I really hadn't considered this album much until a few years ago - and I was vastly impressed and wondered why I never gave it much time in the past - I am going to listen to it front to back today.
This CD had been in my car permanently all summer along with Exile, Goats Head, and switching out Sticky Fingers, It's Only Rock n Roll, Some Girls, Tattoo You, & Emotional Rescue. Now only Exile is left. I didn't used to like Cherry Oh Baby but I think it's really good and rough - short too, not a drag even if they do yeahs a lot. I think the cover is great except Mick's face could have been a little smaller. Charlie's sporting that close to the skull haircut. I used to think that was weird for the World's Greatest Rock Band (opinion) but got used to it. No lyrics sheet in the U.S. Thanks for revisiting this record John! Always look forward to your insights!
this album was mix of jazz, reggae and remake of old songs but I like them all and that's what makes this album distingushed from the rest of stones' almum.
Always been one of my favorites. It was a thrill to hear; “Fool to Cry” live when they played in Los Angeles back in July of this year. ( Jaggers voice was phenomenal).
I agree, this is their most underrated album of the 1970's. The fact that its a little different is what makes it stand out to me. Great review John, thanks for sharing.
"Hot Stuff" was the second single from the album. Reached #49 in the US. As for covers, you forgot the cover of "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" from their prior album. It reached #17 in the US.
This was the first Stones album I bought while it was in the charts, and I definitely love it to this day - essential, great vocals and guitars, not too overproduced, fantastic songs. In my top 5, no doubt!
I love Black & Blue. Wish it was longer…. What’s wrong with It’s Only Rock n Roll? Jagger sings really well Mick Taylor shining.. Never understood the criticism Fingerprint File is absolute Top Shelf…
I remember when it came out and how Ronnie Wood re energised my favourite band. I loved Its Only Rock n Roll but loved this too. That year I saw them in concert and they were amazing.
Hello John, I have the same blue, Dutch pressing of the album I picked up in a shop in Altrincham, near Manchester, England a few years ago. I’m not especially a collector of coloured vinyl but this seemed so fitting I had to have it.
The whole thing about Perkins initially getting the gig is pretty fascinating. He said first meeting he walked into a room that was lit up and he was photographed I guess unbeknownst to him with the others. It was very calculated. The way I understand it Wood ultimately got it because it was a safer pick and culturally easier to deal with - a known quanity from London.
Well, when this album was launched I got the feeling of a more or less typical blues album mainly because of its title. But by listening to it I was a little disappointed, after all the Stones were a good blues and rhythm & blues band by the time of their very begginning. But listenning to this record time after time it grew on me and now I think it's a good album (I said good, not excellent). I don't like "Hot Stuff" 'cause I'm not a disco fan, neither "Cherry on baby" 'cause I don't enjoy reggae music. But by the other side I really like "Fool to cry", "Crazy mama", "Hand of fate" and "Memory motel" (imagine a beautiful Mick Taylor solo in this wonderful song). Greetings from Brazil!
Great that you do justice to this album, which is low on the list for so (too) many people. I wonder why you rate Rock'n'Roll so low. For me, it's in the top three (after Sticky Fingers and Exile and before Let it Bleed and Black and Blue). Fingerprint File, Till the Next Goodbye, If You Really Want to Be My Friend, and Time Waits For No One are among the top Stones songs for me. And there's quite a dose of black (and blue and Billy Preston) in those songs as well. A far as my number 4 is concerned, while many people rate Let it Bleed very high (and artistically it may deserve a top spot) I find myself playing Black and Blue more frequently. It's so laid back and seemingly unambitious that it conveys pure joy.
One of their worst but some great stuff. “Hot Stuff,” “Hand Of Fate.” “She’s got a mind of her own …” that one is an all time classic Stones ballad. Awesome.
I like the Black and Blue album - albeit I accept it is not in the same league as Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street. I recognise that "Its only rock and roll" album is not one of their best but the remastered version released the thick end of 10 years ago did seem to breathe new life into it - it is certainly not my favourite Stones long-player but it compares favourably with much of their 1980s (Emotional Rescue, Dirty World?) and 90s output. Thanks for the video - which I really enjoyed watching...
