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"...I Can Hear The People Talking...Troubles A' Comin...In More Ways Than One..."
May 1994 with Virgin, June 2009 with Polydor and now October 2021 on Polydor/Rolling Stones Records – yet again.
Weary strolling bones fans like moi have been down this endless reissue road before with our fave hornary reprobates and besties THE ROLLING STONES. But this time it is better – way better – and on an album I have adored for over 40 years – slapped together compilation or no. Some info first...
As you've no doubt already read - "Tattoo You" was a ragbag of outtakes from previous albums with a few new tunes thrown in - Rockers on the A-side with Ballads on the B. The material stretched back as far as late 1972 and the Exile period – through Some Girls in 1978 and on to new 1981 stuff before it was worldwide released in August of that year (not that the original record ever told you any of that). And it worked - I played "Tattoo You" to death on release - loved it to pieces - especially the shockingly soulful Side 2. To CDs...
The 1994 and 2009 1CD variants of "Tattoo You" clocked in at 44:26 minutes – this 2021 new Remaster by the same team of STEPHEN MARCUSSEN and STEWART WHITMORE – transfers done at Marcussen Mastering in Hollywood, California – clocks in at 44:34 minutes, so is a few seconds longer. And again WOW is the only appropriate response. It is no understatement to say that this sucker ROCKS – there are even times when the clarity is overwhelming for an old fart like me so used to hearing older slightly muddied versions. Disc 2 on the Deluxe Version is called "Lost & Found: Rarities" and offers us 9 new tracks, outtakes and alternate versions including a Reggae-fied take on "Start Me Up" (CD2 clocks in at 39:18 minutes). Personally – and like Disc 2 of the "Goats Head Soup" Deluxe Edition – has been in my player for months. The packaging of the 2CD Deluxe Edition once again lets the side down and is not much to write home about (although the new Jeff Slate liner notes explain things well, especially with regard to the rare stuff) – but the sonic goods are there in spades. To the friends we have been waiting for...
UK released 22 October 2021 - "Tattoo You" by THE ROLLING STONES on Rolling Stones/Polydor 383 494-1 (Barcode 602438349418) is a 'Deluxe Edition' 2CD Reissue and New Remaster and plays out as follows:
CD1 "Tattoo You" (44:34 minutes):
Side 1
1. Start Me Up [begun in 1975 during "Black And Blue" sessions, returned to in November 1977 as a "Some Girls" possible]
2. Hang Fire ["Some Girls" outtake returned to in 1979 for lyrics, features IAN STEWART on Piano]
3. Slave [This is an Extended Version - see PS below]
4. Little T&A [Lead Vocals and Bass by Keith Richards, Ian Stewart on Piano - T&A is street slang for certain parts of a woman's anatomy]
5. Black Limousine [the only track on the album co-credited to RONNIE WOOD, it features Mick Jagger on Lead Vocals and Harmonica with Ian Stewart on Piano - backing track dated as far back as "Exile" in 1972]
6. Neighbours [features' both' the legendary SONNY ROLLINS and BOBBY KEYES on Saxophones]
Side 2
7. Worried About You [features BILLY PRESTON on Piano, WAYNE PERKINS on Lead Guitar and SOLO and OLLIE BROWN on Percussion]
8. Tops [features MICK TAYLOR on Guitar with NICKY HOPKINS on Piano; a Mick Taylor "Exile" outtake - wasn't given a writers credit - sued and won]
9. Heaven [co-producer CHRIS KIMSEY plays Piano on this]
10. No Use In Crying [features Nicky Hopkins on Piano]
11. Waiting On A Friend [features Mick Taylor on Guitar, Sonny Rollins on Saxophone and JIMMY MILLER of "Sticky" fame on Percussion]
CD2 "Lost & Found: Rarities" (39:18 minutes):
1. Living In The Heart Of Love (4:13 minutes)
[Begun in the Musicland Studio sessions for the 1974 "It’s Only Rock 'N Roll" LP – features Nicky Hopkins on Piano and Backing Vocals from Keith Richards]
2. Fiji Jam (4:00 minutes)
[Begun and recorded in Paris for the 1978 "Some Girls" LP, features Ian Stewart on Piano with Mick Jagger on Acoustic Guitar]
3. Troubles A’ Coming (4:16 minutes)
[Begun in 1979 in Paris for the 1979 "Emotional Rescue" LP, it is the first of three cover versions on CD2. Originally written by Eugene Record of The Chi-Lites in 1970 and found on their "I Like Your Lovin' (Do You Like Mine)?" on Brunswick Records. There appears to be no recording info as to who plays on it]
4. Shame, Shame, Shame (4:13 minutes)
[Second cover version on CD2, originally a Jimmy Reed R&B classic from 1963 on Vee Jay Records, it features Ian Stewart on Piano with Mick Jagger on Harmonica]
5. Drift Away (4:06 minutes)
[Third and final cover version on CD2, originally a Dobie Gray US Soul and R&B hit in 1973 on Decca Records 33057, it features Nicky Hopkins on Piano with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards n Backing Vocals]
6. It’s A Lie (4:57 minutes)
[Begun during the 1978 "Some Girls" sessions as an instrumental, lyrics were added by Mick Jagger decades later – features Harmonica by Sugar Blue and Ian Stewart on Piano]
7. Come To The Ball (3:40 minutes)
