Monday 5/16/22 8am ET: Feature LP: Rolling Stones – Out of Our Heads (1965)

Out of Our Heads is the 3rd British and 4th American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released in two editions with different covers and track listings. In the US, London Records released it on July 30, 1965, while Decca Records released its UK edition on September 24, 1965.

Besides the key band members of singer Mick Jagger, guitarists Brian Jones and Keith Richards, bassist Bill Wyman, and drummer Charlie Watts, the album also contains musical contributions from former Rolling Stones member Ian Stewart. It was produced by the group’s manager Andrew Loog Oldham.

As with the prior two albums, it consists mostly of covers of American blues, soul and rhythm and blues songs, though the group wrote some of their own material for this album (4 out of the 12 tracks on the UK version, and 6 out of 12 for the USA version). The American version contains “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”, which would be the band’s first number one US hit, and would go on to top the charts in 10 other countries, including the band’s native UK, and being ranked as the second greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone.

Out of Our Heads became the group’s first number one on the American Billboard 200 album chart; in the UK it charted at number two.

1. “Mercy, Mercy” 2:45
2. “Hitch Hike” 2:25
3. “The Last Time” 3:41
4. “That’s How Strong My Love Is” 2:25
5. “Good Times” 1:58
6. “I’m All Right” 2:25
7. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” 3:42
8. “Cry to Me” 3:09
9. “The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man” 3:07
10. “Play with Fire” 2:13
11. “The Spider and the Fly” 3:39
12. “One More Try” 1:58

Mick Jagger – lead vocals, backing vocals, harmonica (on “The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man”), tambourine (on “Play with Fire”)
Keith Richards – electric guitar, backing vocals, acoustic guitar (on “The Last Time” and “Play with Fire”)
Brian Jones – electric guitar, acoustic guitar (on “Good Times” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”), harmonica (on “The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man” and “One More Try”), backing vocals
Bill Wyman – bass guitar, backing vocals
Charlie Watts – drums
Jack Nitzsche – percussion, piano (on “Satisfaction”), organ (on “Cry to Me”), harpsichord (on “Play with Fire”)[citation needed]
Phil Spector – tuned-down electric guitar (on “Play with Fire”)[citation needed]
Ian Stewart – piano, marimba (on “Good Times”)

Thursday 3/10/22 10am ET: Feature LP: Rolling Stones – Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2) (1969)

Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2) is the second compilation album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released September 12, 1969 by Decca Records in the UK and London Records/ABKCO Records in the US.

“Paint It Black” – 3:20 (from Aftermath)
“Ruby Tuesday” – 3:12 (from Between the Buttons)
“She’s a Rainbow” – 4:35 (from Their Satanic Majesties Request)
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash” – 3:40 (from London single 908)
“Mother’s Little Helper” – 2:40 (from Flowers)
“Let’s Spend the Night Together” – 3:29 (from Between the Buttons)
“Honky Tonk Women” – 3:03 (from London single 910)
“Dandelion” – 3:56 (from London single 905)
“2000 Light Years from Home” – 4:45 (from Their Satanic Majesties Request)
“Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?” – 2:33 (from Flowers)
“Street Fighting Man” – 3:10 (from Beggars Banquet)

Mick Jagger – lead vocals, percussion, harmonica
Brian Jones – guitar, harmonica, sitar, piano, tambura, mellotron, recorder, organ, backing vocals
Keith Richards – guitar, backing vocals, bass guitar, double bass
Mick Taylor – guitar on ‘Honky Tonk Women’
Bill Wyman – bass guitar, organ, double bass, backing vocals
Charlie Watts – drums, percussion
John Paul Jones – string arrangement on She’s A Rainbow.

Thursday 2/17/22 10pm ET: Feature LP: Rolling Stones – Exile On Main St. (1972)

Exile on Main St. is the 10th British and 12th American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on May 12, 1972 by Rolling Stones Records. Recording began in 1969 in England during sessions for Sticky Fingers and continued in mid-1971 at a rented villa in the South of France named Nellcôte while the band lived abroad as tax exiles. A collage of various images, the album’s artwork, according to frontman Mick Jagger, reflects the Rolling Stones as “runaway outlaws using the blues as its weapon against the world”, showcasing “feeling of joyful isolation, grinning in the face of a scary and unknown future”.

