The Rolling Stones have ended their teasing of expectant fans via social media, by announcing that their first studio album in more than a decade will pay homage to their love of blues Music. Recorded in a staggering three days, Blue & Lonesome features cover versions of songs by many blues legends, including Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon and Jimmy Reed.
Return to their blues roots
Recorded at west London’s British Grove Studios and at Eel Pie Island, the new album allowed the band to embrace their musical roots, with tracks by other noted American artists such as Eddie Taylor and Little Walter also receiving an endorsement by the Stones.
Seeking a “spontaneous” sound
By recording the new material live, band members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts were seeking a “spontaneous” sound. Creativity has never been something that the timeless rockers have ever been short of, with the new release marking their 24th studio production.
Grammy Award-winning producer
For those struggling for inspiration regarding Christmas presents, seasoned music lovers will no doubt appreciate the planned release date of 2nd December on Polydor Records. Continuity has been ensured by the involvement of trusted producer and Grammy Award winner Don Was, a man very familiar to Stones’ aficionados having worked with the group on several previous projects, including past albums Voodoo Lounge and Forty Licks.
Was – full name Don Edward Fagenson - backed their latest collaboration by suggesting that it was “testament to the purity of their love for making music,” with a return to their blues background being a perfectly natural source to draw upon.
Eric Clapton dropped in
The band also utilised the talents of guitar great Eric Clapton on the album, the septuagenarian dropping in to their recording sessions as he was working on his own material in a nearby studio at the time.
Return to the studio
Despite continuing their hectic touring schedule in the meantime, Blue & Lonesome is the first studio album that the Stones have released since A Bigger Bang back in 2005. There has been some new material to whet the appetite in the meantime though on a compilation album in 2012, with the intriguingly titled Grrrr! incorporating brand new tracks “Doom and Gloom” and “One More Shot”.
