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FANS ALBUM REVIEWS
DIRTY WORK
Seventeen Reviews - Overall Average Rating - 4.2 Tongues
(We are accepting fan reviews for this album once again, for a limited time)
DIRTY WORK
By GB
September 27, 2003
Rating: 
I wish they had cranked up Jimmy Page's solo in ONE HIT TO THE BODY. It's buried in the
mix. Why? ONE HIT reprises their GIMME SHELTER sound, and the chord progression, is like
GIMME SHELTER or STAIRWAY. Page excels in soloing over that progression, so they should
have let him turn it up, the way the solos are on BLACK AND BLUE or something.
Before this came out, Keith was saying this would be their hardest album since Exile, and
in some respects, he's right, although I'd have to give that to either SOME GIRLS
or UNDERCOVER. Still, there are some heavy songs, like FIGHT and HOLD BACK, but
they aren't enjoyable to listen to particularly..
The best song on here is SLEEP TONIGHT, Keith's ballad. Jagger's HAD IT WITH YOU might be
his best performance here with some naughty lyrics and a kick ass sax.
I like Keith's reggae song TOO RUDE, the ballad SLEEP TONIGHT to close it, the rocker ONE
HIT which opens it, and HAD IT WITH YOU. HARLEM SHUFFLE has a clever little hook, but the
vibe never materializes.
Here's the truth. Mick Jagger didn't even like EXILE. He's forever pulling the
band towards popular trends. If swing bands were back in style, he'd hire out a big band.
To some extent, this is good, but in the Stones case it hasn't really paid off at all.
Actually, it paid off a couple times. The first time was when the current trend was
towards guitar solos and guitar music, and we got their great string of albums. Then,
towards the late 70s, the punk thing happened and it played to the group's strengths. But
they're not good at 80s pop. You can't squeeze mud from an orange.
To listen to some sound clips from DIRTY WORK
or to buy it click here: Dirty
Work
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DIRTY WORK
By Oklahoma Zeppelin
May 21, 2003
Rating: 
Let's see, Mick's off doing his keep-up-with-Phil-Collins solo dance, and an angry Keith's
running the studio, with drop-bys including Jimmy Page and Tom Waits -- this should've
been a BRILLIANT, MEMORABLE album. Instead it's way off.
Keith's two vocals are worth having -- 'Too Rude' and 'Sleep Tonight' -- otherwise, you
have to be mighty generous to give anything much credit. First single 'Harlem Shuffle' is
manufactured and off kilter -- maybe it was the Paula Abdul-inspired video. Songs like
'Fight' and the title track feel like they were taken from half-hearted results of 'hey,
press record, let's see what happens' experiments. The best of the Mick tracks is the
barebone, bass-less 'Had It With You' -- and its terrific fall-apart bridge.
But big-time fans will need to pick up a $5 copy for Keith's 'Sleep Tonight' alone.
Sparing percussive guitar, lulls in rhythm, piano-driven, softly sung, that extended
'BA-BY' break, and -- most tasty -- Charlie's disproportionate snare throughout. Not sure
how Keith makes songs like this. Is it genius or plain luck?
DIRTY WORK
By Peter van Ree
December14, 2002
Rating:
On Dirty Work you'll find the strongest opening song since 'Brown Sugar' (
1971). The album moves on with some aggression in 'Fight', then it's slowing down with the
soulful hit single 'Harlem Shuffle'. 'Hold Back' shows the listener, Mick's singing his
ass off. Keith closes the first side with a nice reggae cover. The B-side of the album
kick's ass. Story's about winning, losing, working, saying goodbye and sleeping, and all
of the songs sound great. Keith and Ronnie take control and show Mick what a great band is
all about. Only problem with this album is the bad promotion and that there was no tour.
Just enjoy this album for what it is, a great rock album!
DIRTY WORK
By T-roy
July18, 2002
Rating:
To all the naysayers who say this album is weak- I say you've lost your minds. Doesn't
anyone want to hear a Stones album that rocks? Cause that's what Dirty Work does- kicks
major butt. The opening of 'One Hit' lets us know that the Stones have returned. Mr.