Working with a mobile recording studio, the loose and unorganised Nellcôte sessions went on for hours into the night, with personnel varying greatly from day to day. The recording was completed with overdub sessions at Los Angeles’s Sunset Sound and included additional musicians such as pianist Nicky Hopkins, saxophonist Bobby Keys, drummer Jimmy Miller and horn player Jim Price. The resulting music was rooted in blues, rock and roll, swing, country and gospel, while the lyrics explored themes related to hedonism, sex and time. These newly recorded tracks were combined with some tracks recorded at earlier sessions from 1969–1971, resulting in the Stones’ first double album.

Exile on Main St. contains frequently performed concert staples and was a number one charting album in six countries, including the UK, US, and Canada. It spawned the hit songs “Happy”, a rare song that featured Keith Richards on lead vocals, country music ballad “Sweet Virginia”, and worldwide top-ten hit “Tumbling Dice”. A remastered and expanded version of the album was released in 2010 featuring a bonus disc with 10 new tracks. Unusual for a re-release, it also charted highly at the time of its release, reaching number one in the UK and number two in the US.

The album was originally met with mixed reviews before a positive critical reassessment during the 1970s. It has since been viewed by many critics as the Rolling Stones’ best work and a culmination of a string of the band’s highly critically successful albums, following the releases of Beggars Banquet (1968), Let It Bleed (1969) and Sticky Fingers (1971). Rolling Stone magazine has ranked Exile on Main St. number 7 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2003 and 2012, and dropping to number 14 in the 2020 edition, the highest Rolling Stones album ranked on the list. In 2012, the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the band’s fourth album to be inducted.

1. “Rocks Off” 4:31
2. “Rip This Joint” 2:22
3. “Shake Your Hips” 2:59
4. “Casino Boogie” 3:33
5. “Tumbling Dice” 3:45
6. “Sweet Virginia” 4:27
7. “Torn and Frayed” 4:17
8. “Sweet Black Angel” 2:54
9. “Loving Cup” 4:25
10. “Happy” 3:04
11. “Turd on the Run” 2:36
12. “Ventilator Blues” 3:24
13. “I Just Want to See His Face” 2:52
14. “Let It Loose” 5:16
15. “All Down the Line” 3:49
16. “Stop Breaking Down” 4:34
17. “Shine a Light” 4:14
18. “Soul Survivor” 3:49

Mick Jagger – lead vocals, backing vocals; harmonica (on “Shake Your Hips”, “Sweet Virginia”, “Sweet Black Angel”, “Turd on the Run” and “Stop Breaking Down”); electric guitar (on “Tumbling Dice” and “Stop Breaking Down”)
Keith Richards – guitars, backing vocals; bass guitar (on “Casino Boogie”, “Happy” and “Soul Survivor”); electric piano (on “I Just Want to See His Face”); lead vocals (on “Happy”); lead vocals (on “Soul Survivor (alternate)”
Mick Taylor – guitars (on all but “Tumbling Dice”, “Torn and Frayed” and “Happy”); bass guitar (on “Tumbling Dice”, “Torn and Frayed”, “I Just Want to See His Face” and “Shine a Light”)
Bill Wyman – bass guitar (on “Rocks Off”, “Shake Your Hips”, “Sweet Virginia”, “Sweet Black Angel”, “Loving Cup”, “Ventilator Blues”, “Let It Loose” and “Stop Breaking Down”)
Charlie Watts – drums (on all tracks except “Tumbling Dice” (outro), “Happy” and “Shine a Light”)
Nicky Hopkins – keyboards
Bobby Keys – tenor saxophone; percussion (on “Happy”)
Jim Price – trumpet; organ (on “Torn and Frayed”)
Ian Stewart – piano (on “Shake Your Hips”, “Sweet Virginia” and “Stop Breaking Down”)
Jimmy Miller – percussion (on “Sweet Black Angel”, “Loving Cup”, “I Just Want to See His Face” and “All Down the Line”), drums (on “Tumbling Dice” (outro), “Happy” and “Shine a Light”)
Bill Plummer – double bass (on “Rip This Joint”, “Turd on the Run”, “I Just Want to See His Face” and “All Down the Line”)
Billy Preston – piano, organ (on “Shine a Light”)
Al Perkins – pedal steel guitar (on “Torn and Frayed”)
Richard “Didymus” Washington – marimba (on “Sweet Black Angel”)
Venetta Fields, Clydie King – backing vocals (on “Tumbling Dice”, “I Just Want to See His Face”, “Let It Loose” and “Shine a Light”)
Joe Greene – backing vocals (on “Let It Loose” and “Shine a Light”)
Jerry Kirkland – backing vocals (on “I Just Want to See His Face” and “Shine a Light”)
Shirley Goodman, Tami Lynn, Mac Rebennack — backing vocals (on “Let It Loose”)
Kathi McDonald – backing vocals (on “All Down the Line”)