Good Review John. But id have to disagree with you about Its Only Rock N Roll. I think is better than Black N Blue. Was never a big fan of Fool To Cry. But Black N Blue still has some decent tracks, but i think its my least favorite of their 70s output
This made me think a bit and the question that came to mind is - “ Did the Stones make any good albums after the 1970’s ? Tattoo You is good but mainly comprises recordings made in the 70’s. I just can not think of any album of their own new material after that time period, that is good. Admittedly the odd good song here and there, but an album of any worth not sure . They have released so many live albums and compilations I think it has covered the fact they have not managed to deliver a quality album. I guess if you make so much morney from touring and re hash compilations there is not much need to put the work in. I think that is why so many RUclips Channels blogs Vlogs. Spend so much time looking back at the album releases from the past, and we get reissues adding extra tracks and different versions of songs, from the sessions that produced those recordings. As they get older, the better they used to be.
I think I agree. Both that there hasn't been a decent album after that use of past material and that there have been the odd good songs splashed on one or two of them. Also with the comments that perhaps blue and lonesome is an exception.. I would say it demonstrates a faculty for reproducing blues songs a little better than faithfully and is a pleasant listen but that's kind of disappointing if it only that exists in a sea of almost unaccountably low quality.
Sweet Angel from Exile was inspired by Caribbean influences. Luxury too but I wouldn't call Luxury reggae. There were other Caribbean genres and while they had loved reggae since the early seventies they didn't do out and out reggae for a while. Work on the album Luxury was from started months after they were in Jamaica.
Black and Blue is not a great album cover. The production is very nice but I do prefer the raw grunge sound of It’s Only Rock and Roll. They fit the Stones’ sound more.
I agree there was a musical decline but I don't think it's worse than Goat's Head Soup or It's Only Rock and Roll but I do think Some Girls is better and so for me the start of a decline of sorts are those two with Some Girls as a reverse blip.
I cant bear the cover! Haha.. it's all about taste and mine isn't better but to me it screams conventional opulence and general conventionality with no particular creativity other than the photographers humdrum techical and not artistic skill.. I don't mean that because it's a portrait - portraits can be creatively used. It's just the look and feel of it. I also have a prejudice against 'gatefold' album covers where you have to open them to see the whole pic. It suggests "We live a comfortable life and are more in tune to the mid 70's bourgeoisie than our creativty." The cover I mean, not the music although fool to cry and crazy mama and hand of fate are all a little like that to me in terms of the arrangement and execution. They might all fit on Exile but they would have had more soul and vitality and less of a plod if they were on that.
Hello John, „Black And Blue“ is the Stones record I listen the most to. A fantastic album with a great sound!!!
Best Stones sound, but least great Stones album of the 70s.
The most underrated stones album! I love black and blue
It's a masterpiece
Always loved this album. My favorite song is "Memory Motel" one of the few songs with Keith & Mick both singing substantial parts.
Love this Album thanks John I enjoyed the review
Contrary to popular opinion and as a Stones fan who has all of their albums, this is my absolute favourite.
John, fantastic video! Thanks for posting. 👍
I really hadn't considered this album much until a few years ago - and I was vastly impressed and wondered why I never gave it much time in the past - I am going to listen to it front to back today.
Hey Negrita was one of my favorite tracks.
Man I have to say for me is like one of the least interesting things they ever did.
@@Twotontessie haha. The highlight was its diversity.
Crazy Mama is one of their most underrated rockers.
Will always have a soft spot for Fool to Cry. It became the template for World Party and New Radicals Stones influenced ballads!
Daddy - what’s wrong ? 😂❤
My favorite Stones Cover. Hand of Fate is one of my favorite Stones Songs too
Wonderful album my first concert i see the stones holland den haag❤1976
This CD had been in my car permanently all summer along with Exile, Goats Head, and switching out Sticky Fingers, It's Only Rock n Roll, Some Girls, Tattoo You, & Emotional Rescue. Now only Exile is left. I didn't used to like Cherry Oh Baby but I think it's really good and rough - short too, not a drag even if they do yeahs a lot. I think the cover is great except Mick's face could have been a little smaller. Charlie's sporting that close to the skull haircut. I used to think that was weird for the World's Greatest Rock Band (opinion) but got used to it. No lyrics sheet in the U.S. Thanks for revisiting this record John! Always look forward to your insights!
this album was mix of jazz, reggae and remake of old songs but I like them all and that's what makes this album distingushed from the rest of stones' almum.
