After 18 years without releasing a studio album, the octogenarian inexhaustible rockers are back with 'Hackney Diamonds', a work that captures the essence of The Rolling Stones and with special collaborations from Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Paul McCartney.
The Rolling Stones are back , and they promise this one is not their “final dance”. Sixty years on stage are proof of an eternal legacy in the history of rock and while many artists from the old school of rock have decided to slow down with farewell tours, their satanic majesties present a new studio album to delight their fans .
Hackney Diamonds, the band's 24th album, is the first one without their late drummer and original band member, Charlie Watts (August 2021), who only participated in two songs. “Ever since Charlie’s gone it’s different – he’s number four, he’s missing. Of course, he’s missed, incredibly. But thanks to Charlie Watts we have Steve Jordan – his recommendation, that if anything should happen to him, he’s your man”, Keith Richards said about Watts at the album's presentation on September in London, where they previewed the first single "Angry."
As rumoured, The Rolling Stones invited some famous friends to participate in the album.
Paul McCartney plays bass on “Bite My Head Off”, Elton John plays piano on “Get Close” and “Live By the Sword”, and “Sweet Sounds of Heaven” features vocals from Lady Gaga and keyboard and piano from Stevie Wonder.
Lady Gaga was recording in the studio next door to them and popped in to say hello. That led to her contributing to the song “Sweet Sounds of Heaven.”
“She walked in next to me and we started singing together,” Jagger said. “She sang it live and then we went in and tidied it up a bit.”
More to come…
The final track of the album presents their own version of Muddy Waters’ “Rolling Stone Blues,” which inspired the band’s name, 60 years ago, but never recorded in a studio.
If fans think that’s the end of the story, Mick Jagger has something to say, because he doesn’t think ‘Hackney Diamonds’ will be “the last Rolling Stones album”, as he confirmed that a follow-up is currently in the works. “We’ve got almost three-quarters through the next one,” he said, proving that Rock n’ Roll has no expiration date.
You can listen to the whole álbum here:
What do you think of the new album? Do you have any favourite album or song from The Rolling Stones? Let us know in the comments
