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Black And Blue, the thirteenth British and fifteenth American studio album by The Rolling Stones. Released April 23, 1976 on Rolling Stones Records, the album was the first after guitarist Mick Taylor’s departure; as a result the recording sessions were used to audition potential replacements. Among the guitarists that were rehearsed were Jeff Beck, Steve Marriott of Small Faces and Humble Pie fame, Rory Gallagher, Canned Heat guitarist Harvey “The Snake” Mendel, and from Faces and The Jeff Beck Group-Ronnie Wood. I’m sure the last one went nowhere. The album pushed the funk element hinted at on the two prior albums more to the forefront, while also dabbling in disco and reggae. The album also inspired controversy due to an advertisement billboard where a battered woman said she was black and blue from The Rolling Stones.

Needless to say…..yeah, this one has not aged well. I think they were going for that kinky vibe but still, it looks pretty bad. Hell even now, there’s a reason doms in the media are usually female, cause battered women is just… yeah. Although in fairness here’s another picture from that session.

And then you have the cover where Keith looks like he’s whispering sweet nothings into Mick’s ears, Bill looks confused by the whole thing, and then the full picture has Ronnie just as confused and Charlie just ignoring it. Good ol’ Charlie.

So let’s get it on!

1. “Hot Stuff” (Jagger/Richards):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gVpzrxjiAtc

“Hot Stuff”, which was the second single. The track features Mendel on lead guitar through a wah pedal, Keith on rhythm guitar and background vocals, Mick on lead and background vocals, Bill on bass, Charlie on drums, Ronnie on background vocals, Billy Preston on piano and background vocals, and on percussion is Mick, Charlie, Stu, and Ollie Brown, who was playing in Billy Preston’s band at the time.

This is a very funky tune, from the guitars by Keith and Mendel, the sweet ass bass by Bill, the overall groove. It’s got this real loose, jammy feel to it, and everybody is playing great on here. This one was definitely a grower for me, but now I love the absolute fuck out of it! Hot Stuff is an awesome song, fantastic way to open the album.

2. “Hand Of Fate” (Jagger/Richards):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UKH9enYiFIU

“Hand Of Fate”, featuring Wayne Perkins on lead guitar, who was suggested by Glyn Johns. In addition, Mick performs lead vocals, Keith on rhythm guitar and background vocals, Bill on bass, Charlie on drums, Ronnie on background vocals, Billy Preston on keyboards, and Ollie Brown on percussion.

This is a song about a guy about to be executed for murder, and Mick sells the song with some piss and vinegar. The track is classic Stones, that Charlie Watts swing, the classic Keith Richards rhythm guitar with Bill locked in place with a really killer bassline. Whereas Bill had been getting replaced a fair amount on the past three albums, he shows up quite a bit on this album, only missing I believe one song, and he plays his ass off on this album. Very underrated bassist. And Wayne Perkins plays a great solo that is very Mick Taylor like. Man this really is a very under the radar that doesn’t get near enough attention but it’s such a fantastic song, has such a classic feel to it and yet feels so fresh.

One of the best songs on the entire album. My favorite? Damn, I might go between this and another.

3. “Cherry Oh Baby” (Eric Donaldson):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MbXcs8HC_lU

This is a reggae tune by an artist named Eric Donaldson. Mick and especially Keith we’re getting big into reggae around this time, and you hear it in Keith’s solo stuff. This is the first track on the album to feature Ronnie on guitar in addition to background vocals. The great Nicky Hopkins is also on the organ on here.

Remember when you’d hear some crappy ska band on a crappy soundtrack to a crappy 90s movie? Yeah this is basically that. Rather it be the hokey organ sound to Mick’s contrived vocal, this is just plain stinky.

4. “Memory Motel” (Jagger/Richards):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xvEshC4FATU

Here we have the ballad off the album, which Mick started writing prior to the start of the band’s 1975 Tour while the band was staying at Andy Warhol’s place in Montauk. There was a Memory Motel there which was the only place with a pool table and piano so the band would hang out there frequently.

Mick is on lead vocals and piano, Keith on electric piano and co-lead and background vocals, Bill on bass, Charlie on drums, Ronnie on background vocals, Billy Preston on synthesizer and background vocals, Wayne Perkins on acoustic guitar, and Harvey Mendel on electric guitar.

