The Rolling Stones: Blue & Lonesome (2016)

For a number of years, Keith Richards has expressed his desire for The Rolling Stones to record an album “hot off the road” like they used to in the 60s and 70s. For a while it looked like it just wasn't meant to be, but in 2016 Keith finally got his wish, and after touring every year since 2012, the Rolling Stones entered the studio to record their first album in eleven years.

Blue & Lonesome consists entirely of Chicago blues songs originally performed by the likes of Jimmy Reed, Little Walter, and Howlin’ Wolf. The Stones know this music as well as anybody; they began their careers as a blues band and, although their music has encompassed an impressively large array of styles over the years, the blues has remained the foundation on which all their music is built. By going back to playing songs that they love - the music that initially inspired them - the Stones have rediscovered the passion and spontaneity that has, in my opinion, been missing from their recorded output  for some time.

The tracks are consistently high quality, performed with all the expertise you would expect from a band that has been honing its craft for over five decades. Charlie Watts is in his element as he lays down a subtle, swinging beat, and Keith Richards and Ron Wood effortlessly trade rhythm and lead guitar duties throughout (Ronnie’s playing on the track ‘Blue & Lonesome’ is especially stunning). The standout performer is none other than Mick Jagger, who sings with more passion and commitment than he has in many years. Rather than impersonating his younger self, here he sounds relaxed and comfortable; the vocal highlight for me is ‘Hoodoo Blues’, where Mick's voice drops to its previously-unheard lowest setting, to great effect. Strong support is provided by Darryl Jones (a highly skilled bass player, although Bill Wyman’s unusual basslines are still sorely missed), Chuck Leavell (channelling the spirit of the late Ian Stewart on piano), Matt Clifford (keyboards) and Eric Clapton, who pops up on two tracks.

At one time it was tempting to think that the Rolling Stones – the real, endearingly ramshackle Rolling Stones – were gone forever, replaced by the huge touring behemoth they became in the late 80s. But they weren’t gone – they were just trapped beneath the weight of their own success, and now they’ve found a way out. Bob Dylan once wrote something about “moving forward by turning back the clock” and that is just what the Rolling Stones have done with Blue & Lonesome. Contrary to the title, this album is a sheer joy.