Rolling Stones: Black and Blue

Black and Blue occupies an odd space in the Stones catalog. Released in 1976, it marked Ronnie Wood's first album with the band after Mick Taylor's departure, and found Jagger and Richards experimenting with reggae, funk, and soul in ways that divided critics at the time. Nearly fifty years later, Universal has given the album the deluxe treatment with a new Steven Wilson remix across multiple formats.

Wilson's approach here is restrained, which is exactly what this album needed. He's added clarity and separation to the instrumentation without fundamentally altering the character of the original mixes. The guitars sparkle more prominently, particularly on "Memory Motel," where Keith's playing gains new dimension. The ballads benefit most from Wilson's touch. "Fool to Cry" reveals more of the pretty piano work that was somewhat buried in the original, and the overall soundstage feels more open without sacrificing the warmth that made the original pressing so appealing to fans.

Where Wilson's remix stumbles slightly is on the funk and reggae tracks. "Hot Stuff" and "Cherry Oh Baby" were products of their era, intentionally compressed and claustrophobic in that mid seventies way. Wilson widened the spectrum here, and while Bill Wyman's bass sounds better than it ever has, something gets lost in translation. The tightness that made those tracks work feels a bit diffused. It's not a dealbreaker, but purists will notice.

The 2LP configuration pairs the main album with a second disc of outtakes and jams. This is where things get genuinely interesting. The Jeff Beck jams from the audition sessions are worth the price of admission alone, and the previously unreleased "I Love Ladies" and a take on Shirley & Company's "Shame, Shame, Shame" offer a glimpse at where the band was headed toward Emotional Rescue. The jam recordings sound remarkably good on vinyl, with Discogs users describing the sound quality as "high end audiophile."

Manufacturing details are harder to pin down definitively. The marbled vinyl editions were pressed at MPO in France, with lacquers cut by Matt at Metropolis Mastering in London. The pressings are exceptionally quiet, with no groove distortion and dead silent surfaces. That's increasingly rare for major label reissues, so credit where due.

The Vinyl Verdict
Is this the definitive version of Black and Blue? For most listeners, probably yes. Wilson's remix opens up the album without destroying what made it work, and the pressing quality appears to be genuinely excellent. If you've been curious about this often overlooked chapter in the Stones' history, this is a solid entry point. If you're a completist who already owns a clean original UK pressing, the outtakes disc and improved sonics on the ballads might still justify the purchase.

A thoughtful remix paired with quality pressings. The funk tracks lose a bit of their period charm, but the overall package delivers. 💵

💰Invest
💵 Consider
💸 Pass