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 late-'70s Dylan. Approaching the album's end, the melancholic "Locked Away" provides an antidote to the head-bobbing rhythm of "Rockawhile" and the angular closing punch of "It Means a Lot." Richards's understated vocal delivery and blues-drenched guitar lines (which manage to sound simultaneously clean, spare, and gloriously sleazy) earmark this fine collection of tunes.
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.
All songs co-written by Keith Richards and Steve Jordan.
Recorded at Air Studios, Montserrat, Switzerland and Le Studio, Montreal, Canada.
Composers: Keith Richards; Steve Jordan .
Personnel: Keith Richards (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, percussion, background vocals); Keith Richards; Stanley Dural (accordion); Jimmi Kinnard, Ben Cauly, Gary Topper, Jimmi Kinnard, Willie Mitchell, Ben Cauley (horns); Joey Spampinato, Bootsy Collins (bass guitar); Sam Bulter, Sam Butler (background vocals); Sarah Dash (vocals, background vocals); Waddy Wachtel (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar); Mick Taylor (guitar); Michael Doucet (violin); Maceo Parker (alto saxophone); Bobby Keys (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); The Memphis Horns (horns, percussion); James Mitchell , Andrew Love, Jack Hale (horns); Ivan Neville (piano, keyboards); Johnnie Johnson (piano); Bernie Worrell (Clavinet, organ); Chuck Leavell (organ); Steve Jordan (bass guitar, drums, congas, percussion, background vocals); Charley Drayton (drums, background vocals); Patti Scialfa (background vocals); Stanley 'Buckwheat' Dural.
Audio Mixers: Don Smith ; Joe Blaney.
Recording information: Air Studios Montserrat, Montreal, Canada; Atlantic Studios; Bermuda Sound Recording Studios; HIt Factory; House of Music; Le Studio, Montreal, Canada; Royal Recording Studio; Studio 900; Studio, Montreal, Canada; The Hit Factory, New York, NY.
Photographer: Sante d'Orazio.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Jack Hale; Andrew Love; James Mitchell ; James J. Mitchell; Gary Topper; Jimmi Kinnard; Willie Mitchell; Ben Cauley.
Arranger: Willie Mitchell.
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).
Keith Richards; Steve Jordan; Keith Richards; Steve Jordan
Engineer
David Dorn; Paul Milner; Robert Berry; Richard Ealey; Julio Pena; Roger Talkov; David Kennedy; Don Smith; Donald Smith; Richard Moakes; Joe Blaney; Joe Ferla; David Dorn; Richard Moakes; Paul Milner; Robert Berry; Richard Ealey; Julio Pena; Noah Barton; Roger Talkov
Main Offender Is Better I think Main Offender is a lot better. It's more like Keith and less like the Stones than Talk Is Cheap and it has better songwriting. Submitted by Craig (Lusby, MD) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 2 found this helpful.
REMARKABLE COLLECTION Mr.Richards distinguishes himself vocally here as frontman, and of course, his signature guitar style is ever present. Being a longtime guitarist myself, and Stones fan, my only regret is I hadn't grabbed this up some time ago. Submitted by dcrumley2003 (Southeast - USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
verryyy fine Keith shows he don't need no front man.
Im sure this gig gave him alot of "Satisfaction"
Did me.
Kim Submitted by a reviewer (Ofallon Missouri) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Near Classic Keith has 3 near classic rock tracks here, namely "Take It So Hard", which is a reach out and grab ya guitar god riff. Also "How I Wish", which is just plain fun, and "Whip It Up" which if produced better could again stand on it's own. I love Keith, but he lacks the overall polish that makes good songs great. Make no mistake - some of them could be if polished arrangement-wise and perhaps lyric-wise. Submitted by DC (Simi Valley, CA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
A true classic by a REAL CLASS ACT Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones...need I say more??? Submitted by faust8577 (Lorraine, Que. Canada) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 0 of 1 found this helpful.
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Main Offender Is Better
REMARKABLE COLLECTION
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