It’s been 11 years since the Rolling Stones released a new album, but that might soon change. The band is reportedly working on a record of blues covers.
Adding fuel to the fire, Mick Jagger tweeted a photo of some guitar picks and a case of harmonicas with the caption: “Watch this space #playingtheblues.”
Watch this space #playingtheblues pic.twitter.com/INra1Yu9iR
— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) September 29, 2016
The tweet comes not long after guitarist Ron Wood said, “We went in to cut some new songs, which we did, but we got on a blues streak. We cut 11 blues in two days. They are extremely great cover versions of Howlin’ Wolf and Little Walter, among other blues people. But they really sound authentic. When we heard them back after not hearing them for a couple of months, we were, ‘Who’s that? It’s you.’ It sounded so authentic.”
More recently, producer Don Was explained how the idea for the set came out. He said that Keith Richards suggested the band play some of Little Walter’s “Blue and Lonesome” to loosen up and it “was just magnificent.” He added, “When they play that music, they become something very true to who they are and something really unique as well… It’s really good.”
This week, Was spoke with French newspaper Le Figaro and revealed, “The album consists of covers of blues songs of Chicago. It was recoded live in the studio in just three days, with the musicians in a circle around the mircrophones. There was no retouching on the pieces… The record sounds very crude, very authentic. It captures the essence of what they are.”
Was also stated that Eric Clapton, who was recording an album in the studio next door, came across the hall to join in on two songs.
Meanwhile, a couple weeks ago, Ron said, “It’s gonna be great. You’re gonna love it. That’s what the Stones are: a blues band. Yeah!” The set is expected to come out in December.
Original article by Dave Basner at iHeartRadio