Keith Richards Main Offender CD

For his second solo album, Keith Richards didn't mess too much with the formula that made his first outing (and all the "Keith songs" on Stones albums through the years) so great: smoldering, mid-tempo rockers with plenty of sloppy leads, simple rock melodies, and dabs of dub reggae and old-school soul. While it didn't make the commercial splash that his 1988 solo debut did, it is every bit as good. The stripped down production ensures that it will continue to age well amidst changing sonic fashions.



All songs written or co-written by Keith Richards.

Recorded at Master Sound Astoria, Studio 900 and Giant Recording Studios, New York; The Site, San Rafael, California.

Engineers: Tim Hatfield, Joe Blaney, Don Smith.

Personnel: Keith Richards (background vocals); Charley Drayton (baritone guitar); Crispin Cioe, Arno Hecht, Jack Bashkow (woodwinds); Ivan Neville (Clavinet); Sarah Dash, Steve Jordan, Babi Floyd, Waddy Wachtel, Bernard Fowler (background vocals).

Personnel: Keith Richards (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Waddy Wachtel (guitar, background vocals); Arno Hecht, Crispin Cioe, Jack Bashkow (horns); Ivan Neville (piano, harpsichord, organ, Clavinet, vibes, bass, background vocals); Charlie Drayton (guitar, piano, Hammond B-3 organ, bass, drums, background vocals); Steve Jordan (drums, background vocals); Sarah Dash, Bernard Fowler, Babi Floyd (background vocals).

Producers: Steve Jordan, Waddy Wachtel, Keith Richards.

Entertainment Weekly (11/6/92, p.64) - "..downright mesmerizing...Richards once again proves that the fever that has been raging through his much-abused veins for three full decades shows no sign of breaking anytime soon.." - Rating: A
Q (11/92, p.106) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "..what can an old Stone be expected to do, except roll on pretty much as he's always done and what's more, in the case of MAIN OFFENDER, do it just about as well as he's ever done it...just about all you could ask of a Keith Richards record.."
Audio Magazine (12/92, p.148) - Sound: B+ - Performance: B- - "..The voice seems rehabilitated and the aggressive guitar is classic Keith.."
NME (Magazine) (10/24/92, p.35) - 8 - Very Good - "..the glorious return of Keith Richards...the great man is in his element...The music spits, crackles and strokes through these grooves...courses with energy...It's all classic stuff.."