Tuesday 2/1/22 8pm ET: Feature LP: Rolling Stones – Rewind (1971 – 1984) (1984)

Rewind (1971–1984) is a compilation album by English rock band The Rolling Stones, released July 2, 1984. Coming only three years after Sucking in the Seventies, the album was primarily compiled to mark the end of the band’s alliance with Warner Music (in North America) and EMI (all other territories), both of whom were the distributors of Rolling Stones Records. It is the second Rolling Stones album to include a lyric sheet (after 1978’s Some Girls).

For the first time since 1969’s Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2), the UK and US editions of Rewind (1971–1984) would each feature different track listings, reflecting the individual tastes of both territories. The American CD version featured the US top 20 hits from 1971-1983, with the exception of “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”.

Released in the summer of 1984, Rewind (1971–1984) was not as successful as previous compilations, reaching No. 23 in the UK and No. 86 in the US, though it went gold in the latter. The album marked the first official Rolling Stones CD release in the United States and featured the additional tracks “It’s Only Rock’n Roll (But I Like It)” and “Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)”. The compilation was accompanied by a companion home video release, Video Rewind, released November 14, 1984.

With later compilations Jump Back: The Best of The Rolling Stones (1993) and Forty Licks (2002) superseding it, Rewind (1971–1984) eventually fell out of print.

“Miss You” – 4:48
“Brown Sugar” – 3:49
“Undercover of the Night” – 4:31
“Start Me Up” – 3:31
“Tumbling Dice” – 3:37
“Hang Fire” – 2:21
“Emotional Rescue” – 5:40
“Beast of Burden” – 4:27
“Fool to Cry” – 5:05
“Waiting On a Friend” – 4:34
“Angie” – 4:31
“It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll (But I Like It)” and “Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)” were added to the CD and cassette releases.

Monday 1/10/22 4pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1981 (by title) A to Z – Part 5

This RadioMax special features our Library of music from 1981 A2Z.

We complete letter E and start F. We feature music from: Stevie Nicks, Oak Ridge Boys, Elton John, AC/DC, Michael Stanley Band, Olivia Newton-john, Meat Loaf, Whispers, David Bowie, Haircut 100, Rolling Stones, Jefferson Starship, Triumph and many more. . .

4pm to 7pm ET

Thursday 12/30/21 2pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1973 A to Z – Part 3

This RadioMax special features our Library of music from 1973 A2Z.

We continue with letter C and start D with music from: Spinners, Byrds, Buckingham Nicks, Led Zeppelin, America, King Harvest, Chicago, Joe Walsh, Doobie Brothers, Elton John, War, Helen Reddy, Who, Jimmy Buffett, Anne Murray, Archie Bell and The Drells and many more.

2pm to 6pm ET

1973-episode-3Download

Wednesday 12/29/21 2pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1973 A to Z – Part 2

This RadioMax special features our Library of music from 1973 A2Z.

We continue with letter B and start C with music from: Elton John, Carole King, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Judge Dread, Alice Cooper, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Dave Edmunds, Faces, Who, Rolling Stones, Millie Jackson, Jim Croce, Blue Oyster Cult and many more.

2pm to 6pm ET

Friday 12/24/21 10pm ET: Feature LP: Rolling Stones – Undercover (1983)

Undercover is the 17th British and 19th American studio album by English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on November 7, 1983 by Rolling Stones Records. The band would move the label to Columbia Records for its follow-up, 1986’s Dirty Work.

