The Rolling Stones – Tattoo You: 40th Anniversary Edition

These anniversaries are just coming along too fast! Its been 40 years since The Rolling Stones released Tattoo You and so, here we are presented with an expanded, remastered version for consideration (and Holiday gift buying).

For many, Tattoo You is/was the last great Stones album. I might go along with that. Its no Some Girls or Sticky Fingers but it does easily outshine anything that has come along since 1981.

At the time of its release, the band was busily sorting out another world tour and realized it might be a good idea to put out an album, if for no reason than to sell a few more tickets. At the time, Mick and Keith weren’t exactly on the best of terms so new songs were at a premium. Fortunately, there were plenty of half-polished gems in the vault and so they dug back (even to the Mick Taylor days) to cobble something together.

This doesn’t sound like a recipe for greatness but Tattoo You is better that it had a right to be thanks to killer songs such as Start Me Up, Hang Fire and Waiting On A Friend.

Now faced with an second disc of “Lost & Found: Rarities” (this could have been the original title of the record) we see and hear that Tattoo You could have even been better.

Side one of the original album rocks along nicely thanks to Start Me Up, Hang Fire and Little T & A and the assistance of jazz great Sonny Rollins blowing sax on Slave and Neighbours. But, honestly, Side Two drags a bit, though Waiting On A Friend is definitely worth the wait.

On first listen to the Lost & Found disc and it sounds like Tattoo You Tk2 with Living In The Heat Of Love kicking things off with another cool Keith riff. Fiji Jim is fun with the ever-faithful Ian Stewart joining in a piano. The rest of side one finds The Stones playing favourites…covers of tunes by The Chi-Lites, Jimmy Reed and Dobie Gray’s Drift Away…what’s not to like? I love hearing Mick’s “Southern drawl” on Drift Away.

So, Side One of the Lost & Found disc is almost as good as the original Side one and, as it turns out, Side 2 is better than original.

A rollicking It’s A Lie starts it off with Sugar Blue on harp and Ian Stewart tickling those ivories…obviously a Some Girls outtake.

Then its back to the Mick Taylor days with Come To The Ball, a track that both rocks and swings…thanks Charlie (RIP).

The pace slows with Fast Talking, Slow Walking, another from the Taylor era and it still beats most anything on Side 2 of the original record.

Which brings us to an early, reggae-fied version of Start Me Up, more a curio than anything else, although Free/Bad Co drummer Simon Kirke adds percussion and, as always, The Stones find their groove.

So, yes, this reissue of Tattoo You is worthy of your consideration, and if you are really keen, you can spring for the 4-CD box set that includes a 1982 Wembley Stadium show and a 124 Page Book featuring over 200 rare photos from recording sessions & world tour + interviews with producer Chris Kimsey & photographer Hubert Kretzscmar. The package also includes a special lenticular sleeve (whatever that is).

I heartily recommend the double-disc vinyl version…the remaster is a non-event, but the previously unreleased rarities are worth hearing and owning.

Marty Duda

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