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Maindefender
IMO Blues In The Morning is better than I Gotta Go........BITM is in pretty good company .....

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howlingmad
"Best first week EVER". This is amazing. Do you or your contacts have any theories as to why it so popular, georgelicks?

I'd also be curious to hear what georgelicks' contacts at Universal are saying after this debut.

Personally, I think it's a combination of being the kind of novelty concept that tends to be an easy sell around the holidays (think Rod Stewart's Songbook albums), as well as a reminder of what everyone loves about the Stones.

Blue And Lonesome actually makes the band seem cool again and it restores some of the menace and edge that's absent whenever they try to manufacture a modern pop hit. The public no longer looks to this band expecting a dance hit but few can deliver something this pure and organic with the same level of authority.

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The Sicilian

I gave it my first spin last night and doing the reruns now. For the Stones I think it is a great effort. The music sounds phenomenal! But unfortunately, the singing is bad. Mick's voice comes off too upbeat, high pitched and nasal for the raspy blues that listeners have come to expect this stage. He sounds too English on this. I know he has struggled with pitch the last couple decades and it is blatantly obvious on this record that there is a clear delineation between the music and the singing.

Though the effort is valiant, and his harp work is spot on, his singing is fighting to coexist with some really tight guitar work. I know this is hard to say, but his singing lacks grit. Just listening to way he sings the word "baby" is grimacing, and the album is full of the use of the word "baby" which is a common blues chant. But that's my opinion. It is certainly a great listen and huge accomplishment for the Stones, though one has to wonder why they can't cover their own covers of early blues stuff live. Wouldn't that be cool.

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Hairball

Somewhat agree about Mick's vocals and 'lack of grit' throughout the album. But one of the problems I have with it is an overall lack of sincerity which is most evident on I Can't Quit You Baby where he sounds a bit too forced, contrived, and over-enthusiastic. With that said, given the circumstances of 'one or two takes' and 'no ovedubs', I'd say he stepped up to the plate as best as he could. The ace in the hole and the ultimate highlight for me on this album is Mick's harmonica playing. Would have loved to hear some jamming extended instrumentals with the harp blazing the trails. Which has me wondering why there was no B-side on the Ride 'em On Down single...maybe there's nothing left to be released from these sessions?

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Maindefender
IMO Blues In The Morning is better than I Gotta Go........BITM is in pretty good company .....

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keefriff99
Maybe I'm listening to the album more through a "rock'n'roll" filter, so I'm expecting more distortion than I should. In terms of blues guitar, they sound fine. I just would have liked a little more punch and grit on their tone.

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keefriff99


Maybe I'm listening to the album more through a "rock'n'roll" filter, so I'm expecting more distortion than I should. In terms of blues guitar, they sound fine. I just would have liked a little more punch and grit on their tone.

I still need to listen to it MANY more times to properly digest it.

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The Sicilian


I gave it my first spin last night and doing the reruns now. For the Stones I think it is a great effort. The music sounds phenomenal! But unfortunately, the singing is bad. Mick's voice comes off too upbeat, high pitched and nasal for the raspy blues that listeners have come to expect this stage. He sounds too English on this. I know he has struggled with pitch the last couple decades and it is blatantly obvious on this record that there is a clear delineation between the music and the singing.

Though the effort is valiant, and his harp work is spot on, his singing is fighting to coexist with some really tight guitar work. I know this is hard to say, but his singing lacks grit. Just listening to way he sings the word "baby" is grimacing, and the album is full of the use of the word "baby" which is a common blues chant. But that's my opinion. It is certainly a great listen and huge accomplishment for the Stones, though one has to wonder why they can't cover their own covers of early blues stuff live. Wouldn't that be cool.



