The Rolling Stones dropped a new thing on November 14 -- Black and Blue Deluxe and Super Deluxe. More than just a mere reissue of their 1976 recording, or of an earlier 2009 remix, the Deluxe and Super Deluxe versions are now available for fans and collectors, and yes, one can listen on YouTube for a plebeian like me. A non-deluxe edition carries just the original tracks from 1976:


1. Hot Stuff;
2. Hand Of Fate;
3. Cherry Oh Baby;
4. Memory Motel;
5. Hey Negrita;
6. Melody;
7. Fool To Cry; and
8. Crazy Mama.


I confess I happened to discover it by way of, and thanks to, the jazz music website AllAboutJazz.com. An OMG! moment. The first paragraph from reviewer Doug Collette was rather intriguing, “Forgetting for the moment any revisionism applied to the Rolling Stones album Black & Blue (Rolling Stones Records, 1976), the iconic British band was in more than a little disarray when it repaired to a variety of studios for recording sessions beginning roughly two years prior to issue. Still, retrospect applied via the reissue(s) of the band's 13th studio album reveals it to be a patchwork of tracks far more cohesive than the sloppy collage of salacious images on the cover.” [My emphasis.]

This got me a bit more interested, and I had to do some research. I am a consumer of the Rolling Stones’ works, but not a keen or close observer of the Rolling Stones’ catalogue. I just assumed that this reissue was a celebration of a significant musical milestone. Of course, both Mick and Keith are now in their 80s; there is an element of celebration here with a deluxe reissue. Apparently, there had been some controversy over the quality of the lyrical and musical content of this album back in 1976. It was the album release between It's Only Rock 'n Roll (released October 1974) and Some Girls (released June 1978).

So I found several interesting blurbs said about Black and Blue at that time. As someone who is into history and how things evolve, here are some of the comments from 1976 I found, which provide some context: Rock critic Lester Bangs said this in the now-defunct Creem (1976), "This is the first meaningless Rolling Stones album, and thank God." And this from reviewer Bill Cosford writing in The Miami Herald (1976), "It is a sampler, of sorts, a musical term paper. In it the Stones examine the several influences on pop music today: salsa, disco, reggae."

I was not aware of this: It was the first album to feature Ron Wood as lead guitarist after the departure of Mick Taylor. Some pointed out that it was really an audio capture of auditions by Ron Wood, Jeff Beck and others for the lead guitarist position. Of course, it was Ron Wood who filled that vacancy. All good to know, but I wasn’t following this at that time, unlike today, where I can find fascination about the sourcing of the historical lineage of things. In this case, inclusive of music, of course.

Anyways, Black and Blue Deluxe and Black and Blue Super Deluxe (and the non-deluxe) editions are celebrated as a significant sonic and technical remix by producer Steven Wilson. I mainly listened via YouTube.com, so I can’t comment on the audio enhancements to this album. However, one reviewer on YouTube (the CD Guy) says that while he’s not an audiophile, "...I think it was a great choice to choose a new mix for this album... that highlights some of the subtleties from a diverse group of players on this album... guest appearances from the likes of Billy Preston, Nicky Hopkins, Ollie E. Brown and more.”

So Black and Blue -- at the time of its original release in 1976 -- was apparently underrated. Hard to believe. Nevertheless, its revival in its newly remixed format with an expanded inventory in its Deluxe and Super Deluxe formulations has brought new listening possibilities. (For the record, I especially enjoyed “Hot Stuff” for its enhanced riffs and licks.)

So, to minimise confusion for diehard Stones fans: the Deluxe edition is a 2-CD set which carries bonuses such as archived jam sessions and previously unreleased outtakes (with Jeff Beck and others). While the Super Deluxe is a 4-CD fancy box set in addition to the above, it includes live-concert material, a 100-page book, and a Blu-ray disc. Whew. All in time for the holidays.

Post Script. Some day, there needs to be some critical commentary about the political and social content of much of the Stones’ material. Return to the cited review quotations from above as one element for context. For other elements, think: “Hey Negrita” or “Brown Sugar”. But not today.