Richards and Mr. Wood have the two guitar attack down cold (or is it 4 or 5?) and Jagger's
vocals are fiery and intense. What's with this consensus that Jagger's vocals are weak on
this record? I defy anyone to listen to "Hold Back" where Jagger says "from
the banks of the Delaware" or "For over 40 years" and tell me this guy is
not giving it his all. Does he sing this forcefully on 'Brown Sugar'? No. 'Honky Tonk'?
No. Go listen it to it now and see what I mean. "Fight", "Hold Back",
"Dirty Work" all rock. The usual Keith slow numbers work- and the only clunkers
are "Back to Zero" and "Winning Ugly" which sound like soundtrack cuts
to a bad 80's flick like Flashdance. But hey- Mick's trendiness works sometimes (Some
Girls punk) and doesn't on this one. But take away those and this album holds up
well. The Stones have not made a record that rocks this hard before or after. The glossy
digital sound of Steel Wheels (nothing on that album rocks except
"Hat") would soon follow. And the Stones would soon lose their edge and join
Eric Clapton and company- people who play acoustic versions of songs that used to rock at
half speed ("Layla") For those of you who still remember what rock is about and
what it was like to be young- this is your album. For any of you youngsters who think the
Stones are old farts and don't get it, crank up track 1 2 or 3. Believe me - you'll get
it.
DIRTY WORK
By Soul Survivor
March 16, 2002
Album Name: Dirty Work
Rating:
A time of turmoil for the band is the reason of this album's failure. Keith said it was
during this time the Stones were playing their best and maybe that's so, but on this album
it doesn't show.When the sessions began in January of '85, Mick wasn't there. Instead he
was working on his solo album titled She's The Boss. This left Keith Richards in
a fury but he took over as the "leader" of the band. Then when Mick started
working on the Stones album in March of '85, He entered the studio with no new
material...he had used it all on his album. So I guess you can say this is a "Keith
Richard's Album".But when you break everything down..it's really not that good. Just
admit it, even though it's the Stones they could have done alot better. And it shows on
this album what Mick contributes to the band. Even though I like "One Hit To The
Body", and "Too Rude" I think this album shouldn't have been released. I
mean, the Stones knew Mick was recording his own album and that he had used all his best
material on his album. They should have taken more time to come up with better stuff. This
also might have prevented the "breakup" from '86 - '89 not to happen. And then
when this album didn't do much Mick had decided his solo career was more important. Big
Mistake! Both of his albums in the 80's bombed. And then Mr. Richard's released his album
in '88 and blew Mick's out of the water.
This album isn't all that bad as some may put it as. But it's my least favorite as it is
for many Stones fans. I'm just glad they got everything back together in '89.
DIRTY WORK
By John Wallen
March 2, 2002
Rating:
OK...it's not a great album, but it's surely not bad and better than Emotional
Rescue, Voodoo Lounge, Steel Wheels and Bridges to Babylon.
The thing about this album is that it is a REAL Stones album. It has internal consistency
and integrity. The tensions between Mick and Keith make it a rather violent and
uncompromising album and there are few light moments. But to call it trash as some fans
have here is ridiculous! It's not a masterpiece, but neither is it as bad as many fans
make out. It's clear that there was a lot of animosity between Mick and Keef at this
time---it shows in the violent, no frills music. Jagger's lyrics are sometimes a bit lazy,
but I see no justification for saying (as some reviewers have) that the vocal performance
is below par. In this regard, I think Mick always gives of his best. Highlights are a mind
blowing 'One Hit to the Body' which is classic Stones and the infectious 'Had it With
You'., which has Mick blowing his soul out on harmonica. 'Dirty Work' itself is a fine
song. Many of the other tracks on this album are mediocre---even poor.There is a raw truth
to this album that seems to shout out at the listener: "you are listening to the
greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world fighting" and there are few hummable tunes
or 'visions of rainbows' here. The good thing is that this is REALITY. After this, the
real Stones split up. Later, they came together again on the basis of a business
proposition. Overall, a bleak but compelling album.
