Keith Richards Talk Is Cheap CD

1988 debut solo album from the legendary Rolling Stones guitarist that was co-produced with drummer Steve Jordan. This also marked the first appearance of his backing band, The X-Pensive Winos, who provide loose but disciplined backing for the Rock hero. Veteran Funk masters William "Bootsy" Collins and keyboardist Bernie Worrell contributed their talents as well.

Personnel includes: Keith Richards (vocals, guitar, percussion); Waddy Wachtel (guitar); Michael Doucet (violin); Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural (accordion); Maceo Parker (alto saxophone); Bobby Keys (tenor & baritone saxophone); Johnnie Johnson (piano); Ivan Neville (piano, keyboards); Bernie Worrell (organ, clavinet); Chuck Leavell (organ); "Bootsy" Collins, Joey Spampinato (bass); Charley Drayton (bass, drums, vocals), Steve Jordan (drums, percussion, bass, background vocals); Sarah Dash, Patti Scialfa, Sam Butler (background vocals).
Recorded at Air Studios, Montserrat, Switzerland and Le Studio, Montreal, Canada.
All songs co-written by Keith Richards and Steve Jordan.
Personnel: Keith Richards (acoustic guitar); Mick Taylor, Waddy Wachtel (guitar); Michael Doucet (violin); Stanley 'Buckwheat' Dural (accordion); Maceo Parker (alto saxophone); Bobby Keys (tenor saxophone); Jimmi Kinnard, Ben Cauly, James Mitchell , Andrew Love, Jack Hale (horns); Johnnie Johnson (piano); Bernie Worrell (Clavinet); Chuck Leavell (organ); Ivan Neville (keyboards); Joey Spampinato, Bootsy Collins (bass guitar); Charley Drayton (drums); Sam Bulter, Patti Scialfa, Sarah Dash, Steve Jordan (background vocals); The Memphis Horns.
In 1987, it was anyone's guess if the Stones would ever get back together. Sure, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were well known for their public disagreements, but when Jagger decided to tour in support of his second solo album, Primitive Cool, Richards was disheartened and finally succumbed to the idea of recording without the Rolling Stones. Taking the band he had assembled to back up Chuck Berry for the Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll documentary (along with longtime session player Waddy Wachtel), Richards put together an album that was straightforward, musical, and better than a good portion of the Stones' output in the first half of the '80s. The lead single "Take It So Hard," "Whip It Up," and "Struggle" are classic Richards riffology, and tracks like "Locked Away" are emotional without being maudlin and worldly but not sounding adult contemporary. The main point of Talk Is Cheap is the music, nothing more; Richards obviously didn't want to fret about anything but the groove. While Jagger's solo work sounded like Mick with some studio musicians, Keith had assembled a band, found a productive songwriting partner in Steve Jordan, and created a record that was free of frills. Simply put, Richards sounded like he was playing for himself, and playing with a certain sense of enjoyment. The new band, the X-pensive Winos, had a different work ethic than the Stones, forcing Richards to focus on the music. What resulted was a solid album built on fundamentals rather than style. It's hard not to see who the real musical force was in the Stones after hearing Talk Is Cheap. ~ Chris True
The first solo outing from Mr. Rock & Roll himself, TALK IS CHEAP is a solid, rootsy effort with something for everyone. The opening cut, "Big Enough," mines a deep funk groove (abetted by veteran funksters Bootsy Collins and Bernie Worrell of Parliament/Funkadelic fame) and makes it clear that the set will not be pure Stones revival. While "Take It So Hard" kicks off with the clarion call of Keith Richards's signature guitar sound and echoes the vibe of Stones songs "Happy" and "Tumbling Dice," it lays claim to its own distinctive mood.
"I Could Have Stood You Up" hearkens back to the swinging rock & roll of the 1950s, complete with doo-wop backing vocals and honky-tonk piano, before segueing into mid-tempo, emotive tracks "Make No Mistake" and "You Don't Move Me," recalling