Somewhat agree about Mick's vocals and 'lack of grit' throughout the album. But one of the problems I have with it is an overall lack of sincerity which is most evident on I Can't Quit You Baby where he sounds a bit too forced, contrived, and over-enthusiastic. With that said, given the circumstances of 'one or two takes' and 'no ovedubs', I'd say he stepped up to the plate as best as he could. The ace in the hole and the ultimate highlight for me on this album is Mick's harmonica playing. Would have loved to hear some jamming extended instrumentals with the harp blazing the trails. Which has me wondering why there was no B-side on the Ride 'em On Down single...maybe there's nothing left to be released from these sessions?

I agree on "I Can't Quit You Baby." I think he is trying too hard to fit into the music. Everyone is cohesive and tight, except for those vocals. It feels like he is singing over the top of the music. Just listen to those awkward wails on "All Of Your Love" and you can start to see my point. Again the way he sings the lyric "baby" throughout the album is just plain bad in itself. But his harp work on this song is fantastic. I would have loved to hear this song without any singing. Just an instrumental version with harp. And what is with that slight echo the engineers put in? "I Gotta Go" is full of it. I still really like the album but I would have never sent it out with vocals sounding disruptive like that.

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retired_dog

IMO Blues In The Morning is better than I Gotta Go........BITM is in pretty good company .....

BITM's only letdown is the fact that Keith's singin' on it IMO .....

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The Sicilian


I gave it my first spin last night and doing the reruns now. For the Stones I think it is a great effort. The music sounds phenomenal! But unfortunately, the singing is bad. Mick's voice comes off too upbeat, high pitched and nasal for the raspy blues that listeners have come to expect this stage. He sounds too English on this. I know he has struggled with pitch the last couple decades and it is blatantly obvious on this record that there is a clear delineation between the music and the singing.

Though the effort is valiant, and his harp work is spot on, his singing is fighting to coexist with some really tight guitar work. I know this is hard to say, but his singing lacks grit. Just listening to way he sings the word "baby" is grimacing, and the album is full of the use of the word "baby" which is a common blues chant. But that's my opinion. It is certainly a great listen and huge accomplishment for the Stones, though one has to wonder why they can't cover their own covers of early blues stuff live. Wouldn't that be cool.



Somewhat agree about Mick's vocals and 'lack of grit' throughout the album. But one of the problems I have with it is an overall lack of sincerity which is most evident on I Can't Quit You Baby where he sounds a bit too forced, contrived, and over-enthusiastic. With that said, given the circumstances of 'one or two takes' and 'no ovedubs', I'd say he stepped up to the plate as best as he could. The ace in the hole and the ultimate highlight for me on this album is Mick's harmonica playing. Would have loved to hear some jamming extended instrumentals with the harp blazing the trails. Which has me wondering why there was no B-side on the Ride 'em On Down single...maybe there's nothing left to be released from these sessions?

I agree on "I Can't Quit You Baby." I think he is trying too hard to fit into the music. Everyone is cohesive and tight, except for those vocals. It feels like he is singing over the top of the music. Just listen to those awkward wails on "All Of Your Love" and you can start to see my point. Again the way he sings the lyric "baby" throughout the album is just plain bad in itself. But his harp work on this song is fantastic. I would have loved to hear this song without any singing. Just an instrumental version with harp. And what is with that slight echo the engineers put in? "I Gotta Go" is full of it. I still really like the album but I would have never sent it out with vocals sounding disruptive like that.

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DandelionPowderman


So, I'm the only one not particularly overwhelmed by this album?

Guess that flying dutchmaker isn't impressed as well...so you're not the only one...

It's the same with our red hot finnish friend, I believe

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fzv98d
The new release by the Rolling Stones is so fantastic. I had to give it a song by song review on my blog.

[rustedtourdemichigan.blogspot.com]

[rustedtourdemichigan.blogspot.com]

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Green Lady
It's a nice review - and as for putting it in the B&L thread, bv will do that soon enough.

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lem motlow

The new release by the Rolling Stones is so fantastic. I had to give it a song by song review on my blog.

[rustedtourdemichigan.blogspot.com]

[rustedtourdemichigan.blogspot.com]


i know you feel very important and that you really have alot to say thus the blog-but at iorr you're just a douche with 27 posts and your opinion isn't worth any more than anyone elses. so if you have an opinion on the album put it in the blue and lonesome thread-k?