After the band’s preceding studio album Tattoo You (1981) was mostly patched together from a selection of outtakes, Undercover was their first release of all-new recordings in the 1980s. Tensions in the studio were high, as each of the principal songwriters wanted to take the band in a different direction. Vocalist Mick Jagger sought to adapt to modern trends in music, favouring reggae, worldbeat, and new wave musical textures, while guitarist Keith Richards wanted the band to return to their blues rock roots. As a result, the album is an eclectic collection of songs covering a wide range of styles. Besides the other principal band members, including guitarist Ronnie Wood, bassist Bill Wyman, and drummer Charlie Watts, the album featured many guest musicians. It would be the last album released during the lifetime of Ian Stewart, a former member of the band and frequent contributor on piano.

It would be the first Rolling Stones album in more than a decade to miss reaching No. 1 on the U.S. album charts, peaking at No. 4. Three singles were released from the album, with the highest-charting being top-40 release “Undercover of the Night.”

1. “Undercover of the Night” 4:31
2. “She Was Hot” 4:40
3. “Tie You Up (The Pain of Love)” 4:16
4. “Wanna Hold You” 3:52
5. “Feel On Baby” 5:03
6. “Too Much Blood” 6:14
7. “Pretty Beat Up” 4:03
8. “Too Tough” 3:52
9. “All the Way Down” 3:12
10. “It Must Be Hell” 5:03

Mick Jagger – lead and backing vocals, electric guitar, harmonica
Keith Richards – electric guitar, backing vocals; lead vocals on “Wanna Hold You”; bass guitar on “Pretty Beat Up”
Ronnie Wood – electric and slide guitar, backing vocals; bass guitar on “Tie You Up” and “Wanna Hold You”
Bill Wyman – bass guitar, percussion; piano on “Pretty Beat Up”
Charlie Watts – drums
Chuck Leavell – keyboards, organ, piano
Ian Stewart – piano on “She Was Hot” and “Pretty Beat Up”, percussion
David Sanborn – saxophone
CHOPS – horns
Sly Dunbar – percussion
Robbie Shakespeare – bass guitar
Moustapha Cissé – percussion
Ibrahima Coundoul – percussion
Martin Ditcham – percussion
Jim Barber – main electric guitar on “Too Much Blood”

Sunday 11/14/21 10am ET: Feature LP: Rolling Stones – Tattoo You (1981) 2021 Remaster

Tattoo You is the 16th British and 18th American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on August 24, 1981 by Rolling Stones Records. The album is mostly composed of studio outtakes recorded during the 1970s, and contains one of the band’s most well-known songs, “Start Me Up”, which hit number two on the US Billboard singles charts.

A combination of touring obligations and personal feuding between band members made it difficult to arrange dedicated recording sessions for the band’s follow-up to 1980’s Emotional Rescue. As a result, the band’s production team combed through unused recordings from prior sessions, some dating back almost a decade. While a few of the songs were used essentially as-is in their original form, most of these earlier recordings were not complete, consisting of song fragments requiring much work. Studio time was booked throughout 1980 and 1981 and band members came in when available to finish off the tracks.

The credited members of the Rolling Stones for the album were vocalist Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts, though two tracks feature former Stones guitarist Mick Taylor. Keyboardists Nicky Hopkins, Billy Preston and Ian Stewart also appear on the album.

The album proved to be both a critical and commercial success upon release, reaching the top of the US Billboard 200. To date, it is the final Rolling Stones album to reach the top position of the US charts, thus concluding the band’s string of eight consecutive number-one albums there, dating back to 1971’s Sticky Fingers. In 1989, it was ranked No. 34 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s. In 2003, the album was ranked number 211 on Rolling Stone’s list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, then re-ranked number 213 in the 2012 revised list. Peter Corriston, who was responsible for the album cover’s concept origination, art direction and design, won a Grammy Award in the category of Best Album Package.

A remastered 40th-anniversary edition of the album was released on October 22, 2021. It features nine previously unreleased tracks and a 1982 concert at Wembley Stadium.

