Riff It Up

Keith Richards, born December 18, 1943.  Lead guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones.  Featured here are his solo recordings: Talk Is Cheap and Main Offender. It was never Keith's intention to become a solo artist.  In fact he looked upon it as a personal failure in that he was unable to keep his band, the Rolling Stones, together.  With Mick Jagger launching a solo career with an album release in 1985 and another in 1987, a tremendous fued devloped between Mick and Keith that temporarily and very nearly permanently broke up the Stones.  Keith's main complaint was that the songs on Mick's albums were "Rolling Stone" type songs.  Irish folk songs or a jazz album ok.  But not, what could, and should have been Rolling Stone material, as Keith saw it. In 1987 Richards formed the X-pensive Winos with co-songwriter, co-producer and drummer Steve Jordan, guitarist Waddy Wachtel, saxist Bobby Keys, keyboardist Ivan Neville and Charley Drayton on bass.

Talk Is Cheap, was released to much critical acclaim in 1988.  The sound was much grittier than the polished Rolling Stone recordings of the era.  It's interesting that A Bigger Bang released by the Rolling Stones in 2005 has the same gritty texture as Talk Is Cheap.  Since its release, Talk Is Cheap has gone gold, selling consistently well over the years. Main Offender, Richards second solo recording with the Wino's, was released in October 1992.  While receiving positive reviews, sales and interest was low as the Rolling Stones were back together and reinvigorated following their successful steel Wheels album and world tour.  There was much more interest, amongst fans and within the band, in the Stones recording sessions for their next record Voodoo Lounge than either of Mick or Keith's solo projects.  Following the touring commitments in support of Main Offender, Richards would return to recording exclusively with The Rolling Stones and put his solo career on an indefinite hold.

Keith's feeling for Mick expressed in You Don't Move Me You made the wrong motion Drank the wrong potion You lost the feeling Not so appealing Why do you think you got no friends You drove them all around the bend Oh Yeah You don't move me anymore Now you wanna throw the dice You already crapped out twice Oh Yeah, Oh Yeah You don't move me anymore

Ronnie Wood, born June 1, 1947.  Guitar player (including bass, slide lap & pedal steel), songwriter, vocalist, and an accomplished visual artist.  Best known as a former member of The Jeff Beck Group, Faces, and a member of The Rolling Stones.  Ronnie replaced Mick Taylor in 1975.  Taylor was a guitar playing virtuoso whose beautiful guitar playing brought the Stones into another dimension while with them.  However, his being in the stones, was a source of tension with Keith because Taylor was a "different guitar player", available to Jagger.  Taylor's fluent guitar backing Jagger's vocals, was prominent on the It's Only Rock 'N' Roll album.  Needless to say, his last record with the Stones. Ronnie, on the other hand, is a guitar playing rocker.  A perfect match with Keith (they even looked alike with unruley dark hair and ever present cigarette) the Stones famous guitar playing weave, originally established between Keith and Brian, was back.  A drinking companion for Keith who was not a threat to team up with Jagger.  However, Ronnie's affable personality has enabled him to be an effective go betwween for Mick and Keith.  An important role within the Rolling Stones.

Gimmie Some Neck, was Ronnie Wood's third solo album, released April, 1979.  It was a minor hit and his best performance on the charts to date, peaking at #45 on Billboard with 13 weeks on the Top 200.  Ronnie does an outstanding cover of Dylan's Seven Days.  The album artwork features illustrations drawn by Wood himself, with his self-portrait in the center of the front side.  To tour the United States in support of the album Wood formed The New Barbarians with Keith Richards. Slide On This, Ronnie's fifth solo album released September, 1992.  Despite low sales this album was well reviewed and a personal favorite of mine with numerous tracks: Breathe On Me, Always Wanted More, and Knock Yer Teeth Out, featured on my music pages.

Excerpt from You Always Wanted More written by Ronnie Wood & Bernard Fowler Girl you're full of the devil you know how to make me cry gimme, gimme, gimme is all I hear I'd rather waste my time than waste myself cause you're a problem and I know the solution ...give me my gun You always wanted more than I could give you I'd rather waste time baby than waste myself I'd rather waste me baby than waste you baby don't waste my time Oh baby, oh baby, oh baby baby, oh baby What have I done?

Wanderin' Spirit
October, 2012
"Riff it Up"

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