The Rolling Stones (At Last!) Poised To Release New Studio LP Of All Originals – ‘Hackney Diamonds’

I wish mere words could express the excitement we’re all feeling down here at B&V over the impending announcement of – at last! – a new Stones album to listen to. I’m happier than a man staring down a lumberjack breakfast of eggs, sausage and pancakes. I can’t believe it’s been 18 years since the exceptional A Bigger Bang. At the time when that album was released, in 2005, I remember thinking that the 8 years that had elapsed since 1997’s Bridges To Babylon was a long time. Yes, they did release the great blues cover album entitled Blue And Lonesome, that I just loved, but I’ve been longing for a new Stones album forever. As I’ve said before, for us at B&V, the Stones are the Alpha and the Omega of rock n roll.

There have been rumors for years the Stones were going to release something. Every year on the “projected new albums for the upcoming year” lists I see, the Stones are always there but nothing came. I’ve heard they started work on this album 8 years ago, in 2015. I’ve also heard they actually started in earnest only 3 years ago. It’s sad Mick and Keith couldn’t get it together for almost two decades. I’m guessing Keith is regretting that autobiography… A few weeks ago this cryptic ad was released:

There are more Stones’ references in this ad than even I could come up with… Then the website was announced:

hackneydiamonds.com

If you go to that website you’ll see a countdown clock that indicates the Stones new album will be announced next Wednesday. Let’s hope a new single will also drop next week!! If you live in Paris or New York you may have also noticed the image that I placed at the top of this post is being projected on large buildings in your cities. Oh yes, my friends, the Stones are poised to take over the world… again. I need a shot of something strong!

What do we know so far?

In the producers chair this time around is Andrew Watt, who is extremely hot right now. B&V readers will likely recognize his name as he’s produced recent LPs, from Ozzy Osbourne – both Ordinary Man and Patient No. 9 – along with Iggy Pop’s great new record Every Loser and Eddie Vedder’s last solo LP, Earthling. I really like this move away from Don Was, who has produced their last three LPs, to Watt. He has a way of bringing out the classic sound of an artist. I’m sure the rock n roll purists are nervous about this as Watt has also produced albums by, gad, Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus. I actually think Cyrus is talented, just not my cup of tea. He’s also purportedly producing the new Pearl Jam album. I think the guy’s pedigree speaks for itself.

On drums, yes there will be tracks with the late Charlie Watts on drums. I’m sad they couldn’t get this album done with him. Steve Jordan who has been filling in for Watts on tour will play the balance of the drums. On bass, to augment Daryl Jones, Bill Wyman will return for 1 song which is purportedly a tribute track to Charlie. Paul McCartney is also rumored to play bass on another song. There were rumors and articles that Ringo was also on the album but those turned out to be spurious. It’s said that Elton John plays piano on a track. Elton guested on Vedder’s solo album so we know he’s in Watt’s Rolodex and he’s pals with Mick. I have not seen any indication that Mick Taylor is returning to play guitar on any tracks, but if they’re doing a Charlie Watts tribute track one would think he might be there too.

The Stones have really put the work in on this. I read somewhere that they didn’t want to do a “good” album. They knew after all this time, they needed to put out a “great album.” The way they hunkered down – Just Mick, Keith and Charlie – to write and lay down the basic tracks of A Bigger Bang produced a great album, and we can hope for the same here. A year ago I saw Keith interviewed and he just said, “We’ve got the songs, now it’s just down to “carpentry” to get them right.” Whatever that means. Keith talks as cryptically as an old jazz player.

Obviously, after 18 years, a new Stones album is a BIG FUCKING DEAL. And let’s face it folks, at the rate these guys have put out albums over the last thirty years, this may be the final new Stones album the world will ever see. Or better put, “Well, this could be the last time, maybe the last time, I don’t know…” And that, alone, is a big deal. I, for one, can’t wait to hear this thing. If 2019’s single “Living In A Ghost Town” is any indication, this should be some awesome music.

Cheers!

“Button your lip, baby, button your coat, Let’s go out dancing, go for the throat…” One last time…