"One Hit to the Body" is a great song; it has a lot of energy. Sadly, they rarely played live. "Harlem Shufle" was played by Pete Townshend, at that time of his solo concerts, months before The Rolling Stones, went to the studio to record it.
There’s an upload here on TH-cam with extended versions of some of the songs, and because I’m a maniac I actually listened to it and enjoyed it very much.
I have tons of Stones bootlegs and outtakes and there are some really good outtakes from the Dirty Work sessions. "Crushed Pearls" is a good outtakes bootleg - has "Going To Memphis" on it.
Yes, The Stones signed with Columbia in August of 1983 and worked with Walter Yetnikoff who was the President of CBS who helped orchestrate Jagger's solo deal as well.
Couldn’t agree more, it’s one of my all time favorites, and have always been frustrated that it never got play (probably bc of the toxic chemistry around the album). Also agree with your take on Fight and Dirty Work, they are gems.
One Hit (To the Body) music video was shot in 1984 and not during 1985-86 period so Keith is only starting to develop his anger towards Mick (it was before "She´s the Boss" and supporting tour). Imagine just what could have happened if they met two years later... It would be real "Got to get to a fight"
One Hit video was shot in 1984?? Two years before it was released and one year after Undercover.? Never heard that before. Seems strange to me. They we’re probably still shooting undercover videos. They also did video rewind video then.
Yeah, not too sure about that one...I was a subscriber to 'Beggars Banquet" back then (the fan letter published by Bill German) and I distinctly remember him detailing their video shoot for One Hit, and that was in the summer of '86...he even commented that Mick and Keith "purposefully" got in each other's faces to egg on the feud that was being purported in media circles.
As you know, Bill German is incredible. I subscribed immediately from the insert that came in the album. Great stuff. He's such an amazing story....and genuinely seems like the nicest guy. Oh - and he survived the Rolling Stones!!! Not easy to do, it seems. I say that if Bill German says so, it is. Makes sense they would've filmed that stuff in 1986. @@anthonyaswe4174
Every time I listen to this album I think it’s great, but I don’t disagree with your opinions. Some of it sounds dated - Winning Ugly and Back to Zero. B2Z sounds like it should be on a Jagger solo record. I don’t like the way the snare is mic’d and DW introduced the "backup singers" into the Stones world, which I could do without. Harlem Shuffle is a mediocre single and not far from the original, but it’s still got something. One Hit should have been the first single. I actually love Don’t Hold Back and Had With You, although Bill should have played bass on it. I love Jagger’s lyrics and performance. He’s dead serious, “Don’t hold back!” The guitar break just before the outro and Charlie’s passion is right there. HB and HIWY along with Sleep are my favorites from the record. I love Stu’s album outro, too. For me, it’s treasure. It’s passionate, raw and has great performances. Keith has seldom since had the edge he had this record. It's a polarizing record. I actually think the hideous cover, liner and middle of the record really hurts the sound appreciation of this album. They're that awful. (Must be heard on vinyl.)
Thanks for watching and responding. Funny in that we seem to be in agreement about the album. As an overall album, it's pretty good. As a Stones album - well even a not so great Stones album has magic in it, but yea overall, Dirty Work, for a lot of the reasons you said is a subpar STONES album - I think we all expect more from them. But we all know what they were going through at that time, so in a way it's a miracle for what we got at that time. Thanks again.
I prefer Dirty over Steel because I find that album boring. Hit, Dirty, Rude and Had It are all better than what's on Steel. Only songs on it I like are Hard Place and Sigh. For extra credit: play "Sleep Tonight" and then play Guns & Roses "So Fine" right after it. Were the Gunners listening to "Dirty Work"?
Interesting comparison. I always liked So Fine, though found the "rocking" bridge parts unnecessary and distracting from a really nice ballad. Based on your advice, just listened to it again. I don't know, maybe because of the piano (which is kind of buried) and that off drum beat is reminiscent, but there's a billion ballads out there, but who knows. The Gunners are obviously big Stones fans so maybe. Thanks again. Do Love One Hit, Dirty, Rude and even Fight kicks hard.
It's not great though I agree that there are some good tracks. Probably half of it is decent. I like it better than Emotional Rescue. That is awful inauthentic campy rubbish. In my opinion!
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I dunno i really think it was the video and that cover sleeve. i naturally can draw cartoons and especially back then i was drawing a lot. but i was buying a lotta singles then too. I just checked my Top 50 Chart I used to make back in 80s. It made it to #37 on my chart. But the video was #1 for 2 weeks.
@@STEVEHEROLD The more I learn about you, the more fascinated it becomes. So you're also an artist who drew cartoons and you also kept your own Top 50 Charts. I love it. I did love the Harlem Shuffle video and the picture sleeve is also awesome.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Yeh I did my own chart from 1984 to 1990. Took a year or so off in the middle somewhere. It started as Top 20 and by the end it was Top 50. It was called Chart 'Em. very original, huh? It's funny to look back at them now and see what I had on those lists.
I agree with all your thoughts on Dirty Work (needs a remix). Bill plays only on my favorites: One Hit, Harlem and Dirty Work. Steve Jordan plays drums on Too Rude. Wood on Sleep Tonight, but the rest is Charlie. Keef on H was no problem in the 70's... Line-up ‘Too Rude’: KR (voc, gtr)/RW (gtr, bass)/Steve Jordan (dr)/Jimmy Cliff (bvoc)/Chuck Leavell (p)
Interesting information. I always thought Ronnie played drums on Too Rude (with a lot of effects added to it). Keef on H not a big problem...true. Charlie on H...big problem.. Thanks so much for the correction.
Greetings Alan. Sorry for off-top, but could you check that «Wild Wonders» Wings outfake tape? These have circulated around NY and New Jersey in the late 80's, presumably all songs were taken from 102.3 WBAB and other radio stations in 1984-1986. It'll be a miracle if these songs get any kind of recognition. Thanks!