DIRTY WORK
By Alex Short
April 20, 2001
Rating:
God this is awful. The Stones sound like a true 80s band on this album. The album starts
off with an average rocker graced by the presence of Jimmy Page, but that doesn't do
"One Hit To The Body" any good whatsoever. It rocks, but not the way the real
Stones rock. Then comes a bunch of awful songs. "Fight" Is this a Stones song?
Well supposedly. Its awful. The whole album is terrible. Only two songs stick in my mind.
They are firstly, "Back To Zero", with its 80s beat its so terrible it sticks in
your head, and the only decent song "Sleep Tonight" At last some comfort. You
certainly won't be getting any sleep after listening to this album. At the end of this
waste of Vinyl or CD you have a thirty second homage to the late Ian Stewart. The man who
stood by the Stones for some 24 years and was the only one with his head screwed on half
the time. He was and still is missed.
DIRTY WORK
By Fred London
March 19, 2001
Rating:
What can be said? All songs are composed and played on auto-pilot, yet all of us Stones
fans know there is no such thing as an auto-pilot where the Stones are concerned. This
album is an insult to the fans. It is embarrassing. This is probably what U2 calls
"stuck in a moment you can't get out of". The Boys are unanimously demotivated.
They can't seem to fight things out, no matter how hard they try on this aggressive album.
The times are-a changin' and every one of them is busy setting his own course. This is not
a band. This is a collection of unwillingly playing musicians. There is not even one song
that a Stones fan wants to remember. It wasn't until 1989 that the individual boys
recovered and found their paths crossing each other. This album goes down in history as
the Worst Ever Made yet Best Sold. In The Stones we trusted, but something broke in us
after we heard these Satanic Verses. Only funny thing about this album is the
aforementioned gig: being able to sell such an incredible lot of shit to so many people.
Mick Jagger for president!
DIRTY WORK
By John
January 28, 2001
Rating:
This is often one of the most slagged Stones' albums. It is uneven, with a few killer
songs and a few clunkers. 'One Hit To The Body' is pure Stones snarl with a tremendous
opening riff. 'Fight' follows suit with Jagger half yelling the lyrics and everyone else
pounding away. Some of the best drumming by Charlie Watts is on this album. Steve
Lillywhite's influence, perhaps? The boys give "Harlem Shuffle" a great updated
sound, it sounded great live in 1989. "Hold Back" has Jagger telling us to
"...hear the voice of experience..." he's not kidding after so many years in the
game. Now for the weaker efforts. "Too Rude" sounds like an outtake and appears
aimless. "Back To Zero" and "Winning Ugly" sound like leftovers from
Jagger's She's The Boss album with throwaway lyrics and too many female backup
singers on "Winning Ugly". "Dirty Work" rocks, though the rapid- fire
half spoken words in the middle seem to drag the song down somewhat. "Had It With
You" is pure anger, which pretty much summed up the Jagger/Richards relationship at
this time. "Sleep Tonight" is another of those slow Richards ballads. Given the
tensions within the band its amazing they came out with anything at this point. Jagger was
busy pushing his solo album and Richards and Wood were trying to keep things together. It
is a very angry album (check out the song titles) that seemed to have Jagger on one side
trying to sound eighties while Richards is trying to hold onto the bands roots. My main
complaint with this one and what has unfortunately become a pattern since this album; too
many session players, guests, etc. The Stones seem to put out their best stuff when it is
just them without. Is Dirty Work worth a listen? Yes. Is it in their top ten
albums? Nope.
DIRTY WORK
By Matthias Kûnzer
April 2, 2000
Rating:
Whereas Mick Jagger wanted to go punk when punk was fashionable and to go Micheal Jackson
at Thriller times and to go Streetfightingman 1968, Keith Richards did this punk rock
album containing soul songs (yaknow the original Harlem Shuffle? also great) in a pop
package at a time when messianic U2 filled our ears with glue. Seems that the Stones are
always best just before they almost split, same can be said about Beggars Banquet.
