15 New from $17.76 27 Used from $2.54 3 Collectible from $19.95
Principally recorded at Musicland Studios, Munich, Germany between December 1974 & April 1975.
With BLACK AND BLUE the Rolling Stones geared up for another installment of records as the world's best-loved rock and roll band. Aided by Ronnie Wood's enrollment as foil to Keith's unmistakable guitar, BLACK AND BLUE assured, to those who dared doubt, a new era had begun.
Flavoring their existing rhythm-and-blues format with Caribbean beats and cocktail-swilling pianos, BLACK AND BLUE's strongest moments are in the band's obvious enjoyment. Catering to Mick's lounge-act instincts, "Melody" seems the obvious precursor to "Miss You," allowing Billy Preston's piano and vocal harmony to carry the Stones with a more stylized, less formulaic batch of songs.
BLACK AND BLUE was the resting period which allowed the band to release a followup album with the punch of SOME GIRLS. The casualness of the album's material served as perfect contrast to the Motown-esque stylings of IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL and allowed the band to save their energy for another decade of releases.
Personnel: Keith Richards (vocals, guitar, electric guitar, keyboards); Mick Jagger (vocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboards); Ron Wood (vocals, guitar); Billy Preston (vocals, piano, organ, keyboards); Bill Wyman (vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, bass guitar); Harvey Mandel, Wayne Perkins (guitar, electric guitar); Arif Mardin (horns); Nicky Hopkins (organ, keyboards); Charlie Watts (drums, bass drum); Ollie E. Brown (percussion).
The Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger (vocals, piano, percussion); Keith Richards (vocals, guitar, piano); Ron Wood (guitar, background vocals); Bill Wyman (bass, percussion, background vocals); Charlie Watts (drums, percussion).
Additional personnel: Wayne Perkins (acoustic & electric guitars); Harvey Mandel (guitar); Billy Preston (piano, organ); Nicky Hopkins (piano, synthesizer); Ollie Brown (cowbell, percussion); Ian Stewart (percussion).
Rolling Stone (p.182) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[With] some of the most energized performances in the Stones canon." NME (Magazine) (7/9/94, p.43) - 7 - Very Good - "...used as in-the-deep-end auditions for some of rock's guitar alumni before plucking good old Ron Wood from the disintegrating Faces..."
Stones Best Album The Stones best album? It's impossible to say really because over half their albums will have thousands of fans all around the world claiming that distinction for one of a dozen or so brilliant albums. What I will say is that it's my favourite - and I've got them all, from the very beginning. It's not their best blues album, that's for sure. It's not their best rock 'n' roll album either. It's certainly not their best R 'n' B album. But it is musically their most innovative and original album. This album has energy, charisma, originality, tunes, quality and fire. It broke the mold. It gave something new and different. Eight superbly crafted songs - and all different. No chance of getting bored here. Because they are all so different it's almost impossible to decide on a favorite track - so I won't. But if you want a Stones album that is creative but not a typical Stones album, this is one to consider and buy. They dared to be different. They perhaps lost a handful of fans who couldn't cope with change. But boy, they succeeded in spades with Black and Blue. Submitted by Chris (Sussex, England.) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
this one is great for a blast from the past! when mick sings on this one he is putting his heart and soul into it. it has been a while since i have listened to some of these songs and i sang every note! keep on rockin'! Submitted by a reviewer (south san francisco, california) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
THE GROOVIEST STONES ALBUM Half of the album are classic Stones, with "Hand Of Fate" and "Fool To Cry" leading the pack (both rates very high as two of their best 70s tracks). The other half shows the band experimenting (and having fun) with different elements of black music applied to their own sound; "Hot Stuff" and "Hey Negrita" are 2 great electric funk tracks with fantastic guitars and killer rythm section (Bill & Charlie at their best); "Melody" is the highlight of the album IMO, a perfect combination of sophistication & class with an awesome Billy Preston on organ & backing vocals. "Cherry Oh Baby" is the only weak track, they wanted to do a reggae song in this album but they hadn't yet found the winning formula to play reggae (and in my humble opinion they never found it, with the exception of "Send It To Me" in "Emotional Rescue"). Not their best, but one of their albums I enjoy more to listen to.
Submitted by Stonedeluxe (Caracas, Venezuela) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Hey Negrita! When the record came out I was in a strip club in Manhattan watching some babe shake her stuff to Hey Negrita! She was hott!! I still get aroused whenever I hear that song. Great variety. An emotional roller coaster. Submitted by JohnEBGood (Jersey Shore, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
great dance party album... I've had tons of chicks who know WHO the stones are but only heard the overplayed rockers, pop in this dancie album and their yours. Remember chicks love to boogie. Many long nights and hungover days with this album still playing.. Submitted by glimmer twin (Chicago Il) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Stones Best Album
Hey Negrita!
Share this Product