Definitely off topic and I don't know much about it. What I know is probably what you know, that these supposed outtake bootleg recordings were by McCartney / Wings. I've never heard them, but the ten songs were supposedly fairly low fi, so would be surprising to hear that WBAB would've played them - I know BAB well as I'm a long islander. My understanding is that one of the songs " Lookin' Into Love" - someone found a possible copyright entry by two Long Island musicians, so maybe it was a local Long Island music thing which somehow got linked with WBAB. Don't know more than that. I've never heard it and no interest in fake bootlegs. That about as low as you can get, right?
Alan, I always enjoy your comments and reviews to bands and artists, especially to Rolling Stones albums. Regarding Dirty Work I agree to 80% 😉. It's definitely not their best work but also not their worst. For me I would nominate "their satanic majesties..." to be their worst recording ever. Dirty Work has some real great stuff on it besides some really crappy songs like Hold Back (you ve mentioned it) and for me as well Too Rude in this version (sounds better on the Keith Richards solo live stuff). I like Winning Ugly, too, but really doesnt sound as a Stones tune). And as I have heard Had It With You, I was blown away negatively. Not because of the song...I love these pure and simple and 'dirty' RnR songs, but I was wondering a lot (as myself as a musician) that a band of this caliber publishes a raw and unfinished song (of course with no bass lines on it). Anyway, not their best but not their worst, too. It's just dirty work ... owned to their special situations they were in at that time 🤷. Nevertheless thanks again for an enjoyable album review 👍🏽🤘🏼😃. Best regards Tommy (from SNB)
Thanks so much for your amazing comments. I so appreciate your support. And I really do respect your opinions, even if you like Winning Ugly....lol. Seriously, thanks so much.
Hi Alan , great look at Dirty Work. I love the live versions of One Hit found on the Philly rehearsals for the Steel Wheels opener and the Sept.3 Toronto gig in ‘89.
Thanks so much. Yes! I really like those live versions of One Hit as well. I thought they pulled it off pretty good. Never understood why they never really played One Hit live (except those rare occasions). One Hit and Highwire are two Stones rockers I wished they would play live (Highwire has never been played).
It’s funny I just played this album yesterday. Yes I like this album but some songs are so out place. Thanks Alan for the video!! Please do more like this.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I love what you said in that some songs are so out of place (Winning Ugly, Back To Zero for sure). But yea, when I listen to the album, it's still a good listen overall. I forgot to mention the Ian Stewart piano tinkling at the end which was a nice touch.
Is the remastered release really sound brick walled and loud. I have the same remastered year releases of Black And Blue and Undercover and i don't have that impression with them.
Thanks again - One of my favorite videos - you can see the anger between them so clearly in that video - almost scary. No acting there - Great song of course.
Talking songs with out Charlie on them, You Can't Always get What You Want, Happy, Winter, Shine a light, It's only R&R, and Tumbling Dice. As for "Dirty Work", I prefer the Steely Dan song over the RS album, lol.
Great finale to your comment....because yea - it doesn't get much better than Dirty Work by Steely Dan. Amazing song. Regarding the lack of Charlie songs - yes indeed. Good old Kenney Jones on IORR.
Thanks so much - I am a big fan of Undercover - I call it a great Stones album for Stones fans. I've been listening to it since it first came out. Dirty Work, well is my least favorite, but still some great stuff on it of course. Thanks so much again.
well....certainly of it's time with the colors. Certainly if one looks close, you can sense the stress and friction within the band at that time. I did like the shrink wrap but the rest....amongst the worst Rolling Stones covers imho.
Part of the fighting was that Keith wanted to tour the album. Mick was the one to refuse to tour the album - he knew the band was in horrendous shape and probably wouldn't survive. He was right.
I would argue that Ronnie being as affable as a guy as he is and really being the only member to bridge Mick and Keith is what saved them from breaking up permanently in this period. Brian Jones usually drifted toward Keith until the Anita thing, and Mick Taylor and Keith never got along really, so the two Micks often bonded instead, which only made Keith more resentful of him. Songs like Sway, Winter, Moonlight Mile were done by the two Micks with little or no involvement by Keith. You can imagine how awkward that would be; seemed like Taylor was upstaging or even slowly replacing Keith in his own band. By the time Taylor left he hated Keith. Keith would bash his playing and delete his guitar parts; it’s why for instance Taylor isn’t much on Exile in terms of guitar. Had Ronnie not been there to bridge this widening gap they might not have gotten back together, least as quickly.
Ronnie definitely kept the band together. Probably even to this day. Crucially important as the bridge as you said. I’m not familiar with Keith hating Mick Taylor. Mick and Mick definitely worked close together and Keith was absent in some cases. But Keith at that time was a serious junkie. Certainly lack of credit to Taylor contributed to his leaving.
Alan, listened to Dirty Work again after about 25 years of ignoring it. Sorry, but I don't think Dirty Work is nearly as bad as your laying it out to be. Pretty much on the same level as Steel Wheels and Undercover in my humble opinion. All three of these albums are a notch below Emotional Rescue which in turn is several notches below Tattoo You. So, clearly the Stones were a band in decline as the 80's progressed but none of their 80's albums are BAD, and Dirty Work certainly is as brutal as you make it out to be. To be honest, I think their 90's output is worse than the 80's - all which makes the quality of Hackney Diamonds (easily their best record since Tattoo You) so amazing! Love the videos!
Thanks for watching and commenting. As a Stones fanatic, even a bad Stones album is still good compared to other bands album. Dirty Work has a bunch of really good songs. But for a Stones album it’s better than what it could have been because the band was in such bad shape at that time. But for a stones album it’s still a mess and sounds it. To me steel Wheels and Undercover are superior but it’s all opinion. Thanks so much. Happy Holidays.
I wanted to like the album back then...having waited so long for new music since Undercover (a whole three years...geez, compared to the last 30, they were hyper-productive back then), but the material was nil. And the production was not good--I really think this was their least worthwhile studio album...as a vocalist and lyricist Jagger mailed it in--over singing on the rockers, and writing some ridiculous lyrics to boot. I mean, One Hit is a pretty good song, and Had It/You is an okay 50s send up, but even Keith's tunes were forgettable. I think Fight may be the worst song they ever did, followed closely by Don't Hold Back and One More Try.
