The Rolling Stones - Black And Blue (Remastered) (2020) [Hi-Res]

Half Speed ReMasters HiRes Re-Issue: Black and Blue is the 13th British and 15th American studio album by the band the Rolling Stones, released in 1976.

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 would become a full-time member of the Stones in 1976. 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.

"The Rolling Stones recorded Black and Blue while auditioning Mick Taylor's replacement, so it's unfair to criticize it, really, for being longer on grooves and jams than songs, especially since that's what's good about it. Yes, the two songs that are undeniable highlights are "Memory Motel" and "Fool to Cry," the album's two ballads and, therefore, the two that had to be written and arranged, not knocked out in the studio; they're also the ones that don't quite make as much sense, though they still work in the context of the record. No, this is all about groove and sound, as the Stones work Ron Wood into their fabric. And the remarkable thing is, apart from "Hand of Fate" and "Crazy Mama," there's little straight-ahead rock & roll here. They play with reggae extensively, funk and disco less so, making both sound like integral parts of the Stones' lifeblood. Apart from the ballads, there might not be many memorable tunes, but there are times that you listen to the Stones just to hear them play, and this is one of them." (Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AMG)

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)
Ronnie Wood, backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 5, 8), electric guitar (3, 5, 8)
Bill Wyman, bass (all but 8), percussion (1)
Charlie Watts, drums (all tracks), percussion (1)
Additional musicians:
Billy Preston, piano (1, 2, 5, 6, 8), organ (5, 6), 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)
Ollie E. Brown, percussion (1-3, 5, 8)
Ian Stewart, percussion (1)
Arif Mardin, horn arrangement (6)

Produced by The Glimmer Twins

Digitally remastered