Review: Black And Blue

Hot Stuff Hand Of Fate Cherry Oh Baby Memory Motel Hey Negrita Melody Fool To Cry Crazy Mama

Date: April 20, 1976; CD released July 26, 1994

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 players: Wayne Perkins (acoustic & electric guitars); Harvey Mandel (guitar); Billy Preston (piano, organ); Nicky Hopkins (piano, synthesizer); Ollie Brown (cowbell, percussion); Ian Stewart (percussion).

Producer: The Glimmer Twins

Engineers: Keith Harwood, Glyn Johns, Phil McDonald, Len Hahn.

Recorded: Musicland Studios, Munich, Germany between December 1974 and April 1975. Digitally remastered by Bob Ludwig (Gateway Mastering Studios).

Black And Blue is the first Stones album with Ron Wood (he appeared on the album "courtesy of Warner Bros. Records"). It has been said that Wood is not as technically proficient as Mick Taylor but I prefer Ronnie's playing. Wood somehow manages to instill a sense of fun in whatever he plays. Because of this unusual talent, he is a perfect partner for Keith Richards. Together they seem to be having fun again and it shows.

There was a heaviness on It's Only Rock And Roll that has been banished on Black And Blue. The relative lightness of the album does not make it any less worthy. In some ways Black And Blue is a continuation of the evolution of the Stones. "Cherry Oh Baby" is the next step after "Luxury" in the band's search for the perfect "Blue-eyed Reggae" song.

"Memory Motel" is my personal favorite on the album. I discovered the song (and the album) when I was going through a rather horrible break-up. I remember singing "You're just a memory/of a love that used to be" over and over. I probably drove the neighbors crazy but it made me feel better (thanks guys). Eventually I got over my heartache and listened to the rest of the songs on the album. Unfortunately the only one I liked was "Fool To Cry". Sigh.

Over the years most of the songs have grown on me. I think I dislike it because some of the songs have a "70s sound" ("Hot Stuff") that drives me crazy. I do not want to remember the 70s - I call it the decade that taste forgot. Once I get passed that little prejudice, if find that I really like Billy Preston's piano on "Melody". "Hand Of Fate" is an interesting song, though it is hard to imagine Mick with a reason to feel sorry for himself.

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