As a serious lover and student of rock ‘n’ roll who believes that The Rolling Stones are unparalleled in the pantheon of the all-time best bands, I find it almost painful to admit that I think “Dirty Work” is, for the most part, a BIG embarrassment. Yes, I know that no band - not even the cream of the crop - can bring its A game to every album it releases (especially after putting out about 20 albums up until 1986, when “Dirty Work” was unleashed to the general public). But, to me, “Dirty Work” is an album of “mostly” clunkers by arguably the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band in the world. Other bands may be able to get away with the kind of disappointing, if not downright bad, songs that constitute “Dirty Work,” but I have always held The Stones to a much higher standard. You did an excellent job of framing the album, starting off with your analysis of the positioning and body language of the band members on an album cover that yells “1980s,” but does not give so much as a whisper to any Rolling Stones esthetic. Your comments about the band’s fractured relationships and Charlie’s downward spiral owing to heroin addiction and alcohol abuse, during the creation of the album, enhanced your breakdown of each song on the album. The only song that I, personally, think is a REALLY GOOD rocker, from start to finish, is “One Hit (To the Body).” Believe it or not, I like “Winning Ugly.” The beat and the guitar work grab me, and the lyrics are quite good and very apropos - nearly 30 years later - of today’s political and cultural environment. (I find this album to be very weak, lyrically, as well as musically. Jagger and Richards are capable of SO MUCH BETTER.) However, I think the song goes on for too long. About 2 minutes less would have been fine with me. As you said, “Sleep Tonight” is too long. (I think it’s a ho hum ballad). I also think “Harlem Shuffle” overstays its welcome to the point of becoming monotonous. I believe that once the 1970s arrived, The Stones should not have released any cover song as a single. Once Jagger and Richards demonstrated their great writing abilities, even good covers including “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” should have been relegated to just album cuts. I wish I could say that “Hold Back” is the only mess on “Dirty Work.” Maybe the album’s messes and misses don’t bring it down to the level of trash. But I think they have given it a spot at the bottom of the barrel.
Always look forward to your amazing commentary and didn’t disappoint here as well. Other people have commented that they also like Winning Ugly. Considering it was supposed to be the 3rd single and made it out to Canada I believe, someone else also loved the song. To me sonically it didn’t match the album at all. Same with Back To Zero. Overall not for me. Thanks as always.
Well, we're all entitled to our opinion and we like what we like...but.... Dirty Work is not a killer Rolling Stones album....and Undercover is much better. In fact Dirty Work is the worst Rolling Stones studio album. So I'm glad you love Dirty Work, because then you must really love their other albums too.
Yeah, I hate this album, it’s the nadir of their discography for sure! lol The Rolling Stones should have never been a part of the 80s. Nothing after Tattoo You is worth your time!
I wouldn’t go that far. But certainly Tattoo You is their last true classic album. But all their albums have done gems on them. SW, VL, BTB, ABB are too long.
Well on my channel I definitely covered the Stones albums rankings - I did three Stones album rankings fairly recently. I've also never did a zoom video on my channel though I've been a guest on some others. I've no idea how to do it and I'm not at that point yet, but I would do it on my channel down the line.
Really good look at this album, and look at Undercover as well man. I had mostly forgotten how out of it they were at the time, and I did not know how little work Bill did on this album. I remember back then looking at the tracklist thinking «why is Ronnie getting all these writing credits all of a sudden?!?» I haaad heard Ronnie played drums but couldn’t fathom why back then. When did we hear how bad Charlie was doing at the time? Thank you for another great Stones deep dive.
Thanks so much. The news about Charlie with severe addiction issues at that time came out over a decade later. They kept it really quiet. I personally had no idea. Apparently Charlie's marriage to Shirley at the time was also very much on the rocks, also apparently because of is addiction. It was also causing distress in the band at the time. As a side note, it's always interesting to see what Stones played on what. There are occasional shocks. Their legendary producer Jimmy Miller was an excellent drummer and did the occasional drumming on some classic Stones tracks because Charlie couldn't get the groove. And Bill Wyman is missing from many classic Stones tracks (because Keith and Ronnie can both play some great bass as well). And this is in no way any kind of putdown of Charlie or Bill. Just the life of every musician. Sometimes you're not around and sometimes you just can't grab the groove. And we all know Mick came up with riff of Brown Sugar.
Lol. I actually know like every note on this album....Trash for the Stones, but still some really great stuff on there....and some really trash stuff too. Thanks.
Dirty Work is unequivocally the worst Rolling Stones album ever made, period. Definitely not a Glimmer Twin highlight by any stretch of the imagination. As soon as I saw that ridiculous "Miami Vice" album cover, I knew there was trouble. With the exception of One Hit To The Body, the album is an absolute mess and lacks any cohesion from start to finish, in fact it's been years since I've listen to that record from start to finish. Based on what I know about the history of making it was that just about everyone seemed to have one foot out the door, especially with Mick signing a solo deal that I believe took everyone by surprise. In fact I remember the story of Charlie Watts punching Mick Jagger in the face at a band meeting in Amsterdam shortly before the recording of Dirty Work. That should tell you everything you need to know about the state of the band at that time. I know Keith wanted to tour that album in the early stages of recording but that was not meant to be. I believe that experience for him was the beginning of the Expensive Winos. Great topic and discussion by all.
Thanks as always. That Charlie punching Mick is a classic story. What I heard was Charlie was sleeping and Mick was a bit drunk. Mick called Charlie up on the hotel phone. Charlie got dressed into his suit. Went to where Mick was and punched Mick. lol - yea. some story. Of course Mick and Charlie actually were very close up to the end, so that was another good example, of what you said. They really (including Charlie) were at the low point of the Rolling Stones history at that time.