Always been one of my favorites. It was a thrill to hear; “Fool to Cry” live when they played in Los Angeles back in July of this year. ( Jaggers voice was phenomenal).
Really looking forward to the Deluxe Edition hopefully 2026 🤞🎶🎸🥁🎹👍😎
I agree, this is their most underrated album of the 1970's. The fact that its a little different is what makes it stand out to me. Great review John, thanks for sharing.
"Hot Stuff" was the second single from the album. Reached #49 in the US. As for covers, you forgot the cover of "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" from their prior album. It reached #17 in the US.
Mock and Keith share lead vox on something happened to me yesterday and salt of the earth
Mock Jagger?😆❤️
@@kjeldpedersen666 good old auto correct
This was the first Stones album I bought while it was in the charts, and I definitely love it to this day - essential, great vocals and guitars, not too overproduced, fantastic songs. In my top 5, no doubt!
John, didnt mention Crazy Mama which is my favorite track
Good record, I like it. Good mix of styles, which showcases their versatility
Keith sings the first verse of Salt Of The Earth but Mick takes over from there so I guess that isn't technically a co-lead vocal.
I love Black & Blue. Wish it was longer….
What’s wrong with It’s Only Rock n Roll?
Jagger sings really well
Mick Taylor shining..
Never understood the criticism
Fingerprint File is absolute Top Shelf…
I remember when it came out and how Ronnie Wood re energised my favourite band. I loved Its Only Rock n Roll but loved this too. That year I saw them in concert and they were amazing.
I really like this album. I bought this album sometime in the late 70s it was very impressed. The only song I don’t like is Fool to cry.
Hello John, I have the same blue, Dutch pressing of the album I picked up in a shop in Altrincham, near Manchester, England a few years ago. I’m not especially a collector of coloured vinyl but this seemed so fitting I had to have it.
The whole thing about Perkins initially getting the gig is pretty fascinating. He said first meeting he walked into a room that was lit up and he was photographed I guess unbeknownst to him with the others. It was very calculated. The way I understand it Wood ultimately got it because it was a safer pick and culturally easier to deal with - a known quanity from London.
It is as you say John…beautiful blue vinyl.
Well, when this album was launched I got the feeling of a more or less typical blues album mainly because of its title. But by listening to it I was a little disappointed, after all the Stones were a good blues and rhythm & blues band by the time of their very begginning. But listenning to this record time after time it grew on me and now I think it's a good album (I said good, not excellent). I don't like "Hot Stuff" 'cause I'm not a disco fan, neither "Cherry on baby" 'cause I don't enjoy reggae music. But by the other side I really like "Fool to cry", "Crazy mama", "Hand of fate" and "Memory motel" (imagine a beautiful Mick Taylor solo in this wonderful song). Greetings from Brazil!
Great that you do justice to this album, which is low on the list for so (too) many people. I wonder why you rate Rock'n'Roll so low. For me, it's in the top three (after Sticky Fingers and Exile and before Let it Bleed and Black and Blue). Fingerprint File, Till the Next Goodbye, If You Really Want to Be My Friend, and Time Waits For No One are among the top Stones songs for me. And there's quite a dose of black (and blue and Billy Preston) in those songs as well. A far as my number 4 is concerned, while many people rate Let it Bleed very high (and artistically it may deserve a top spot) I find myself playing Black and Blue more frequently. It's so laid back and seemingly unambitious that it conveys pure joy.
Slim Harpo's "Hip Shake" is on "Exile"
Sanibel was a lovely place
Black and Blue together with Some Girls the last real great albums from the Stones
Jagger and Richards share the lead vocal on "Something Happened to Me Yesterday."
One of their worst but some great stuff. “Hot Stuff,” “Hand Of Fate.”
“She’s got a mind of her own …” that one is an all time classic Stones ballad. Awesome.
Very insightful thanks, I prefer this to Some Girls
Cut
Melody (Billy Preston)
Cherry Oh Baby (raggae cover)
Add
Slave [Tattoo You]
Worried About You [Tattoo You]
100% agree. Can't stand Melody and Cherry Oh Baby .. Ouch.