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fzv98d
The new release by the Rolling Stones is so fantastic. I had to give it a song by song review on my blog.

[rustedtourdemichigan.blogspot.com]

[rustedtourdemichigan.blogspot.com]

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lem motlow

The new release by the Rolling Stones is so fantastic. I had to give it a song by song review on my blog.

[rustedtourdemichigan.blogspot.com]

[rustedtourdemichigan.blogspot.com]


i know you feel very important and that you really have alot to say thus the blog-but at iorr you're just a douche with 27 posts and your opinion isn't worth any more than anyone elses. so if you have an opinion on the album put it in the blue and lonesome thread-k?

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KRiffhard

The new release by the Rolling Stones is so fantastic. I had to give it a song by song review on my blog.

[rustedtourdemichigan.blogspot.com]

[rustedtourdemichigan.blogspot.com]

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liddas


The new release by the Rolling Stones is so fantastic. I had to give it a song by song review on my blog.

[rustedtourdemichigan.blogspot.com]

[rustedtourdemichigan.blogspot.com]



I would say that Clapton plays the first Quit You Baby solo, and Ronnie the second.

First is very classy, but the second blows me away!

C

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liddas


The new release by the Rolling Stones is so fantastic. I had to give it a song by song review on my blog.

[rustedtourdemichigan.blogspot.com]

[rustedtourdemichigan.blogspot.com]



I would say that Clapton plays the first Quit You Baby solo, and Ronnie the second.

First is very classy, but the second blows me away!

C

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Olly
I'm not so sure about the view that the Stones should continue releasing covers albums. The album is doing well no doubt, but I'm not sure further covers albums would meet with similar success, blues or otherwise.

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liddas
Re Ronnie on B&L, can we finally all agree that the man deserves a standing ovation!!!

C

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Redhotcarpet



I gave it my first spin last night and doing the reruns now. For the Stones I think it is a great effort. The music sounds phenomenal! But unfortunately, the singing is bad. Mick's voice comes off too upbeat, high pitched and nasal for the raspy blues that listeners have come to expect this stage. He sounds too English on this. I know he has struggled with pitch the last couple decades and it is blatantly obvious on this record that there is a clear delineation between the music and the singing.

Though the effort is valiant, and his harp work is spot on, his singing is fighting to coexist with some really tight guitar work. I know this is hard to say, but his singing lacks grit. Just listening to way he sings the word "baby" is grimacing, and the album is full of the use of the word "baby" which is a common blues chant. But that's my opinion. It is certainly a great listen and huge accomplishment for the Stones, though one has to wonder why they can't cover their own covers of early blues stuff live. Wouldn't that be cool.



Somewhat agree about Mick's vocals and 'lack of grit' throughout the album. But one of the problems I have with it is an overall lack of sincerity which is most evident on I Can't Quit You Baby where he sounds a bit too forced, contrived, and over-enthusiastic. With that said, given the circumstances of 'one or two takes' and 'no ovedubs', I'd say he stepped up to the plate as best as he could. The ace in the hole and the ultimate highlight for me on this album is Mick's harmonica playing. Would have loved to hear some jamming extended instrumentals with the harp blazing the trails. Which has me wondering why there was no B-side on the Ride 'em On Down single...maybe there's nothing left to be released from these sessions?

I agree on "I Can't Quit You Baby." I think he is trying too hard to fit into the music. Everyone is cohesive and tight, except for those vocals. It feels like he is singing over the top of the music. Just listen to those awkward wails on "All Of Your Love" and you can start to see my point. Again the way he sings the lyric "baby" throughout the album is just plain bad in itself. But his harp work on this song is fantastic. I would have loved to hear this song without any singing. Just an instrumental version with harp. And what is with that slight echo the engineers put in? "I Gotta Go" is full of it. I still really like the album but I would have never sent it out with vocals sounding disruptive like that.

spot on the both of youse.