Hi Alan...your review inspired me to go back and listen to this album in full for the the first time since...oh, I don't know. Maybe 1989...I know I commented briefly on this a few months ago, and I think my comment then still stands. However, good point that the "worst Rolling Stones album is still pretty good", compared to a lot of other records, then and now, if you ask me. That being said I think my earlier comment that Jagger 'mailed it in' is even more apparent--his singing was forced and uninspired, his lyrics were either insipid or idiotic (conjoining Stalin and Roosevelt? putting a hole where your face used to be? I love you dirty fucker? letting some fucker do the dirty work--shades of admonishing people to get off their lazy asses a couple of year later 🤮🤮climbing this tree of promises???--I could go on, but we get the point). I think he delivered solid vocal performances on One Hit and Harlem Shuffle--the rest of the time, he seemed to be shouting at the top of his throat. I did not know (at the time) that Bill and Charlie played so little on the album, unless that was detailed on the inner sleeve, and I just don't remember, having been so long since I read the sleeve. As for the packaging, every Stones fan I knew hated it, especially the ultra Miami Vice cover. Personally, I didn't mind that so much--the picture in and of itself, if only because they were trying to catch a contemporary, trendy look. I did not like the lyric sheet, as I always appreciated that the Stones, by NOT printing their lyrics, gave them a cool, mysterious persona, (and left some mystery to their words) especially since every other band began printing lyric sheets after Pepper. What I thought was absolutely shameful was the stupid cartoon strip "Dirty Workout"--I mean, what the hell was that, besides dumb? And, strictly as a comic, looked pretty grotesque. As for the music, I remember reading Richards pre release comments in Rolling Stone in late '85 that half of the songs would likely have a Jagger/Richards/Wood credit, and that's "too bad for him" because he (referring to Mick) wasn't at the sessions in any great capacity, since, correct me if I'm wrong, they commenced just when he was doing publicity and video shoots for She's the Boss, which clearly got more of Jagger's attention, focus and energy than this album. The riffs and the guitar interplay certainly have that crude, razor blade quality that defines much of the Stones music--but ultimately the songs that were cooked up weren't anything great. And maybe I like Keith's Sleep Tonight more than I realized before, having just concluded his work on Rain Dogs with Tom Waits--a lot of that was obviously rubbing off on Keith. And regardless of circumstance, what you'd get from Keith is always heartfelt. The two most oddball songs on the album were clearly Winning Ugly and Back to Zero--oddball if only because they have nil of the slashing, two guitar stuff that the rest of the tunes seem to be built on--one, an 80s synth pop tune that could have fallen off, I don't know, maybe the Back to the Future of Footloose soundtrack, and a stab at Minneapolis pop funk that would have made more sense as She's the Boss outtakes. I don't know...almost 40 years later, it is now more clear to me than ever before, that the great Rolling Stones Grand Slam ('68-'72) didn't end with Exile, as misinformed critics (that lame first edition Rolling Stone Record Guide, in particular) duped fans and the majority of the public into believing in. I always thought the Stones remained at the height of their creative powers until Tattoo You, and the massive amount of excellent, but unreleased material recorded from 1973-1983 stands as testament to that. Their post Exile output has been unfairly maligned and unfortunately dismissed by too many. The real slump for the band started with this album in 1985.
Thanks for your awesome analysis of which I agree with most if not all of it. I do think their studio pinacle is 68-73 - damn the naysayers - Goats Head Soup is an incredible album, and part of the run. I love IORR, B&B, but I wouldn't put at the classic perfect album run from before. Some Girls definitely is a 5 star classic. And I also love ER, which is "greater than the sum of it's part". Its a great listen. Tattoo You is a classic as well. Now I'm a big fan of Undercover which to me is "a great Stones album for Stones fans". Dirty Work - well you saw my video and I agree with your assessment. Jagger doesn't so much sing on a lot of it - he screams like you said. I don't know if it was a different affectation or just anger from being fed up with the terrible situation that was occuring. But a not great Stones album would still be a pretty great album for someone else. As you stated Back To Zero and Winning Ugly - stick out like sore thumbs - good or bad, they simply don't belong on the album. They don't mesh with the sound. And the lead single, even if it's a good standard cover (and Jagger sings it well), is still not a good omen for the material when it's a cover version. Anyway, thanks as always - love the comments as we gear up for the upcoming Stones shows.
Yeah, fair enough…I have just always loved that era (in part I’m sure, because it corresponds to the time when I became obsessed with them) and having heard such a wealth a great material in bootleg releases from that time, you get a much different picture of the band then what those official albums gave us. I recently have been immersed in the Undercover Sessions, which have deepened my appreciation for that album, really among the better albums of that year, and maybe even concluding the “mini slam” of ‘78-‘83. And they still seem to be challenging themselves on it, with its weird textures and sound, bizarre imagery and hard hitting approach-when they tried to hit hard on Dirty Work, it comes off as forced, or fake-not so on Undercover, which is much more genuine.
@@anthonyaswe4174 Absolutely - I'm a big fan of Undercover - actually did a video of it. But as you so well said - Dirty Work sounds forced in some ways. Also the anger and disfunction within the band is right there in the grooves. Undercover is as you said much for genuine - much more organic. Plus I'm a sucker for Too Much Blood - I LOVE that song...lol.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow you mentioned "ain't too proud to beg" on an earlier album about their covers and the 2 covers on dirty work album on how they were "so, so" Imagination on SG was an awesome re-invention of a classic motown hit!
@@DaveGoldShow Oh - now I get it. Yes you are so right Imagination is one of the all time great covers - in fact I think its superior to the original. Thanks so much.