1. “Start Me Up” 3:31
2. “Hang Fire” 2:20
3. “Slave” 4:55
4. “Little T&A” 3:23
5. “Black Limousine” 3:32
6. “Neighbours” 3:31
7. “Worried About You” 5:16
8. “Tops” 3:45
9. “Heaven” 4:21
10. “No Use in Crying” 3:24
11. “Waiting on a Friend” 4:34
12. “Living in the Heart of Love” 4:13
13. “Fiji Jim” 4:01
14. “Troubles a’ Comin’” 4:16
15. “Shame Shame Shame” 4:14
16. “Drift Away” 4:07
17. “It’s a Lie” 4:57
18. “Come to the Ball” 3:41
19. “Fast Talking, Slow Walking” 5:40
20. “Start Me Up” (Early Version) 4:40

Mick Jagger – lead vocals (all but 4), backing vocals (all but 5); electric guitar (9 & 10); percussion (track 9)
Keith Richards – electric guitar (all but 9), backing vocals (1–4, 6, 7 & 10); lead vocals and bass guitar (track 4)
Ronnie Wood – electric guitar (all but 3, 7–9 & 11), backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 6 & 10)
Bill Wyman – bass guitar (all but 4); guitars, synthesizer and percussion (track 9)
Charlie Watts – drums
Mick Taylor – electric guitar (8 & 11)
Nicky Hopkins – piano (8, 10 & 11); organ (10)
Ian Stewart – piano (2 & 4–6)
Billy Preston – keyboards (3 & 7)
Wayne Perkins – electric lead guitar (7)
Ollie E. Brown – percussion (3 & 7)
Pete Townshend – backing vocals (3)
Sonny Rollins – saxophone (3, 6 & 11)
Jimmy Miller – percussion (8)
Michael Carabello – cowbell (1); conga (3); güiro, claves, cabasa and conga (11)
Chris Kimsey – electric piano (9)
Barry Sage – handclaps (1)
Sugar Blue – harmonica (5)

Tuesday 10/5/21 12am ET: Feature LP: Rolling Stones – It’s Only Rock and Roll (1974)

It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll is the 12th British and 14th American studio album by English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on October 18, 1974 by Rolling Stones Records. It was the last Rolling Stones album to feature guitarist Mick Taylor; the songwriting and recording of the album’s title track had a connection to Taylor’s eventual replacement, Ronnie Wood. It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll combines the core blues and rock ‘n’ roll-oriented sound with elements of funk and reggae. It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll reached number one in the United States and number two in the UK.

Though it wasn’t as successful as their prior albums, It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll was an important transitional album for the Rolling Stones. Following the departure of long-time producer Jimmy Miller, the album was self-produced by guitarist Keith Richards and singer Mick Jagger under the pseudonym “The Glimmer Twins”. Taylor, bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts played on most of the tracks, while frequent collaborators Ian Stewart, Nicky Hopkins, and Billy Preston contributed additional instrumentation. The album featured the first appearance of percussionist Ray Cooper, who would continue to work with the Rolling Stones into the 1980s.

The title track bears special note as it was recorded separately from the rest of the album. The basic rhythm track had been laid down by members of the Faces, including Wood and drummer Kenney Jones, during a jam session with Jagger, David Bowie, and bassist Willie Weeks. Jagger liked the song so much, he brought the basic track to Richards, who added some guitar overdubs, and after some polishing, it was put on the album as-is. In 1975, the band began auditioning guitarists including Jeff Beck, Wayne Perkins, Harvey Mandel and Rory Gallagher as possible replacements, while recording the next studio album Black and Blue (1976).

1. “If You Can’t Rock Me” 3:46
2. “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” 3:30
3. “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It)” 5:07
4. “Till the Next Goodbye” 4:37
5. “Time Waits for No One” 6:37
6. “Luxury” 5:00
7. “Dance Little Sister” 4:11
8. “If You Really Want to Be My Friend” 6:16
9. “Short and Curlies” 2:43
10. “Fingerprint File” 6:33

Mick Jagger – lead vocals (all tracks), backing vocals (1–6, 9), acoustic guitar (4), electric guitar (10)
Keith Richards – electric guitar (all including slide on 4), backing vocals (1–6, 8, 9), acoustic guitar (4, 8), bass guitar (1)
Mick Taylor – electric guitar (1, 5, 7–9), acoustic guitar (4, 5), bass guitar (10)
Bill Wyman – bass guitar (2, 4–9), synthesizer (5, 10)
Charlie Watts – drums (all but 3)
Nicky Hopkins – piano (4–6, 8, 10)
Billy Preston – piano (1, 2, 10), clavinet (2, 10), organ (8)
Ian Stewart – piano (3, 7, 9)
Ray Cooper – percussion (1, 2, 5, 6)
Blue Magic – backing vocals (8)
Charlie Jolly – tabla (10)
Ed Leach – cowbell (2)