Interesting about Glyn Johns … pretty sure this is when he said “no mas” re: Stones. Last project with them.
Best Stones album cover up there with the Rolling Stones second album cover.
IORR best album cover.
I like the Black and Blue album - albeit I accept it is not in the same league as Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street. I recognise that "Its only rock and roll" album is not one of their best but the remastered version released the thick end of 10 years ago did seem to breathe new life into it - it is certainly not my favourite Stones long-player but it compares favourably with much of their 1980s (Emotional Rescue, Dirty World?) and 90s output. Thanks for the video - which I really enjoyed watching...
Good Review John. But id have to disagree with you about Its Only Rock N Roll. I think is better than Black N Blue. Was never a big fan of Fool To Cry. But Black N Blue still has some decent tracks, but i think its my least favorite of their 70s output
Great review. I've always loved this album but there was always that feeling that you were kind of not meant to like it.
Good album, memory motel is perhaps my favourite, but…., Let it bleed is the Stones best album.
I've always loved this album. Don't know why, apart from I love Fool To Cry & Crazy Mana but it's its own thing. If that makes sense. Hot stuff.
I think Exile has fantastic cover art
No weak spots for me in the seventies,lm pleased to say!
This is my favourite Stones album, although I haven't heard them all! Of the ones I have , my least favourite is Steel Wheels.
This made me think a bit and the question that came to mind is - “ Did the Stones make any good albums after the 1970’s ? Tattoo You is good but mainly comprises recordings made in the 70’s. I just can not think of any album of their own new material after that time period, that is good. Admittedly the odd good song here and there, but an album of any worth not sure . They have released so many live albums and compilations I think it has covered the fact they have not managed to deliver a quality album. I guess if you make so much morney from touring and re hash compilations there is not much need to put the work in. I think that is why so many RUclips Channels blogs Vlogs. Spend so much time looking back at the album releases from the past, and we get reissues adding extra tracks and different versions of songs, from the sessions that produced those recordings. As they get older, the better they used to be.
Probably I agree with you, with the exception of Blue & Lonesome. I am not a big Stones fan, but as a blues freak I consider that album a must have.
@@glennishammont7414 I have that one too and rate it, but I discounted it maybe unfairly, as not their own material.
I think I agree. Both that there hasn't been a decent album after that use of past material and that there have been the odd good songs splashed on one or two of them. Also with the comments that perhaps blue and lonesome is an exception.. I would say it demonstrates a faculty for reproducing blues songs a little better than faithfully and is a pleasant listen but that's kind of disappointing if it only that exists in a sea of almost unaccountably low quality.
By good you mean classic?
Sweet Angel from Exile was inspired by Caribbean influences. Luxury too but I wouldn't call Luxury reggae. There were other Caribbean genres and while they had loved reggae since the early seventies they didn't do out and out reggae for a while. Work on the album Luxury was from started months after they were in Jamaica.
Black and Blue is not a great album cover. The production is very nice but I do prefer the raw grunge sound of It’s Only Rock and Roll. They fit the Stones’ sound more.
I think It’s Only Rock and Roll has a "black sound" (Motown etc)
The Billy Preston's Album
IORR the best album of 1974 is not better that BaB? Come on.
The start of their decline in musical quality.
I agree there was a musical decline but I don't think it's worse than Goat's Head Soup or It's Only Rock and Roll but I do think Some Girls is better and so for me the start of a decline of sorts are those two with Some Girls as a reverse blip.
and any relevance!
Few good songs but mostly generic Stones songs.
I cant bear the cover! Haha.. it's all about taste and mine isn't better but to me it screams conventional opulence and general conventionality with no particular creativity other than the photographers humdrum techical and not artistic skill.. I don't mean that because it's a portrait - portraits can be creatively used. It's just the look and feel of it. I also have a prejudice against 'gatefold' album covers where you have to open them to see the whole pic.
It suggests "We live a comfortable life and are more in tune to the mid 70's bourgeoisie than our creativty." The cover I mean, not the music although fool to cry and crazy mama and hand of fate are all a little like that to me in terms of the arrangement and execution. They might all fit on Exile but they would have had more soul and vitality and less of a plod if they were on that.