So interesting that you decided to focus on this album, Alan, amongst all the others. And whilst I always respect your opinions, even if I don't necessarily agree with them, I concur with you almost 100% when it comes to Dirty Work. Note the 'almost', however! Treasure or trash? I guess DW is split down the middle evenly. As for the songs you disparaged Alan, you're right, let's just not go there. (Harlem Shuffle - dull, dull, dull....) On the other hand, as you say, this album is a whole lot better than it has any right to be, given the backbiting and recriminations that were going on in the band at the time. And something you also said made me think: it seems to be the Keith songs that hold this album up, and Mick's ones that drag it down. Or am I being unfair to Michael Philip? 'One Hit': an absolutely terrific song, featuring one of Keith's finest riffs of all time, in my view. The man can do serious damage with just a single note (check out his opening chord to 'If You Can't Rock Me' on 'Love You Live', if you don't believe me). And Jimmy Page's acoustic intro doesn't hurt either. But like 'I'm Going Down' (one of my all-time favourites) on Metamorphosis, I think the song starts to lose direction midway through, and that prevents it being quite the song it might have been. Two lovely songs from Keith: 'Too Rude' and 'Sleep Tonight'. And who knew Ronnie was such a good drummer? Keith certainly has the back-a-yard rub-a-dub Kingston vibe down to a tee, and I speak as someone who liked 'Cherry Oh Baby' a lot. (Never for the life of me understood why 'Luxury' is thought of as a reggae song, however: smooth as Belgian chocolate for sure, and in its way, one, one of the finest things the band has ever done, but reggae? Surely not). 'Had It With You' is, for my money, one of the best things the band has done too (in a very crowded field, admittedly). Lean, mean, and nasty, the Stones beat Status Quo at their own game here, in terms of back-to-basics bar-room blues, and as for those who moan that there's no bass on the track, I'm afraid that doesn't bother me in the slightest. 'Dirty Work': not exactly the best song, on an album that's already slightly dodgy anyway, but it is a good one I think all the same. And I love the way Keith's guitar lopes about all over the the place on this song (as it did on the 'Undercover' album), rather like a cat-burglar, leaping from one rooftop to another. Till the next goodbye, as they say.
First, I chose dirty work because it’s the only stones album that I could even consider going into trash or treasure. Second, your comments were extraordinary. Better than my video. Lol. Your comments are so spot on and I agree with them entirely. Love your comment on Cherry oh Baby too. But your comments on luxury were especially awesome. I also love the track a great improvement over the original bootleg version. It has a reggae influence but it’s certainly far from reggae as you pointed out. Thanks so much again. For your great insight and comments, I love it
No - just the truth. Nothing better than sharing with incredibly knowledgeable fans that can point things out to me and my channel - with an honest passion - fantastic. Thanks for your contributions.@@bernardjennings3549
First time in a long time my comment didn't post. Anyway, stuff fell down 🤣😂 You can't go wrong when that happens. Alan, you all covers with naked women on them🤣😂. You can't go wrong with that either. Don't listen to this album much. It's definitely not trash. There are several songs worth listening to, as you say.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I like that idea. Remember the Ohio Players? They had some great sexy covers. Of course, you will have to include the Blind Faith album for sure.
@@davidkunzli680 I don't have any Ohio Players albums but I may have to buy one just for the video - yes those covers were fantastic. I do have the Blind Faith....but it's definitely not sexy to me.....it was of course controversial in it's time - maybe I would show it because of the controversy...we will see.
Chicago White Sox used Winning Ugly in their ads that summer, fyi. You need some sort of easel for your records. Keep up the good work on your viddies!
Wow. that's amazing information. I'm amazed anyone would use Winning Ugly for anything. That is pretty cool though. Thanks so much. Yea..I'm so low budget, right? I have a small house filled with records and CD's Pictures to come. But yea, I have to do better.. . although it seems some people love and wait for my occasional live music crashes...lol
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I like dirty work I think it’s a damn pretty good album not great and like u mentioned before Bill Wyman only played base only on 4 songs and Charlie only played Drums on 2 songs and the song dirty work like u said is considered hard rock be honest did the stones ever write any songs that were really considered hard rock with hard rock guitar riffs I considered them just Rock N Roll did the songs ever write any hard rock songs or play any hard rock I never knew dirty work is a hard rock song
@@mikebarooshian7255 I would never consider the Stones a "hard rock" band but some of these songs on Dirty Work like "Dirty Work", "Fight", "Hold Back" and parts of "One Hit" certainly have a hard rock edge to them. But I agree that The Stones wouldn't be classified as a hard rock band.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow have u ever heard the stones song from emotional rescue called Let Me Go well to me that song sounds like hard rock it has the hard rock guitar riffs by Ronnie and I considered the song Bitch from sticky fingers a hard rock song but it certainly isn’t heavy metal I never considered the stones to be a hard rock band I always considered the stones to be Rock N Roll and Blues and Blues rock RnB Soul Country etc etc not hard rock
@@mikebarooshian7255 I agree with you, though I don't consider Let Me Go hard rock. Just another basic rocker to me. Mick used to go into the audience during Let Me Go on the 1981 tour - great footage of that out there.
Yes, DW is towards the bottom of their album output. It's frustrating b/c the bootlegs with the many outtakes show a MUCH better album in the works. (Same thing happened IMO with Voodoo Lounge, where the outtakes are a far better than released work). I agree that 'Hold Back' is a mess. It may be the worst song in the Stones canon haha.. And it was a last minute substitution. I think it was "Deep Love" that was slated for the album. Never been a big fan of 'Sleep'. Woody did ok on "Too Rude' but 'Sleep' is a mess. You are so right, that they always need each other. But Jagger did not bring his part. The vocals are more like barking. The lyrics are forced. In fairness to Keith, there was more Country, and Soul on all the rough tracking.
Thanks so much for your wonderful comments. Yes the outtakes are pretty interesting. I find that with so many Stones outtakes. Great comment on Voodoo Lounge (an album that I really like as a later day Stones album) - love listening to Voodoo Brew and even Voodoo Stew. Cool stuff. I didn't realize that Hold Back was a last minute replacement for Deep Love. Wow. What we're they thinking? And love your "barking" comment on some of Jagger's vocals. What a perfect description of his vocals on Hold Back. I always liked Sleep Tonight although I think it could've used a bit of editing. Thanks so much again.