In Memoriam: Charlie Watts (1941 – 2021)

Charles Robert Watts (June 2, 1941 – August 24, 2021) was an English drummer, best known as a member of the Rolling Stones since 1963. Originally trained as a graphic artist, he started playing drums in London’s rhythm and blues clubs, where he met Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards. In January 1963, he joined their fledgling group, the Rolling Stones, as drummer, while doubling as designer of their record sleeves and tour stages. Watts was the only Rolling Stones member other than Jagger or Richards to have been featured on all of their studio albums. He cited jazz as a major influence on his drumming style. He toured with his own group, the Charlie Watts Quintet, and appeared in London at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club with the Charlie Watts Tentet.

In 2006, Watts was elected into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame; in the same year, Vanity Fair elected him into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame. In the estimation of noted music critic Robert Christgau, Watts was “rock’s greatest drummer.” In 2016, he was ranked 12th on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Drummers of All Time” list.

On August 5, 2021, it was reported that Watts had elected to sit out the resumption of the U.S. No Filter Tour due to rehabilitation from heart surgery, and that Steve Jordan will temporarily replace Watts on drums. He died on August 24, 2021, at the age of 80.

Friday 8/20/21 1am ET: Feature LP: Rolling Stones – Black and Blue (1976)

Black and Blue is the 13th British and 15th American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on April 23, 1976 by Rolling Stones Records.

This album was the first recorded after former guitarist Mick Taylor quit in December 1974. As he had done the previous time the Stones were between second guitarists in 1968, Keith Richards recorded the bulk of the guitar parts himself, though the album recording sessions also served as an audition for Taylor’s replacement. Richards said of the album that it was used for “rehearsing guitar players, that’s what that one was about.” Numerous guitarists showed up to auditions; those who appeared on the album were Wayne Perkins, Harvey Mandel, and Ronnie Wood. Wood had previously contributed to the title track from the It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll album, and became a full-time touring member of the Stones in 1975 and official member in 1990. The Stones rhythm section of bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts appear on nearly all tracks, and frequent collaborators Nicky Hopkins and Billy Preston play keyboards on most of the album, with percussionist Ollie E. Brown also appearing on about half of the tracks. The album was the second to be self-produced, credited to “The Glimmer Twins”, a pseudonym used by Jagger and Richards for their roles as producers.

Black and Blue showed the band blending its traditional rock and roll style with heavy influences from reggae and funk music. Only one single from the album, “Fool to Cry”, had any significant chart success, and reception to the album was mixed. The album received a few positive reviews at the time of release, though many reviewers found it mostly forgettable, and tended to rank it very low compared to prior Stones releases. Retrospective reviews from more recent publications such as AllMusic have been kinder to the album, with critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine stating that the album’s “being longer on grooves and jams than songs” ended up being “what’s good about it”.

1. “Hot Stuff” 5:20
2. “Hand of Fate” 4:28
3. “Cherry Oh Baby” 3:57
4. “Memory Motel” 7:07
5. “Hey Negrita” 4:59
6. “Melody” 5:47
7. “Fool to Cry” 5:03
8. “Crazy Mama” 4:34

Mick Jagger – lead vocals (all tracks), backing vocals (1, 3, 4), percussion (1), piano (4), electric piano (7), electric guitar (8)
Keith Richards – electric guitar (all but 4), backing vocals (1-5, 8), electric piano (4), bass guitar (8), piano (8), co-lead vocals (4)
Bill Wyman – bass guitar (all but 8), percussion (1)
Charlie Watts – drums (all tracks), percussion (1)
Billy Preston – piano (1, 2, 5, 6, 8), organ (5, 6), piano, electric piano, synthesizer (4), percussion (6), backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 6)
Nicky Hopkins – piano (7), synthesizer (7), organ (3)
Harvey Mandel – electric guitar (1, 4)
Wayne Perkins – electric guitar (2, 7), acoustic guitar (4)
Ronnie Wood – electric guitar (3, 5, 8), backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 5, 8),
Ollie E. Brown – percussion (1-3, 5, 8)
Ian Stewart – percussion (1)
Arif Mardin – horn arrangement (6)

