For the Anna Quindlen novel, see Black and Blue (book) .

Black And Blue is an album by the Rolling Stones, first released on April 20, 1976. It was pieced together from sessions held over a year: the first in December 1974 at Musicland Studios, Munich, in what was then West Germany; then in January-February 1975 in Rotterdam, Holland; then back to Musicland in March-April 1975; and finally, 'mixing sessions' during October-December 1975 in Montreux, Switzerland, and Munich; much overdubbing took place at these last sessions. The Stones' original intention was to produce an album for the band's summer 1975 tour of the United States; they missed their deadline, however, and in the end it appeared for their 1976 tour of Europe. Also delaying the sessions were troubles with engineers. Keith Harwood died; Glyn Johns then argued with Keith Richards and left. Former Beatles engineer Phil McDonald saw out the sessions. (Lew Hahn recorded some overdubs for Melody in New York in January 1976.) The album was produced by the Glimmer Twins (ie, Mick Jagger and Richards).

Stones guitarist Mick Taylor having left the band before the album sessions (his 'official' leaving date was 12 December, 1974), the Stones used the sessions to try out new guitarists, much as they had with Let It Bleed. Attending the sessions at some point were former Yardbirds member Jeff Beck, ex-Taste member (and solo career) Rory Gallagher, Robert A. Johnson , who had played with the Who's John Entwistle, Canned Heat's Harvey Mandel, Wayne Perkins and The Faces guitarist Ron Wood, although only Mandel, Perkins and Wood appear on the album as it was released.

The Stones at this point were Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman. Ron Wood - who played on both the 1975 and 1976 tours - is pictured on the album cover and was announced as joining the band in March 1976 (although he would actually not become a full partner in the Stones - that is, receiving a share of the band's earnings instead of being paid a salary - until 1989). Other musicians on the album include keyboardist Billy Preston, percussionist Ollie E. Brown (both of whom would make the 1975-76 touring band), guitarists Wood, Mandel and Perkins, pianist Nicky Hopkins and Stones road manager Ian 'Stu' Stewart (although the latter plays percussion, and not his usual piano, on the track Hot Stuff). Arif Mardin arranged the horns on Melody.

The cover of the album was taken by the renowned photographer Karsh of Ottawa. It replaced the original intended cover, which featured a woman tied up. This was later used in an ad campaign for the album and, inevitably, caused controversy.

The album's first single was the ballad Fool To Cry, which performed fairly poorly on the charts. In the USA Hot Stuff was released as a follow-up, and did almost as well. While the album hit no 1 in the Billboard charts (as had each new Stones album since Sticky Fingers), it sold relatively badly. It had sold an estimated 1.5 million copies worldwide through 2000.

Critical views

Critical reaction was damning, with noted writer Lester Bangs - a long-time fan - declaring it 'the first meaningless Stones album'. Today opinion is still lukewarm, although some defend it as an attempt to break new ground - citing the jittery funk of Hot Stuff and Hey Negrita, and the Frank Sinatra-like Melody. In 1987 Keith Richards said he'd recently relistened to it and found it 'better than I'd remembered it'.

Some outtakes from the sessions would appear on later Stones albums. Act Together was re-recorded for Ron Wood's second solo album, 1976's Now Look; Slave and Worried About You would appear on 1981's Tattoo You (as would Start Me Up, written during these sessions as Never Stop, albeit as a reggae song). Another track, Cellophane Trousers, would turn up as Too Tough on 1983's Undercover.

Track listing

• Hot Stuff (5.20)
• Hand Of Fate (4.27)
• Cherry Oh Baby (3.53)
• Memory Motel (7.06)
• Hey Negrita (4.57)
• Melody (5.47)
• Fool To Cry (5.04)
• Crazy Mama (4.34)

These songs are officially credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, except for Cherry Oh Baby, which is by Eric Donaldson . Note, however, that there are two 'inspiration by' credits, which should be full co-writing credits. Ron Wood is thus credited with co-writing Hey Negrita, and Billy Preston with Melody.