I can't even remember the last time I played this album.But I will now so thanks Alan for bringing it to my attention.I always chuckle a little when your cds fall and when your talking about this album the cds falling was the high light lol
Lol - thanks. Let us know what you think of the album after you listen to it. I think my albums falling is a highlight for many viewers...though I promise, I really try to not let that happen. Luckily I have many extra jewel cases...lol
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Alan I finally made it to my favorite record store with my friend.They had 3 bootlegs of the Stones.I forgot their names but one came out in -81 another one in '94 and the third was like a comp of live songs from the sixties have any idea about these???
@@thomaswery3087 Nice. Without exaggeration there's literally got to be thousands of Stones bootlegs. I myself have a couple of hundred. Most of mine are CD's but I have a bunch on vinyl (I showed some of them on my old bootleg vinyl video). And now with the vinyl craze, there's a ton of these "grey" market vinyl bootlegs of old radio shows etc that are constantly coming out. So I would have no idea. There's a couple of famous good sounding live shows from like 65 and 66 with Brian Jones, perhaps that was one of them. Also could have been old BBC records or TV soundtracks - Ed Sullivan etc. There's tons of live stuff from all the Stones tours. probably boots available in various quality on virtually every show by now from the later day tours....buyer beware.
I have the same reaction for most of my "trash or treasure" albums. I love the bands, so the albums aren't trash - they all have some great songs on them. It's just that for that particular band, it's not a very good album, but often still better than many albums by other bands....But I guess when you love a band, that's bound to happen.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow hey just wanted to respond here. Not sure if you know but Bill wanted to quit in 1974. But the reason he didn’t was he worried that himself and Mick Taylor quitting around the same time would ruin the band. His head had gradually grown out of the Stones since the late 60s
@@TheAlanRosenbergShowmatter of fact a lot of their songs from 1968 for instance, or on Exile don’t feature Bill on bad but rather Keith. Similarly he’s barely on GHS with Mick Taylor and Keith covering for him. So Billkinda slowly quit the band over a 20 year period
@@Bklyn93 very true. Much of it at that time was distance. If inspiration hit and they were recording but a member was missing so be it. Certainly the other guys could play bass. There are tracks without Charlie as well.
@@Bklyn93 Doing Monkey Grip in 74 and Stone Alone in 76 helped satisfy him. He was definitely thinking of leaving in early 80s. I still have the clippings. He always wanted to do more.
Trash. You missed one of the best (saddest) elements of the album. I love the hidden final track segment “key to the highway” with only Ian Stewart playing. Don’t under estimate the impact of his loss on the band.
It was a classy move by including his little outro at the end of the album. But in the overall scheme of the whole album, it's nothing but an outro - a classy move on their part in the memory of Stu.
It was a very classy move to include that short Stu outro. But in reviewing the album and all it's songs - the album fading out with like 15 seconds of unaccompanied Stu, certainly doesn't change the album - just a nice fade out, that does bring a smile, one that was sorely needed for Dirty Work.
Cheers. Appreciate your work and channel. I’m a Stones nut (more of a 63 to 67 Jones r&b / physche then the typical Keith classic beggars to exile - although awesome as well)
@@deeg8849 thanks so much. Really appreciate it. Nice to hear from a Stones fan who’s favorite period is the early Brian Jones period. Rarely hear from that era. Even though we all love that period, and that really is the Hot Rocks era, still don’t hear about super fans of that time. Thanks again
Sure the hits of that era are great but I think it’s the deep cuts that are really special. I am waiting, we love you, child of the moon, back street girl, she smiled sweetly, the lantern, think, cool calm collected, if you let me and so many others @@TheAlanRosenbergShow
Treasure to me . Enjoy this album , although occasionally I’ll skip Harlem Shuffle. I think people judge this album on the cover ,& again Harlem Shuffle. Certainly not their worst to me.
Thanks. I'm certainly not out to debate...because there is no debate. It's all personal opinion and all equally valid. But I'd love to know what Stones album you deem worse. I'm wondering if it's like A Bigger Bang or Bridges to Babylon or Steel Wheels or maybe Their Satanic Majesties. Curious. Thanks.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow to me , better than bigger bang, voodoo, undercover, December, goats head. But that’s me. 😄. I enjoy all Stones albums though. I just go back to Dirty Work a lot.
@@fdsuperstar2547 Thanks so much for responding, and not feeling attacked, as I certainly wasn't and would never do. But very interesting to me. Because for me, it's not even close. Dirty Work for me is by far their worst studio album (although as you know I really like some of it). This is interesting. Goats Head Soup is my all time 3rd favorite Stones album. It was my first Stones album I bought the day it came out, so perhaps that influenced it, but I still play it a few times a year since 1973. I really like Undercover as I said. I really like December's Children, though it's a bit of a mish mash. I think Voodoo is the best of the later day Stones studio albums (though a bit long). Yea Bigger Bang has some great stuff on it, but also some lousy terrible stuff as well, so can see that. Very interesting. Thanks so much again for sharing your thoughts.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow enjoy your channel & passion for music. I try & check out some of the bands you recommend. Have you done a show on all girl rock groups
@@fdsuperstar2547 Thanks so much. I really appreciate it. I've never done a video just about all girl groups. I've mentioned in a couple of videos this great CD compilation I have called "The Red Bird Girls - 1964 -1966" which is a fantastic all -girl compilation. I've mentioned the Go-Go's and The Bangles a bunch of times in previous videos - Beauty And The Beat being one of my favorite debut albums, although I wasn't a fan of The Go-Go's being inducted in the R&R Hall of Fame before so many other bands who aren't in yet. I don't have too many all girl group albums - Go-Gos, Bangles, Fanny - Genya Ravan but after Goldie and The Gingerbreads - Thanks again.
"One Hit to the Body" is a great song; it has a lot of energy. Sadly, they rarely played live. "Harlem Shufle" was played by Pete Townshend, at that time of his solo concerts, months before The Rolling Stones, went to the studio to record it.
