Tattoo You (2021 Remaster) [Super Deluxe 4 CD/Picture Disc LP]

The Rolling Stones' eighth studio album for their Rolling Stones Records label (distributed by Atlantic in the US and Canada and EMI elsewhere) entitled Tattoo You was released in August of 1981.For this Rolling Stones album, the band had no newly written material so the band decided to polish some outtakes from Goats Head Soup, Black and Blue, Some Girls and Emotional Rescue with new vocals and overdubs circa 1980/81. As always, lead singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards wrote all but one track ("No Use in Crying" which was co-written by guitarist Ron Wood) on this album and the album is a classic. The rest of the album (including the two songs written and recorded for this album) was recorded between late 1980 and early 1981 in France and at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas with Mick and Keith producing and Chris Kimsey handling the recording and mixing (plus some additional engineering by the deceased Keith Harwood and the late Andy Johns) and Bob Clearmountain remixing the instrumental tracks recorded between 1972 and 1979). Bass player Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts played well on this album as well (as I found out when I first heard the album on vinyl in 1981, first got on cassette in October, 1983 when it was on Rolling Stones/Atlantic).We open with the Top 5 rocker "Start Me Up" which ws originally a reggae number during the Black and Blue era and reworked on the Some Girls sessions into the track we all know and love. Next is another rocker "Hang Fire" (started on Some Girls, reworked on Emotional Rescue for the take we all know) which just rocks and was another Top 20 pop/Top 10 rock hit. Next is the Black and Blue outtake "Slave" which is a great number and has new 1980/81 era vocals from Mick and backing vocals from Pete Townshend and saxophone solos from jazz great Sonny Rollins (on all remastered CDs, the song is extended to six and a half minutes). We follow with another Emotional Rescue outtake out of Keith's "Little T&A" which is a killer rocker. We then have the bluesy "Black Limousine" which was worked on during the Emotional Rescue sessions and is a great bluesy rocker. We close side 1 with the rocker "Neighbours" which was written and recorded in 1980/81 with Sonny Rollins again on sax and was a rock radio hit and MTV staple.We kick the second half off with the ballad "Worried About You" which was recorded in 1975 with Wayne Perkins on lead guitar and Mick's vocals were re-recorded in 1980/81 (was a single in Europe). Next is my favorite song not a single on the album called "Tops" which its backing track was recorded during the Goats Head Soup sessions and features Mick Taylor on lead guitar and Mick Jagger re-records all of the vocals in 1980/81 (the original undoctored is on bootleg with Mick singing in a falsetto which was annoying, glad Mick re-recorded the vocals and wrote new lyrics for the version on Tattoo You). Next is another ballad "Heaven" which was recorded in 1980/81 with Mick on guitars and vocals, Charlie on drums and Bill on bass guitar and synthesizers and I love the tune. Then it's one more Emotional Rescue outtake "No Use in Crying" which is another superb ballad. We close with the Goats Head Soup outtake "Waiting On a Friend" with Mick Taylor on guitar and Mick adds new vocals and Keith and Woody record backing vocals and Sonny Rollins' sax solos all recorded in 1980/81 make this classic complete.The Tattoo You album did EXTREMELY well hitting #1 making it the eighth (and last) Stones studio effort in a row to top Billboard (where it reigned for NINE WEEKS) and was the fourth Platinum album for the band (now at 4 or so million Stateside). This remastered CD is excellent and it also has all original artwork restored and credits (the Bob Ludwig mastering on vinyl rules as well).This album is highly recommended.

What struck me about "Tattoo You" and still does is how the record was broken up into two distinct sections. The first part consisted of garage-band rockers done in that classic Stones style that's never been duplicable and the surprising second part that was of quieter r&b-flavored ballads evoking Motown and Philly Soul. The Stones had never sequenced their music in this way. They also bucked current musical trends and retreated into earlier music and right smack dab into their earliest roots.The new remix of the original LP brings the music evermore present. With the raw, eternal vitality of "Start Me Up", the Stones sound prevails and is amongst Mick's and Keith's greatest collaboration. Sensational jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins guest appears in a more bluesy tradition on three cuts. He drives the groove of "Slave" and the rocker "Neighbors" with Keith and Charlie. And Sonny's work on "Waiting On a Friend" is atmospheric, in which I hang on to his sax solos. All of the ballads have seductive melodies and singing, especially the ethereal "Tops" and "Heaven". On "Tattoo You", the Rolling Stones skills are emphasized without disrupting the band feel and that's a tough feat. But most of the time, the band works around Charlie's impeccable timekeeping.The "Lost and Found" disc here is comparable with the bonus stuff on "Some Girls". It's not as essential as the original release(s), but what it demonstrates is that the Rolling Stones collective identity is far from lived out. The three covers work, particularly on Jimmy Reed's "Shame Shame Shame" where Sugar Blue's harmonica nails it. "Living in the Heart of Love" rocks out and could have easily found its home on "Tattoo You". But with "Come to the Ball", showcasing Mick Taylor's guitar work, pianist Nicky Hopkins and Mick Jagger singing the heck out of it, this is the vault item where the band pulled a rabbit out of a hat.Lastly, this reggae rendition of "Start Me Up" is fun, but the Stones made the right call to go with the rocker that's been a loved anthem for forty years. In that initial 1981 release, the song managed to distill everything I love about rock and roll. You never tire of hearing that riff, those harmonies and those drums. Roots!Dedicated to Charlie Watts (1941-2021)

CD 2 - 'LOST & FOUND RARITIES' is terrific and makes me eagerly await the authorized 'Dirty Work' sessions. 1. 'Living In The Heart Of Love' - 4:12. 2. 'Fiji Jim' - 4:00. 3. 'Troubles A' Comin' - 4:16. 4. 'Shame, Shame, Shame' - 4:13. 5. 'Drift Away' - 4:06. 6. 'It's A Lie' - 4:56. 7. 'Come To The Ball' - 3:40. 8. 'Fast Talking, Slow Walking' - 5:40. 9. 'Start Me Up (Early Version)' - 4:10. Timings may vary with different devices but these include dead spots, of which there aren't many. Jeff Slate does a fine job annotating these tracks in the included 20-page booklet. I question the title 'Fast Talking, Slow Walking', because my old ears hear "smooth walking". Weaknesses include lacking printed lyrics, and you better have clean hands because getting the discs & booklet out of the digipack is difficult. Lay it on a stable, flat surface. I got satisfaction from the CD 1 versions previously bought. 'Drift Away' should blow you away and 'Living In The Heart Of Love' plus 'Shame, Shame, Shame' are also my favorites, but the most introspective cut is 'Fast Talking, Slow Walking'. It took me more than 2+ hours to write these comments as I was enjoying the music too much. The previously unreleased tracks are worth the price.