toronto, dismissively called Mick’s disco song – CMM]

“Hot Stuff” was the working title for the album until they decided on Black And Blue.

Sources: Wikipedia; Setlist.fm; Songfacts, YouTube