Search - Rolling Stones :: Black & Blue

Guitar Audition Album

Richard R. Carlton | Ada, MI United States | 09/25/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Black And Blue was originally released Apr 20, 1976, it went to #1 in the US and #2 in the UK. Remembered primarily as the first album with Ron Wood, this one had only 8 tracks and one hit, Hot Stuff, although Hand Of Fate, Crazy Mama, and Fool To Cry have had their day to become well known Stones tunes. Most people know the music, so in my reviews I try to give you data on the sessions and interesting facts connected with the songs and the album. Here we go:The sessions for Black And Blue ran almost a year, starting Dec 7, 1974 and ending with final mixing on Nov 30, 1975 as follows:
Dec 7-15, 1974 at Musicland Studios, Munich
.....Fool To Cry (Nicky Hopkins and Jagger on pianos)
.....Cherry Oh Baby (Nicky Hopkins on organ)
.....Hand Of Fate
.....Hey Negrita
Jan 23-Feb 9, 1975 on the Rolling Stones Mobile in Rotterdam
.....Melody (Billy Preston on keyboards)
Mar 25-Apr 4, 1975 at Musicland Studios, Munich
.....Hot Stuff (Harvey Mandel on guitar)
.....Hand Of Fate (Wayne Perkins on guitar, Billy Preston on piano)
.....Memory Motel (Mick & Keith on pianos, Mandel and Perkins on guitars)
.....Hey Negrita (Ron Wood on guitar)
.....Crazy Mama
Oct 19-Nov 30, 1975 at Mountain Recording, Montreaux, Switzerland
.....Hot Stuff
.....Hand Of Fate
.....Cherry Oh Baby
.....Memory Motel
.....Fool To Cry
.....Crazy MamaInteresting notes include:
.....Mick Taylor left the band just before these sessions began. As a replacement, the Stones considered Wayne Perkins, Harvey Mandel, Jeff Beck (who was at the Munich sessions but insulted the rhythm section and left), and of course Ron Wood who had sort of been involved as an ancillary Stone for years. All of these guitarists (except Beck) contributed to this album.This information comes from "It's Only Rock And Roll: The Ultimate Guide To The Rolling Stones" by Karnbach and Bernson and from my own collection, with some of the notes from Davis' "Old Gods Almost Dead." ..."