Product Description

Three years after releasing 1983's UNDERCOVER, the Rolling Stones returned to the studio to record DIRTY WORK. During the band's sabbatical, Mick Jagger had released his solo debut SHE'S THE BOSS, sparking resentment from Keith Richards, who did not approve of Jagger making music outside of the band. A notable distinction of DIRTY WORK is Ron Wood's collaboration with the Jagger/Richards songwriting axis on four songs, "One Hit (To The Body)", "Fight", "Had It With You" and the title track, which may have been code for the Glimmer Twins' then-strained relationship.
Since Stones recording sessions are always special events, a number of famous guestsmade cameos on this 1986 release. Among them are Stones heroes Bobby Womack and Don Covay, Tom Waits, Jimmy Page and producer Steve Lillywhite's wife Kirsty MacColl. Despite any infighting, the Stones continued their history of interestingcover choices. A minor 1964 hit by Bob and Earl hit the topfive for the Stones, while Half Pint's "Too Rude" continuedthe band's love affair with reggae.

Track Listing

1. One Hit (To The Body)
2. Fight
3. Harlem Shuffle
4. Hold Back
5. Too Rude
6. Winning Ugly
7. Back To Zero
8. Dirty Work
9. Had It With You
10. Sleep Tonight

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22945 in Music
• Released on: 1994-08-15
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Definitely not the nadir !
I have never quite understood the general view that this is the low point of the Stones' 35 year career. I bought this album way back in 1986 when it was released. I liked it at the time and I still like it today. Sure its not the Stones best album but neither is it the worst. In fact I rate it above a number of others such as Black and Blue, Undercover, Satanic Majesties and the truly appalling Emotional Rescue. Given the cloud that hung over the Stones' future during the recording of this and the breakdown in the Richards-Jagger relationship i am amazed that this is as good as it is. Tracks like the excellent opener One Hit, Sleep Tonight,
Winning Ugly, Harlem Shuffle and the title track are all well up to scratch, the Jimmy Cliff inspired Too Rude is an interesting diversion and so what if the band lapse into the odd tuneless thrash (Fight, Hold Back), theres still enough here to keep most Stones fans happy. You cant award half stars but if you could i would give this 3.5. In short, this is nowhere near as bad as people often make out !

Don't dismiss it completely
Usually offered up as "The Stones' nadir" and recorded amongst a maelstrom of in-fighting resulting from Mick Jagger's swanning off to record his not half bad solo album, "She's The Boss". Richards and Jagger were supposedly "estranged" and much of this album is played by them separately, or with guitar parts taken by Ronnie Wood as on "One Hit To The Body", to great effect as it happens. The old "Jumping Jack Flash" acoustic/electric riff intro is used once again and damn good it sounds too.

Of course this is The Rolling Stones, so the bar is high and, taking all things into account, this is nothing special in any way. How about forgetting it's The Stones and just listen to the album as an 80s rock album ? Then it becomes a bit better (if you can forget the drum machine, tape loops, synthesisers and hideous cover clothes!). Taken in isolation as the odd track popping up on your MP3 random selection for example, you will find they are far more listenable. The opening track, and "Harlem Shuffle" (a respectable cover), "Dirty Work", "Had It With You" and Keith's cod-reggae offering "Too Rude" are not nearly as bad as many have said.

Nevertheless, there is a despairing overall feel to the album when played through in full and this should be avoided. Just dip into it every now and again, no need to dismiss it completely. To appreciate a band properly you must take the rough with the smooth.

Boring For The Most Part
The production is fine and sounded very much 1980s when it first came out. So for the first few listens one was thinking this was a new Stones record, keeping up with the times. And I enyoyed it a lot. Unfortunately with hindsight this is one of the Stones least impressive offerings, although there are a few highlights. We did not know of course at the time that Mick and Keith were at eachother's throats. All we had was this album which sounded fresh in the summer of 1986 when it came out but on a songwriting level left a lot to be desired. Like the follow up 'Steel Wheels' (1989). The days of great Stones albums had with hindsight been left behind in 1980's Emotional Rescue which I maintain is the last album truly worthy of this band's name.

The title track 'Dirty Work' sounded like a pretty good rocker at the time. Now it just sounds tired. Although it is almost rescued by the superb guitar break in the middle, Those 20 seconds are at least superb. 'Too Rude' is a reggae effort which is quite pleasing but mainly if we're honest because it features Keith on vocals. And 'Sleep Tonight' is a good closing number, from Keith again. However, it is a sad reflection on any Stones album when Keith's tracks are superior or at least more listenable than Mr Jagger's offerings. But I am afraid that is the case on almost any Stones album since 'Undercover' (1983). No wonder he went solo. For a while anyway.

Of Jagger's vocal tracks, the opening song 'One Hit To The Body' sounds great, production wise. But is forgettable in the long term. Most un-Stones like backing vocals. 'Fight' is OK and the next one, the single 'Harlem Shuffle' is quite good, but is a cover all the same. Since when had the Stones' lead off single single been a cover for God's sake? Nuff said. The other tracks are pretty forgettable with the possible exception of 'Had It With You' which at least contained some of that vintage Stones grit and anger.

But there about 10 albums from The Rolling Stones which should be discovered before you even go near this one. It is not rubbish, it is just that they could and did so much better than this. Approach or as George Harrison once said Handle With Care. And what are those clothes they are wearing on the front cover??