Ah yes, bout the album itself. One Hit is a acoustic-electric masterpiece, destined for
all guitar player in the world that find Brown Sugar too easy to play. Harlem Shuffle show
that the Stones understood what is meant by Soul Music better than, say, Marvin Gaye, for
whom it was merely a subdirectory of porn (savage in the sack).In Hold Back, Mick Jagger
tells you how Stalin and Roosevelt got their jobs. Had It With You is for someone
interested in band psychology: Jagger singing Richard's song in an old-fashioned
Chuck-Berry manner, describing
how he, Richards, does not want to have to do anything with him, Jagger, anymore. Far
better than Let It Bleed, which is an artsy fartsy product of the swinging
sixties, containing embarrassing songs like Monkey Man, in which we hear Jagger's excuse
for being too satanic ...
DIRTY WORK
By christophoros
February 2, 2000
Rating:
I don' t want to be intolerant of other people, other opinions, but I also wonder: How
could anybody give THIS a rating as good as 7.5? It nearly ended the Rolling Stones'
career after the death of the "sixth Stone". Behind this album I couldn' t find
any clear sense, and- even worse- also not any fun. The reason for this is the quarrel
between Jagger and Richards while they were recording. Jagger is reported to have just
sung his vocals in the latest minute. Hey, you aren' t a window- cleaner who does the most
boring job on earth, you belong to the greatest rock band on earth (or, what when Dirty
Work came out, seemed to ONCE HAVE BEEN the greatest rock band on earth). You can hear
this listlessness over the whole album. And it' s true, not only the artwork, also the
lyrics just are a single scream. I can hardly believe that the band that has gone into
history with great classics like Street Fighting Man or Honky Tonk Women is playing there.
The Rolling Stones are often congenial, only there about nothing of their importance for
the music in general and of their talent is to be seen. "Blow you sky high, I don' t
care, splatter matter on the bloody ceiling" would be very good for the worst average
rap band. If you' re coming from Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Exile,... to Dirty
Work, you will be very disappointed. They are masterpieces, this is trash.
DIRTY WORK
By Maxlugar
January 7, 2000
Rating:
From the opening seconds of One Hit (To the Body), I knew the Stones had decided to rock
and roll again. After two completely retarded and horrendous albums (Emotional Rescue,
Undercover) and one oldies set pulled out of the archives (Tattoo You) they
had decided to put the pedal to the metal. First some acoustic strumming, a little high
hat action and then BAM! Da Da-da-da-da DA DA Da-da-da-da!!! Rock and Roll!!! Reminiscent
of Can't You Hear Me Knockin'. Along with some great guitar work came some great lyrics.
"You burst in, in a blaze of light. You unzippered the dark. One kiss took my breath
away. One look lights up the stars". Nice start. My Stones are back. And they are
pissed. Then Came fight. Holly crap! Now THOSE are guitars. Put this tune on with
headphones on and just drool over the slashings of Keith and Ronnie on this one. Pure
aggression. Just what I love the Stones for. Nice lead in the middle too. This is shaping
up to be quite an album. Pissed indeed.
Harlem Shuffle is next. Not bad but I would not have made this the first single. Their
version of this tune has quite a nice edge to it though. The beat Charlie is kickin' is
infectious. Ronnie's little licks are a nice touch.
Hold Back. Whoa! Mick sure didn't listen to the title of this one. I defy you to find
another song since where Mick just lets it loose and wails like he does on this one. I
have listened to many a fool out there who say Mick was just going through the motions and
came in the studio with no motivation for this album. I say bullshit. Mick is howling here
like he doesn't care if his vocal chords land on the control room window. Listen to the
line "I've been climbing this tree of promises, for over forty years". Tell me
where Mick has ever sang a line so powerful You can't, don't bother. The guitars are
crashing into one another. Nice funky break at the end too. The drums are like a thunder
storm. Only Hold On To Your Hat comes close to this kind of rockability.