Sunday 6/13/21 1am ET: Feature LP: Rolling Stones – Let It Bleed (1969) Twitter: @RollingStones

Let It Bleed is the eighth British and tenth American studio album by English rock band the Rolling Stones, released December 5, 1969 by Decca Records in the United Kingdom and London Records in the United States. Released shortly after the band’s 1969 American Tour, it is the follow-up to 1968’s Beggars Banquet. As with Beggars Banquet, the album marks a return to the group’s more blues-sound approach that was prominent in the pre-Aftermath period of their career. Additional sounds on the album draw influence from gospel, country blues and country rock.

The album was recorded during a period of turmoil in the band; Brian Jones, the band’s founder and original leader, had become increasingly unreliable in the studio due to heavy drug use, and during most recording sessions was either absent, or so incapacitated that he was unable to contribute meaningfully. He was fired in the midst of recording sessions for this album, and replaced by Mick Taylor. Jones appeared on this album on only two songs, playing backing instruments, and died within a month of being fired.

Taylor had been hired after principal recording was complete on many of the tracks, and appears on two songs, having recorded some guitar overdubs. Keith Richards was the band’s sole guitarist during most of the recording sessions, being responsible for nearly all of the rhythm and lead parts. The other Stones members (Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts) appear on nearly every track, with contributions by percussionist Jimmy Miller (who also produced the album), keyboardists Nicky Hopkins and Ian Stewart, and guest musicians including Ry Cooder.

The album charted top ten in several markets, including reaching number one in the UK and number three in the US. While no high-charting singles were released from the album, many of the album’s songs became staples of Rolling Stones live shows and on rock radio stations for decades to come, including “Gimme Shelter” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”, both of them listed on “best ever” songs lists, including 2004’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” by Rolling Stone magazine. The album was voted number 40 in Colin Larkin’s All Time Top 1000 Albums 3rd edition (2000). In 2005, the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and is on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.

1. “Gimme Shelter” 4:31
2. “Love in Vain” 4:19
3. “Country Honk” 3:09
4. “Live with Me” 3:33
5. “Let It Bleed” 5:26
6. “Midnight Rambler” 6:52
7. “You Got the Silver” 2:51
8. “Monkey Man” 4:12
9. “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” 7:28

Mick Jagger – lead vocals (all but 7), backing vocals (1, 3, 8), harmonica (1, 6), acoustic guitar (9)
Keith Richards – electric guitar (all but 3), acoustic guitar (2, 3, 5, 7, 9), slide guitar (2, 5, 6, 7, 8), backing vocals (1, 3, 4, 8), bass guitar (4), lead vocals (7)
Brian Jones – congas (6), autoharp (7)
Bill Wyman – bass guitar (1, 2, 5–9), autoharp (5), vibraphone (8)
Charlie Watts – drums (all but 9)
Mick Taylor – slide guitar (3), electric guitar (4)
Ian Stewart – piano (5)
Nicky Hopkins – piano (1, 4, 7, 8), organ (7)
Byron Berline – fiddle (3)
Merry Clayton – vocals (1)
Ry Cooder – mandolin (2)
Bobby Keys – tenor saxophone (4)
Jimmy Miller – percussion (1), drums (9), tambourine (8)
Leon Russell – piano and horn arrangement (4)
Jack Nitzsche – choral arrangements (9)
Al Kooper – piano, French horn and organ (9)
Nanette Workman – backing vocals (3, 9) (credited as Nanette Newman on the LP)
Doris Troy – backing vocals (9)
Madeline Bell – backing vocals (9)
Rocky Dijon – percussion (9)
The London Bach Choir – vocals (9)

Wednesday 5/19/21 2pm ET: Sounds of The ’90s

This week we feature music from the Proclaimers, Rolling Stones, Elton John, Lulu, Paula Cole, Poison, Bon Jovi, Donna Summer, Fleetwood Mac, Joshua Kadison, Marcia Griffiths, Mariah Carey, Cher, Spin Doctors and more. . . .

