Rooster_Ties Posted May 21, 2012 Report Posted May 21, 2012 (edited) I've never been a huge fan of the Rolling Stones (there's probably about 8-10 songs I really like, but none of them are the obvious 'biggest' hits) -- but I have to admit that an album I've always loved -- really since the day I heard it -- is Keith Richard's first solo album, Talk Is Cheap (from 1988). Here's a couple good Keef clips to get us going, and I'll probably post others to prod the discussion along... To be clear, I'm not trying to make some huge case that Keith is better than Mick, or vice versa -- I think both are clearly acquired tastes (and probably Keith more so than Mick). Still, I think Keith brings something unique to the equation at times (particularly since the early 80's), when he's out front on vocals. There are probably a good dozen various tunes with Keith on lead vocals that just slay me practically every time. Edited May 21, 2012 by Rooster_Ties Quote
mikelz777 Posted May 21, 2012 Report Posted May 21, 2012 My school of thought is that the Stones made the right choice in having Mick be the lead singer. Had Keith been the lead singer, the Stones success arc would have been quite different. I didn't care for his solo career though I kind of liked "Take It So Hard". Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted May 21, 2012 Author Report Posted May 21, 2012 (edited) "Talk Is Cheap" has one hell of a line-up, IMHO... Keith Richards – lead vocals, guitar Sarah Dash – backing vocals, duet on "Make No Mistake" Charley Drayton – bass guitar Steve Jordan – drums, percussion, backing vocals Ivan Neville – piano, keyboards Patti Scialfa – backing vocals Waddy Wachtel – acoustic, electric, and slide guitar, production consultant Bootsy Collins – bass guitar on "Big Enough" Michael Doucet – violin on "Locked Away" Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural – accordion on "You Don't Move Me", "Rockawhile" and "Locked Away" Johnny Johnson – piano on "I Could Have Stood You Up" Bobby Keys – tenor saxophone on "I Could Have Stood You Up" and "Whip It Up" Chuck Leavell – organ on "I Could Have Stood You Up" Maceo Parker – alto saxophone on "Big Enough" Joey Spampinato – bass guitar on "I Could Have Stood You Up" and "Rockawhile" Mick Taylor – guitar on "I Could Have Stood You Up" Bernie Worrell – organ on "Big Enough" and "You Don't Move Me", clavinet on "Make No Mistake" and "Rockawhile" Jimmi Kinnard – bass guitar on "Make No Mistake" The Memphis Horns – horns Willie Mitchell – horn arrangements The tune "Big Enough" features Bootsy Collins, Maceo Parker, and Bernie Worrell !! And another favorite Stones track with Keith on lead vocals... Edited May 21, 2012 by Rooster_Ties Quote
Sundog Posted May 21, 2012 Report Posted May 21, 2012 I liked his first two solo albums quite a bit (Talk Is Cheap and Main Offender). There not masterpieces by any means but the grooves are very strong and the players are top notch as you point out. Speaking of solo albums, I've actually been listening to Mick's solo album Wandering Spirit lately, it holds up pretty well. Much better than critics give it credit for. But I digress... Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted May 22, 2012 Author Report Posted May 22, 2012 (edited) Used to have Keith's 2nd album, but never connected to it as deeply (got rid of my copy eons ago, but wonder if I should seek one out again?). There's also a live Keith Richards album recorded during the tour shortly after the 1st album, which is pretty strong iirc (I still have a copy, but haven't listened to it in ages). Another couple nice ballads... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuo_KqpZEwc Edited May 22, 2012 by Rooster_Ties Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted May 22, 2012 Author Report Posted May 22, 2012 Nice live version of "Big Enough"... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18A3unsU-x8 Quote
RDK Posted May 22, 2012 Report Posted May 22, 2012 Keith's solo albums are fantastic - much better than Mick's, and even better than most of the later Stones albums. Quote
Quincy Posted May 22, 2012 Report Posted May 22, 2012 I played the hell out of Talk Is Cheap when it came out. I even cranked it and sang along with the windows down on the Cassiar when the sun was going down hoping that it'd clear moose off of the gravel highway. I didn't hit any so I think it worked. I had been waiting a long time for him to do a solo album as I had bootleg vinyl & tapes of his tracks from the late '70s such as the country stuff like Merle Haggard's "Sing Me Back Home" and "Somewhere Over The Rainbow." So despite the high expectations Talk Is Cheap didn't disappoint. Quote
7/4 Posted May 22, 2012 Report Posted May 22, 2012 Now I want his solo albums...off to the used bins! Quote
Sundog Posted May 23, 2012 Report Posted May 23, 2012 Keef- Hate It When You Leave from Main Offender Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted June 5, 2012 Author Report Posted June 5, 2012 (edited) Rare Keith 45 of a Jimmy Cliff reggae tune -- from the late 70's... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05_DYFsTbVw And a nice live version of "Take it so Hard", a song from his first solo album, but from the tour for his second solo album... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-hDxTVvG-4 Edited June 5, 2012 by Rooster_Ties Quote
paul secor Posted June 5, 2012 Report Posted June 5, 2012 For me, there's a big difference between Keith Richards playing with his Keith Richards persona and Keith Richards playing good music. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted June 5, 2012 Author Report Posted June 5, 2012 (edited) Careful, don't mess with Keith... ...unless you're Chuck Berry... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClgtoM2RwQY Edited June 5, 2012 by Rooster_Ties Quote
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