The Rolling Stones' Black and Blue (1976)

Uh oh, it's a Rolling Stones album and it falls outside their 1968-1972 can-do-no-wrong phase. It's not even from their "comeback" year of 1978. Many would say the Stones were mired in decadent irrelevance by the time Black and Blue was released in April, 1976 and that I should simply dismiss this album. Fortunately for the sake of the album, one of the ongoing themes of here at the Mongrel Piano is to buck conventional wisdom ever so slightly. In that spirit, I offer up to you Black and Blue.

Black and Blue was conceived during a transitional period for the Stones. Mick Taylor, the guitarist who powered the band through two of their four most celebrated studio albums and pushed them to new heights on stage abruptly left the group at the end of 1974, citing writing credit disputes and frustration over the band's decision to eschew touring that year. Changes in the music world at large (such as the emergence of disco music) were also affecting the band, particularly the forward-looking Mick Jagger. To address the first concern, the group auditioned several guitarists, including notables such as Jeff Beck. While ultimately the group of course decided on Jeff Beck Group/Faces alumnus Ronnie Wood, Black and Blue also features the talents of session ace Wayne Perkins and former Canned Heat axe-slinger Harvey Mandel. How the Stones dealt with the changes in music is evident right from the start of the album. "Hot Stuff" slinks and grooves like no other prior Stones' track. It is unapologetically a dance song, lyrically inconsequential but difficult to resist. Charlie Watt's rhythms are naturally a focal point but guest musician Billy Preston's piano is also impeccable. "Hey Negrita" is another funky, danceable track devoid of deep lyrics. The group continues to show its contemporary colors in a cover of reggae singer Eric Donaldson's "Cherry Oh Baby" and two electric piano-based ballads, Top-10 hit "Fool to Cry" and "Memory Motel." "Memory Motel" in particular is an affecting number, its lost love and travelogue themes (inspired by the 1975 Tour of the Americas) finally bringing some lyrical gravity to the album. "Melody" is an overtly jazzy track that again features Billy Preston, this time on both piano and vocals. Reassurance that the Stones can still do straightfoward rock and roll is found in "Hand of Fate," which is arguably as good any of the more celebrated Stones rockers.

Black and Blue is, above all else, a fun and stylistically diverse album. It lacks the grit and grandeur of the go-to classic Stones albums, but it works remarkably well on its own terms. Shake it, hot stuff.

Links: Hot Stuff, Memory Motel, Hand of Fate