Posted by christophoros on December 13, 1999 at 11:39:45:
In Reply to: Black and Blue..an unheralded masterpiece? posted by Mr. Ventilator on December 09, 1999 at 09:53:40:
: I posted on Black and Blue sometime back, saying I'd revised my previous lukewarm feelings about the album when I bought the CD version.
: Since then my opinion of this album has done nothing but climb. I've become kind of addicted to it. I'd now rank it in the top 5. My reasons:
: 1. Two fine rockers - Hand of Fate and Crazy Mama - that are as close to pure unadulterated Keith as you can find.
: 2. Two fine ballads. Maybe a bit schmaltzy, but they've not been equalled since.
: 3. Every song is interesting. Even Hot Stuff, the weakest song on the album, has a unique lead guitar sound. The song arrangements are fully worked out, densely layered carefully crafted - you can listen to them again and again and hear new things each time.
: 4. It's Charlie's best album. Listen to his work on HOF and CM.
: 5. It has the best sound on any Stones record. Only Sticky Fingers is in the same league. You can hear every note, and the songs have a unity of sound quality that's missing in most of the Stones subsequent work.
: 6. The variety of sidemen used by the Stones, esp. Perkins..Mandel., gave the album some flavors that they haven't had before or since.
: Dare I say it..I might even give this record the nod over Let It Bleed..heresy, I know..but geez, this album sounds good..
You took the words straight out of my mouth!
Although it is for me only(?)#12 from my 19 Stones albums, I consider it a masterpiece. As a fan, I consider every one except #17- 19 one. Very hard to rate them, because I nearly love all of them!
Back to B&B: I' ve rarely heard them rock so happily and freely. I think, that on this one, his Stones debut, Ronnie did his best job.
I don' t understand, why many people hate the cover. I think, that it is cool, without having this bad show- off effect.