Man I love this song, it’s just such a gorgeous tune. Maybe shave a bit off of it but otherwise it has this very mythical feel to it with a absolutely great vocal from Mick. He’s not always known for being a great singer but damn is he fantastic on this track, and I love that little bridge with Keith. And the way the keys are intertwined are so great along with a tasteful guitar line by Harvey along with a cool bassline by Bill if you dig in.

This is a Stones classic, and my second favorite.

5. “Hey Negrita” (Jagger/Richards; inspiration by Ronnie Wood):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yaCYoCAOZbI

Damn! This one was started by Ronnie in a jam session, though he wasn’t given a proper credit because it’s The Glimmer Twins who don’t want to share credit with anyone. Here’s the thing with writing credits on Stones records: it’s not always necessarily a way to accurately reflect who did what- for example, “The Last Time” borrows heavily from an old Staple Singers tune and what keeps it from being a straight lift is the riff and main hook, which Brian came up with. Jagger/Richards is a brand, and also, that keeps all the money to Mick and Keith. Marianne Faithful had to sue in order to be credited for Sister Morphine (and won). But back to this song, the personnel is Mick on lead vocals, Keith on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Ronnie on lead guitar and backing vocals, Bill on bass, Charlie on drums, Billy Preston on piano/organ/backing vocals, and Ollie Brown on percussion.

God I love this song, it’s got this cool, loose Latin feel to it, and the band is just so at ease on here. It’s a very off the cuff track and that is kind of a rarity in the later years. Also really love Billy’s keyboards on here, they add a nice flair. I cannot feel the same love for the next song…..

6. “Melody” (Jagger/Richards; inspired by Billy Preston):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmo-nvBzqmY

“Melody”, which is based off a song off of one of Billy Preston’s solo albums, hence the “Inspired By” bullshit. The personnel are Mick on lead vocals and foot-stomps, Keith on guitar, Bill on bass, Charlie on drums, Billy Preston on co-lead vocals/piano/organ, Ollie Brown on percussion, and unknown horn players.

Man, this shit actually made the album. How much cocaine were Mick and Billy on? Enough to make Keith look like an AA sponsor by comparison. Good God, this made a Stones album. This is almost Van Hagar bad. Fuck. Just….fuck.

And they played this shit in front of people.

7. “Fool To Cry” (Jagger/Richards):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B-2MenrnR2U

The most popular song off this album, featuring Mick on lead vocals and electric piano, Keith and Wayne Perkins on guitars, Bill on bass, Charlie on drums, and Nicky Hopkins on piano and synthesizer.

This song was written about the band members’ daughters and their experiences with the dads being away on tour or in the studio. Funny enough, Mick didn’t really think of this as a potential single, but now if any song off this album shows up on a compilation, this is the one.

I didn’t really like this song much when I was a kid, but now I adore it, I think it’s a really well written, well structured song. God, let’s talk about the amazing Nicky Hopkins. The man had a golden touch on the piano, always knew just what to play and compliment the song. He was just wonderful and he shows it on this song. Then you have Bill’s excellent bass line, the way the guitars and keyboards meld together is just fantastic. Also there is Charlie’s work on here-nice, subtle, very effective. I don’t know, maybe “Melody” makes this seem so much better but I love it.

8. “Crazy Mama” (Jagger/Richards):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c1mZf9CCyZE

Holy shit do we have a good one. This is the only song without Bill, so Keith Plays the bass instead in addition to lead and rhythm guitars and backing vocals, Mick on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Ronnie on lead guitar and backing vocals, Charlie on drums, Billy Preston on piano and backing vocals, and Ollie Brown on drums.

This is pure ducking Stones right here. Dirty riffs and guitars, that strutting swing, it’s just awesome. And this is the only traditionally Stones like tune on here, which is generally this weird little anomaly in the Stones discography as a result of the circumstances. And damn that cool little solo by Ronnie, this is my favorite song on the album.

FINAL VERDICT

It’s hardly a perfect album but overall, Black And Blue is quite a bit better than its reputation suggests. It catches the Stones between a Rock and a hard place-in terms of lineup, in terms of where they fit in contemporary music, and the state of Jagger and especially Richards who was super deep into the smack as a result.

Could I do without the vamping between Mick and Billy Preston or the hamfisted reggae cover? Of course, but it really shows a band taking a chance, more than they would in subsequent years.

I give this album a solid recommendation for the more open minded and curious music fans and/or Stones fans.

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