Dirty Work is a studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. It was released March 24, 1986 on the Rolling Stones label by CBS Records, their first under their new contract with Columbia Records. Produced by Steve Lillywhite, the album was recorded during a period when relations between Mick Jagger and Keith Richards had soured considerably, according to Richards’ autobiography Life.
The album was recorded during a time of turmoil for the band, as its two principal songwriters, Richards and Jagger, had been feuding over the band’s direction during most of the 1980s. Almost all of the band members had spent the previous few years working on solo albums or side projects. Some band members, including guitarist Ronnie Wood, drummer Charlie Watts and bassist Bill Wyman, were often absent from the studio during recording sessions; it was rare that all five principal members were together at the same time. It would be the last album to feature former member and frequent piano contributor Ian Stewart, who died shortly before the album’s release. As a result, a number of guest musicians appeared on the album, including guitarists Jimmy Page and Bobby Womack. Keyboards were played by Ivan Neville and Chuck Leavell, who would remain with the band for decades. Unlike most Stones albums, there was no supporting tour, as the level of animosity among band members prevented them from being able to work together live onstage.
Dirty Work sold well, reaching platinum or gold status in several countries, including the United States, Canada and the UK, and peaking as a top-10-charting album in over a dozen markets. The album spawned two top-40 hits: a cover of Bob & Earl’s song “Harlem Shuffle” and one of the songs written with Ronnie Wood, “One Hit (To the Body)”.
- “One Hit (To the Body)” 4:44
- “Fight” 3:09
- “Harlem Shuffle” 3:23
- “Hold Back” 3:53
- “Too Rude” 3:11
- “Winning Ugly” 4:32
- “Back to Zero” 4:00
- “Dirty Work” 3:53
- “Had It with You” 3:19
- “Sleep Tonight” 5:10
Mick Jagger – lead and backing vocals, harmonica
Keith Richards – electric and acoustic guitars, piano, backing vocals; lead vocals on “Too Rude” and “Sleep Tonight”
Ronnie Wood – electric, acoustic and pedal steel guitar, bass guitar, tenor saxophone, backing vocals; drums on “Too Rude” and “Sleep Tonight”
Bill Wyman – bass guitar, synthesizer
Charlie Watts – drums
Chuck Leavell – keyboards[22]
Ivan Neville – backing vocals, bass guitar, organ, synthesizer
Jimmy Page – lead electric guitar on “One Hit (To the Body)”[15]
Bobby Womack – backing vocals, electric guitar on “Back to Zero”
Philippe Saisse – keyboards
Anton Fig – shakers
John Regan – bass guitar on “Winning Ugly”
Dan Collette – trumpet
Ian Stewart – piano
Marku Ribas – percussion
Jimmy Cliff, Don Covay, Beverly D’Angelo, Kirsty MacColl, Dolette McDonald, Janice Pendarvis, Patti Scialfa and Tom Waits – backing vocals
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