Too Rude is a nice change of pace for the Stones. A friend of mine loves this song. The
drum effect is just like a Peter Tosh boot I have. Probably stole it but hey... The vocals
kind of remind me of the Grateful Dead. Not Keiths best but an A for effort. Creativity
has been a strong point for the Stones over the years. I especially like what they do when
they cover a song. Getting a little laid back at this point of the album was needed as
well.
Winning Ugly is just too '80's for me. At the time I thought it was going to be a big hit
for them. It wasn't and it sucks. For me it sounds too produced. Nice bass line though.
Too bad it's not Bill. Bill must have been out behind the studio puking during this song.
Back To Zero. Uh oh. Now two crappy songs in a row. What's going on here guys? Something
is starting to smell here. This song is a crappy leftover from She's The Boss. I
like the "My whole life is haning by a thread" part though. Otherwise, things
are starting to turn around here. Someone or something help!!
And that something was Dirty Work. Oh yeah. We're back on track now. This is a very nice
rocker. Some nice stripped down guitar work. Nice lead by Ronnie. Micks vocals kick ass.
Charlie's drumming is spot on. I love this tune.
Next is Had It With You. One of my all time favorite Stones songs. No bass on it and it
still has a great grove. I had not heard Mick wail on harmonica like this in years. This
is old time rock and roll. It must be played at maximum volume. The lyrics are great too.
"I love you dirty fucker". Indeed. Top ten Stones line if I've ever heard one.
Sounds to be just Ronnie on guitar here. If it is then I say GREAT JOB RONNIE! Too bad he
doesn't do that anymore.
Sleep Tonight is a nice Keith ballad. Sort of like All About You but better. I wouldn't
have put this one last one the album though. I hate it when they put a slow Keith ballad
at the end of an album. Like B2B it sort of leaves a bad taste in your mouth. I like when
they go out with a nice rocker like Voodoo Lounge or Some Girls.
Then there is the little Stu piano part that brings tears to Maxy's eyes. I can't
go....on...about that.
So there you have it folks. A damn great rocking Stones album. In my opinion on of the
hardest rocking they ever put out. The hatred of Mick and Keith towards each other came
out in the end as howling vocals and slashing guitars. the only reason this is not
remembered as a great album is that Mick decided not to tour afterwards. Keith still says
in interviews he likes this album. Three songs from the Dirty Work sessions that
could have put this album over the top are Deep Love, Goin' To Memphis and Invitation. If
this album came out in the day of CD, they would be there and this truly would have been
more than just a great rocker album. It may have been up there with Voodoo Lounge
in my opinion.
Don't be a follower and listen to most fools and dismiss this album. You'll be missing out
on some kick ass rock. You have to take Dirty Work for what it is. A hard rocking
reflection of where the Stones where at that time. It is a hard rocking, guitar crashing,
vocal chord ripping, "we're here to kick ass" claiming, drum skin breaking,
Ronnie and Keith still playing
great together kick arse and take no prisoners album. Hey it's no Sticky Fingers.
It's no Voodoo Lounge. It's no Some Girls. But shit, it's no Undercover
or Emotional Rescue either.
DIRTY WORK
By Steve Cronen
July 13, 1999
Rating:
Well, you have to give 'em some credit... Upon listening to Dirty Work, I turned
to my little sister and asked her, "Do want to get this album? 'Cause I don't." Dirty
Work is mainly a mid-80's pop album, and I hate mid-80's pop. The album does have a
few high points, though. It opens very well with the kick-butt "One Hit (To the
Body)." "Fight" and "Harlem Shuffle" are okay. "Winning
Ugly" is the same. Keith's "Sleep Tonight" is beautiful, possibly the best
song on here. Ian Stewart's short boogie-woogie piano at the end, though, comes close to
stealing the show, despite the fact that it's about 30 seconds long. The Stones messed up
on this one, but they recovered soon after.
