The Rolling Stones - Dirty Work (1986/2020) [Official Digital Download]

Half Speed ReMasters HiRes Re-Issue: Dirty Work is the Rolling Stones' 18th British and 20th American studio album. It was released on 24 March 1986 on the Rolling Stones label by CBS Records. Produced by Steve Lillywhite, the album was recorded during a period when relations between Mick Jagger and Keith Richards soured considerably, according to Richards' autobiography Life.

The album was recorded during a time of turmoil for the band, as the two principal songwriters, Richards and Jagger, had been feuding over the band's direction for most of the 1980s. Almost all of the band members had spent the previous several years working on solo albums or side projects. Other band members, including guitarist Ronnie Wood, drummer Charlie Watts, and bassist Bill Wyman, were often absent from the studio during recording sessions; it was rare that all five principal members were together at the same time.

Additionally it would be the last album to feature former member and frequent contributor on piano Ian Stewart, who died shortly before the album's release. As a result, a large number of guest musicians appeared on the album, including drummers Anton Fig and Steve Jordan (with whom Richards would form the band X-pensive Winos after recording this album), as well as guitarists Jimmy Page and Bobby Womack. Keyboards were played by Ivan Neville and Chuck Leavell, who would remain with the band for decades. Unlike most Stones albums, there was no supporting tour, as the level of animosity among band members prevented them from being able to work together live on stage.

"Dirty Work was the most troubled period of our entire voyage. You can tell that because I've got four songs on the record - which is a clear sign that Keith and Mick's songwriting engine was not functioning properly. Things were getting increasingly worse between them, especially around the recording sessions for the album… On Undercover I had been more or less in the hands of Mick, who would come in with his skeleton of a song, which we would then work with. On Dirty Work it was very different - Keith and I were very tight. Although this period was a bad one for the band, it turned out to be great for Keith and myself. It was a time when I got married to Jo, and Keith was one of my two best men - Charlie was the other one. I was renting a house in Chiswick, where I had a piano and guitars, and Keith and I spent a lot of time hanging out there, working on songs for Dirty Work, designing and planning and zeroing in on the riffs for the album." (Ron Wood)

"Reuniting after three years and one solo album from Mick Jagger, the Rolling Stones attempted to settle their differences and craft a comeback with Dirty Work, but the tensions remained too great for the group. Designed as a return to their rock & roll roots after several years of vague dance experiments, Dirty Work is hampered by uneven songs and undistinguished performances, as well as a slick, lightly synthesized production that instantly dates the album to the mid-'80s. Jagger often sounds like he's saving his best work for his solo records, but a handful of songs have a spry, vigorous attack – "One Hit (To the Body)" is a classic, and "Winning Ugly" and "Had It With You" have a similar aggression. Still, most of Dirty Work sounds as forced as the cover of Bob & Earl's uptown soul obscurity "Harlem Shuffle," leaving the album as one of the group's most undistinguished efforts." (Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AMG)

Digitally remastered

Tracklist:
1. One Hit (To The Body) (04:43)
2. Fight (03:08)
3. Harlem Shuffle (03:24)
4. Hold Back (03:52)
5. Too Rude (03:10)
6. Winning Ugly (04:31)
7. Back To Zero (03:59)
8. Dirty Work (03:52)
9. Had It With You (03:18)
10. Sleep Tonight (05:10)
11. Key To The Highway (Piano Instrumental) (00:33)


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