Awesome comments. Absolutely correct. Townsend was doing it live with Deep End. Good version too.
There’s an upload here on TH-cam with extended versions of some of the songs, and because I’m a maniac I actually listened to it and enjoyed it very much.
I have tons of Stones bootlegs and outtakes and there are some really good outtakes from the Dirty Work sessions. "Crushed Pearls" is a good outtakes bootleg - has "Going To Memphis" on it.
Dirty Work is on Columbia Records. CBS is a distributor for Columbia Records.
Yes, The Stones signed with Columbia in August of 1983 and worked with Walter Yetnikoff who was the President of CBS who helped orchestrate Jagger's solo deal as well.
Hi Alan , total agreement. One hit to the body is fantastic not only as an opening song, but one of my favourite stones songs.
Thanks. The few live performances are a treat too.
Couldn’t agree more, it’s one of my all time favorites, and have always been frustrated that it never got play (probably bc of the toxic chemistry around the album). Also agree with your take on Fight and Dirty Work, they are gems.
One Hit (To the Body) music video was shot in 1984 and not during 1985-86 period so Keith is only starting to develop his anger towards Mick (it was before "She´s the Boss" and supporting tour). Imagine just what could have happened if they met two years later... It would be real "Got to get to a fight"
One Hit video was shot in 1984?? Two years before it was released and one year after Undercover.? Never heard that before. Seems strange to me. They we’re probably still shooting undercover videos. They also did video rewind video then.
Yeah, not too sure about that one...I was a subscriber to 'Beggars Banquet" back then (the fan letter published by Bill German) and I distinctly remember him detailing their video shoot for One Hit, and that was in the summer of '86...he even commented that Mick and Keith "purposefully" got in each other's faces to egg on the feud that was being purported in media circles.
As you know, Bill German is incredible. I subscribed immediately from the insert that came in the album. Great stuff. He's such an amazing story....and genuinely seems like the nicest guy. Oh - and he survived the Rolling Stones!!! Not easy to do, it seems. I say that if Bill German says so, it is. Makes sense they would've filmed that stuff in 1986. @@anthonyaswe4174
Every time I listen to this album I think it’s great, but I don’t disagree with your opinions. Some of it sounds dated - Winning Ugly and Back to Zero. B2Z sounds like it should be on a Jagger solo record.
I don’t like the way the snare is mic’d and DW introduced the "backup singers" into the Stones world, which I could do without.
Harlem Shuffle is a mediocre single and not far from the original, but it’s still got something. One Hit should have been the first single.
I actually love Don’t Hold Back and Had With You, although Bill should have played bass on it. I love Jagger’s lyrics and performance. He’s dead serious, “Don’t hold back!” The guitar break just before the outro and Charlie’s passion is right there.
HB and HIWY along with Sleep are my favorites from the record. I love Stu’s album outro, too.
For me, it’s treasure. It’s passionate, raw and has great performances. Keith has seldom since had the edge he had this record.
It's a polarizing record.
I actually think the hideous cover, liner and middle of the record really hurts the sound appreciation of this album. They're that awful.
(Must be heard on vinyl.)
Thanks for watching and responding. Funny in that we seem to be in agreement about the album. As an overall album, it's pretty good. As a Stones album - well even a not so great Stones album has magic in it, but yea overall, Dirty Work, for a lot of the reasons you said is a subpar STONES album - I think we all expect more from them. But we all know what they were going through at that time, so in a way it's a miracle for what we got at that time. Thanks again.
I prefer Dirty over Steel because I find that album boring. Hit, Dirty, Rude and Had It are all better than what's on Steel. Only songs on it I like are Hard Place and Sigh. For extra credit: play "Sleep Tonight" and then play Guns & Roses "So Fine" right after it. Were the Gunners listening to "Dirty Work"?
Interesting comparison. I always liked So Fine, though found the "rocking" bridge parts unnecessary and distracting from a really nice ballad. Based on your advice, just listened to it again. I don't know, maybe because of the piano (which is kind of buried) and that off drum beat is reminiscent, but there's a billion ballads out there, but who knows. The Gunners are obviously big Stones fans so maybe. Thanks again. Do Love One Hit, Dirty, Rude and even Fight kicks hard.
It's not great though I agree that there are some good tracks. Probably half of it is decent. I like it better than Emotional Rescue. That is awful inauthentic campy rubbish. In my opinion!
When you’re talking about ER are you telling about the song or the whole album.? I totally respect your opinion. We like what we like but I’m curious.
interesting insight. i have no idea why but i did but the harlem shuffle 45 back then. i did like the video so maybe thats why.
It was in 1986, you love that 80's music...somehow it got mixed in with other 80's singles for you...maybe.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I dunno i really think it was the video and that cover sleeve. i naturally can draw cartoons and especially back then i was drawing a lot. but i was buying a lotta singles then too. I just checked my Top 50 Chart I used to make back in 80s. It made it to #37 on my chart. But the video was #1 for 2 weeks.
@@STEVEHEROLD The more I learn about you, the more fascinated it becomes. So you're also an artist who drew cartoons and you also kept your own Top 50 Charts. I love it. I did love the Harlem Shuffle video and the picture sleeve is also awesome.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Yeh I did my own chart from 1984 to 1990. Took a year or so off in the middle somewhere. It started as Top 20 and by the end it was Top 50. It was called Chart 'Em. very original, huh? It's funny to look back at them now and see what I had on those lists.
@@STEVEHEROLD That's actually really - I love that
I agree with all your thoughts on Dirty Work (needs a remix). Bill plays only on my favorites: One Hit, Harlem and Dirty Work. Steve Jordan plays drums on Too Rude. Wood on Sleep Tonight, but the rest is Charlie. Keef on H was no problem in the 70's...