Monday 5/17/21 11pm ET: Feature LP: Rolling Stones – Some Girls (1978 / 2011)

Some Girls is the 14th British and 16th American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on June 9, 1978 on Rolling Stones Records. By 1976, the Rolling Stones’ popularity was in decline as the music industry was dominated by disco and newer rock bands. In addition, the punk rock movement was an emerging cultural force in the UK. The band had also failed to produce a critically acclaimed album since 1972’s Exile on Main St. Mick Jagger is generally regarded as the principal creative force behind Some Girls, with him taking influence by dance music, most notably disco, during the recording of the album.

It was the first album to feature guitarist Ronnie Wood as a full-time member; Wood had contributed to some tracks on the band’s prior two albums, It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (1974) and Black and Blue (1976). With a stable line-up in place for the first time in several years, the album marked a return to basics for the Rolling Stones and did not feature many guest musicians, unlike many of their prior albums. Notable contributions to the album, however, come from blues harmonica player Sugar Blue on “Miss You” and “Some Girls”.

Rebounding from the relative critical disappointment of Black and Blue, Some Girls reached No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 1 on the US Billboard 200. It became the band’s top-selling album in the US, having been certified by the RIAA for selling six million copies sold by 2000. It was a major critical success, becoming the only Rolling Stones album to be nominated for a Grammy Award in the Album of the Year category. Many reviewers called it a classic return to form and their best album since Exile on Main St.

Several hit singles emerged from the album which would become rock radio staples for decades, including “Beast of Burden” (US No. 8), “Shattered” (US No. 31), “Respectable” (UK No. 23), highlighted by “Miss You”, which reached No. 1 in the US and No. 3 in the UK. In 2003, Some Girls was included in Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

1. “Miss You” 4:48
2. “When the Whip Comes Down” 4:20
3. “Just My Imagination” 4:38
4. “Some Girls” 4:36
5. “Lies” 3:11
6. “Far Away Eyes” 4:24
7. “Respectable” 3:06
8. “Before They Make Me Run” 3:25
9. “Beast of Burden” 4:25
10. “Shattered” 3:48
11. “Claudine” 3:42
12. “So Young” 3:18
13. “Do You Think I Really Care?” 4:22
14. “When You’re Gone” 3:51
15. “No Spare Parts” 4:30
16. “Don’t Be a Stranger” 4:06
17. “We Had It All” 2:54
18. “Tallahassee Lassie” 2:37
19. “I Love You Too Much” 3:10
20. “Keep Up Blues” 4:20
21. “You Win Again” 3:00
22. “Petrol Blues” 1:35

Mick Jagger – lead vocals (all but 8), backing vocals (1–3, 6, 8–10), electric guitar (1–5, 7), piano (6), percussion (10)
Keith Richards – electric guitar (all tracks), backing vocals (1–3, 6, 8–10), acoustic guitar (4, 6, 8, 9), bass guitar (4, 8), piano (6), lead vocals (8)
Ronnie Wood – electric guitar (all but 6), backing vocals (1–3, 6, 8, 10), pedal steel (2, 6, 10), acoustic guitar (4, 9), bass guitar (10), bass drum (10)
Bill Wyman – bass guitar (1–3, 5–7, 9), synthesiser (4)
Charlie Watts – drums (all tracks)
Sugar Blue – harmonica (1, 4)
Ian McLagan – electric piano (1), organ (3)
Mel Collins – saxophone (1)
Simon Kirke – congas (10)

Ian Stewart – bonus tracks: piano on “Claudine”, “So Young”, “Do You Think I Really Care?”, “Tallahassee Lassie”, “You Win Again”, and “Petrol Blues”
Chuck Leavell – bonus tracks: piano solo on “So Young”
Don Was – bonus tracks: bass guitar on “Don’t Be a Stranger”; handclaps on “Tallahassee Lassie”
John Fogerty – bonus tracks: handclaps on “Tallahassee Lassie”
Matt Clifford – bonus tracks: percussion on “Don’t Be a Stranger”
Sugar Blue – bonus tracks: harmonica on “Don’t Be a Stranger” and “We Had It All”