DIRTY WORK
By Beth
June 22, 1999
Rating:
Every Stones album I have gets a spin in the Cd player or on the turntable. The mood
strikes you, a lyric gets stuck in your head, the sunlight hits just right and you get to
thinking about a day you spent dreaming to backbeat of some odd duck song like CITADEL.
Every album, that is, except Dirty Work. The last time I even looked at that
waste of vinyl, it was completely warped, yet shiny and as jet black as the day I bought
it. I remember trying to love the album, and finding myself increasingly angry and
disappointed - how could my beloved Stones issue a piece of crap like this? I was sure it
was the dreaded predicted end of the band. I can only really remember three songs from the
album: Harlem Shuffle (please just shoot me in the head), Fight (shoot me right now), and
Sleep Tonight (the only reason this album gets a 1.0, which it does NOT deserve).
Don't waste a penny on this clunker. Even the artwork is a silent screaming warning. Sad,
sad, sad. Sorry boys.
DIRTY WORK
By D. Bowers
June 1, 1999
Rating:
You know what they say, the higher you climb the farther you fall. This is by far the
worst record the band produced. The only decent songs on the album are cover tunes. The
band was having a lot of problems with getting along at this point and there long career
together seemed to be over. Thank God in wasn't. The relationship between the members were
in complete turmoil and it reflects in this recording. It looked like this was the
beginning of the end for the band. This album should have never been released. Hey if you
think about it would have made a great bootleg recording. The funny thing is if this was a
bootleg it probably would get more credit than it does now. They should have said,
"Hey guys this album isn't going to fly and I don't want to put my name behind it as
a reflection of talent that I can produce. It was probably one of those things where they
had to complete the album to satisfy the record company and fulfill there obligation in
there contract. However there is one little gem on the album that I think is a half way
decent effort which is the Richards ballad "Sleep Tonight." The band was
completely exhausted at this point and had no drive or direction. The funny thing is is
when you are a band like the Rolling Stones and you have reached the highest peaks and
fulfilled all the dreams you had, you reach a certain point where you ask yourself what in
the hell am I going to do now? Where can I go from this point? Luckily they took some time
of and did some inner reflecting and regrouped for the under rated fine album Steel
Weels.
DIRTY WORK
By Joey (aka Ralphy, aka Pauly, aka many others)
March 19, 20 & 24, 1999
Rating:
Webmaster's note: This is an edited version of 3 different reviews by one fan.
A disaster for the band and for all of mankind. Hard to believe that a wonderful band like
the Stones could produce such trash. The songs are unevenly structured and poorly written.
The band was not getting along at this particular point in time and man does it show.
Rumor has it Mick grunted out the vocals in less than two hours. After Mick refused to
tour in support of this album, Keith was ready to call it quits with the Stones. "You
just do not move me anymore" is what Keith said to Mick
after Dirty Work's release.
Do something more constructive and stick needles in your eyes, even that would feel much
better than listening to this putrid and tepid mess of an album. I leave you with this one
important piece of advice, "Man looks in the Abyss and sees DW staring back
up at him. At that point, man finds his character and that is what keeps man out of the
abyss."
DIRTY WORK
By Bill Koester
November 30,1998
Rating:
The only Stones album that I dislike, if I could give it a zero rating, I would. Just what were they thinking when they recorded this piece of crap? I can't find a song that I like on this album. Lets take a look at a few of them. One Hit to The Body comes closest to being an acceptable song but it doesn't sound that much a Stones song to me. Songs like Fight, Hold Back, Winning Ugly, Back To Zero, Had It With You, Sleep Tonight, Harlem Shuffle and the title cut just lack the zest we hear on the other Stones albums. Mick sounds like he has better things to do than sing any of these songs with any gusto, he seems to not care. Keith's guitar sound is not up to par and neither is Ron's. Well, it figures that after putting out so many fine albums over the years that the law of averages would catch up with them and a poor album would appear and the title of that poor album is Dirty Work, the whole thing is a dirty mess!
Keno's mini review, song list, lyrics and more info on DIRTY WORK
To listen to some sound clips from DIRTY
WORK or to buy it click here: Dirty
Work