[Begun as "Windfall" during the late 1972 Jamaica sessions for the 1973 LP "Goats Head Soup", further overdubs took place in Los Angeles in 1973 but was shelved until completion now – features Mick Taylor on Guitar with Nicky Hopkins on Piano]
8. Fast Talking, Slow Walking (5:40 minutes)
[Started in 1972, but recorded 1973 at Musicland Studios in Munich for the 1974 LP "It's Only Rock 'N Roll" – features Mick Taylor on Guitar and Billy Preston on Piano]
9. Start Me Up (Early Version) (4:10 minutes)
[The original version was meant to be this take – a more Reggae groove – but Engineer Chris Kimsey ignored Keith Richards who commanded that the Rock version that is used as the opening track on the LP be wiped permanently. He didn’t and thus the Rock Version prevailed]
As ever, the three-way foldout gatefold card sleeve is a mixture of good, bad and just lazy. The lyrics are not here again – the three internal flaps are all close-ups of the red and black tattoos when they could have shown picture sleeves from all over the world. The 20-page booklet offers the fur boot inner sleeve photo alongside a few period shots that are new and excellent new liner notes from band expert JEFF SLATE. Jeff gives us a song-by-song history and the detailed reissue credits pages squash in who played on what – guests like Ian Stewart, Billy Preston, Nicky Hopkins and Chris Kimsey all on Keyboards, Sonny Rollins and Bobby Keyes on Horns, Wayne Perkins of Smith-Perkins-Smith and Crimson Tide on Guitar, Pete Townshend of The Who on Backing Vocals (Slave), Jennifer and Susan McLean on Backing Vocals, Ollie Brown on Percussion, Simon Kirke of Bad Company on Drums. It’s a good stab but not something worth writing home about and it is ridiculous that you cannot read the song titles on the rear so the text can match the artwork (you will get more from my list above). Still the new Audio is magnificent.
October 2021 sees "Tattoo You" receive multiple formats too – the single CD variant in a standard jewel case is Rolling Stones/Polydor 382 846-0 (Barcode 602438284603), there is an LP Picture Disc and the obligatory Super Deluxe Edition 4-Disc Box Set too which adds two live CDs onto the 2 studio sets from the DE version I’m reviewing.
The clarity of the guitar solo on "Slave" is awesome as is the swirling magic of "Heaven", but best of all is the beautiful axework by Wayne Perkins on the Side 2 opener "Worried About You". I think it's the best guitar solo on a Stones album anywhere and its clarity now is fabulous. Absolutely loving the so Some Girls snotty vibe in "Fiji Jim" and his Internet Age updating of the lyrics in the seriously catchy "It's A Lie". The three covers are very cool – R&B prevailing for Jimmy Reed and his "Shame, Shame, Shame" (grungy guitar and Jagger on Harmonica) but a great Soulful vocal for "Drift Away". It is hard to believe that the not-so-good Reggae Version of "Start Me Up" was seriously considered initially as the only version worth using - what a mistake that would have been (well done Chris).
To sum up - I know the packaging and presentation leave a lot to be desired, but as I listen to the lovely Piano tinkering of Nicky Hopkins on "No Use In Crying" and the three lads harmonizing on Backing Vocals - I don't care - I love it. The sound is wonderful and a major improvement over what went before. The buggering truth is that once you hear these huge remasters, you're screwed - and true Stones nuts will absolutely have to own the old/new stuff.
Despite niggles - it's recommended for the great new audio and the music - the last Stones album where I played all of it...
PS: There's an anomaly worth noting re the track "Slave"...
When "Tattoo You" was originally released on Vinyl and Cassette in August 1981 (Rolling Stones CUNS 39114 in the UK and COC 16052 in the USA) - the 3rd track on Side 1 "Slave" clocked in at about 3:20 minutes on the UK LP and 4:59 minutes on the US variant. So when the first ever CD version of it came out in 1983 in Japan and on CBS Records UK in late 1986, it reflected the American timing of 4:59 minutes and stayed that way for years.
However the May 1994 Virgin Remaster put out an anomaly without telling anyone - that CD version of "Slave" was inexplicably extended to 6:31 minutes. The error was repeated on the Polydor version of June 2009 and is again here for October 2021 in the latest round of reissues. And it is very much a benefit to fans because the Extended Version of "Slave" is sensational. With the legendary Sonny Rollins playing on Saxophone and Billy Preston on Funky Keyboards, the lengthy mix now sounds like "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" Part 2 from "Sticky Fingers". A huge chunky guitar riff throughout, great Jagger vocals, Sax wailing - it absolutely rocks (apparently there's a version with the late great Jeff Beck on guitar in the can somewhere too).
What should have happened
here of course is that the original LP timing be used on this CD - with both
the Jeff Beck mix and the Extended Version put on as bonus tracks at the end,
but that's for another day and another reissue that will probably never happen...