Line-up ‘Too Rude’: KR (voc, gtr)/RW (gtr, bass)/Steve Jordan (dr)/Jimmy Cliff (bvoc)/Chuck Leavell (p)
Interesting information. I always thought Ronnie played drums on Too Rude (with a lot of effects added to it). Keef on H not a big problem...true. Charlie on H...big problem.. Thanks so much for the correction.
Greetings Alan. Sorry for off-top, but could you check that «Wild Wonders» Wings outfake tape? These have circulated around NY and New Jersey in the late 80's, presumably all songs were taken from 102.3 WBAB and other radio stations in 1984-1986. It'll be a miracle if these songs get any kind of recognition. Thanks!
Definitely off topic and I don't know much about it. What I know is probably what you know, that these supposed outtake bootleg recordings were by McCartney / Wings. I've never heard them, but the ten songs were supposedly fairly low fi, so would be surprising to hear that WBAB would've played them - I know BAB well as I'm a long islander. My understanding is that one of the songs " Lookin' Into Love" - someone found a possible copyright entry by two Long Island musicians, so maybe it was a local Long Island music thing which somehow got linked with WBAB. Don't know more than that. I've never heard it and no interest in fake bootlegs. That about as low as you can get, right?
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow thanks for your detailed reply!
Alan, I always enjoy your comments and reviews to bands and artists, especially to Rolling Stones albums. Regarding Dirty Work I agree to 80% 😉. It's definitely not their best work but also not their worst. For me I would nominate "their satanic majesties..." to be their worst recording ever.
Dirty Work has some real great stuff on it besides some really crappy songs like Hold Back (you ve mentioned it) and for me as well Too Rude in this version (sounds better on the Keith Richards solo live stuff). I like Winning Ugly, too, but really doesnt sound as a Stones tune).
And as I have heard Had It With You, I was blown away negatively. Not because of the song...I love these pure and simple and 'dirty' RnR songs, but I was wondering a lot (as myself as a musician) that a band of this caliber publishes a raw and unfinished song (of course with no bass lines on it). Anyway, not their best but not their worst, too. It's just dirty work ... owned to their special situations they were in at that time 🤷.
Nevertheless thanks again for an enjoyable album review 👍🏽🤘🏼😃.
Best regards Tommy (from SNB)
Thanks so much for your amazing comments. I so appreciate your support. And I really do respect your opinions, even if you like Winning Ugly....lol. Seriously, thanks so much.
Hi Alan , great look at Dirty Work. I love the live versions of One Hit found on the Philly rehearsals for the Steel Wheels opener and the Sept.3 Toronto gig in ‘89.
Thanks so much. Yes! I really like those live versions of One Hit as well. I thought they pulled it off pretty good. Never understood why they never really played One Hit live (except those rare occasions). One Hit and Highwire are two Stones rockers I wished they would play live (Highwire has never been played).
It’s funny I just played this album yesterday. Yes I like this album but some songs are so out place. Thanks Alan for the video!! Please do more like this.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I love what you said in that some songs are so out of place (Winning Ugly, Back To Zero for sure). But yea, when I listen to the album, it's still a good listen overall. I forgot to mention the Ian Stewart piano tinkling at the end which was a nice touch.
Is the remastered release really sound brick walled and loud. I have the same remastered year releases of Black And Blue and Undercover and i don't have that impression with them.
@@chadwichterman7572 to me the Universal remasters are very loud and brick walled. The Virgin are the best versions imho.
Yes! One Hit to the Body! Video is awesome too! It's real! Good info you're sharing!
Thanks again - One of my favorite videos - you can see the anger between them so clearly in that video - almost scary. No acting there - Great song of course.
Talking songs with out Charlie on them, You Can't Always get What You Want, Happy, Winter, Shine a light, It's only R&R, and Tumbling Dice.
As for "Dirty Work", I prefer the Steely Dan song over the RS album, lol.
Great finale to your comment....because yea - it doesn't get much better than Dirty Work by Steely Dan. Amazing song. Regarding the lack of Charlie songs - yes indeed. Good old Kenney Jones on IORR.
Great video Alan. I thought Undercover and Dirty Work were better discs than given credit for.
Thanks so much - I am a big fan of Undercover - I call it a great Stones album for Stones fans. I've been listening to it since it first came out. Dirty Work, well is my least favorite, but still some great stuff on it of course. Thanks so much again.
I think the album cover pops, very artsie like.
well....certainly of it's time with the colors. Certainly if one looks close, you can sense the stress and friction within the band at that time. I did like the shrink wrap but the rest....amongst the worst Rolling Stones covers imho.
They didn’t tour behind the album. Too
Much in fighting with Mick and Keith.
Part of the fighting was that Keith wanted to tour the album. Mick was the one to refuse to tour the album - he knew the band was in horrendous shape and probably wouldn't survive. He was right.
I would argue that Ronnie being as affable as a guy as he is and really being the only member to bridge Mick and Keith is what saved them from breaking up permanently in this period. Brian Jones usually drifted toward Keith until the Anita thing, and Mick Taylor and Keith never got along really, so the two Micks often bonded instead, which only made Keith more resentful of him.
Songs like Sway, Winter, Moonlight Mile were done by the two Micks with little or no involvement by Keith. You can imagine how awkward that would be; seemed like Taylor was upstaging or even slowly replacing Keith in his own band.
By the time Taylor left he hated Keith. Keith would bash his playing and delete his guitar parts; it’s why for instance Taylor isn’t much on Exile in terms of guitar.
Had Ronnie not been there to bridge this widening gap they might not have gotten back together, least as quickly.
Ronnie definitely kept the band together. Probably even to this day. Crucially important as the bridge as you said. I’m not familiar with Keith hating Mick Taylor. Mick and Mick definitely worked close together and Keith was absent in some cases. But Keith at that time was a serious junkie. Certainly lack of credit to Taylor contributed to his leaving.
Alan, listened to Dirty Work again after about 25 years of ignoring it. Sorry, but I don't think Dirty Work is nearly as bad as your laying it out to be. Pretty much on the same level as Steel Wheels and Undercover in my humble opinion. All three of these albums are a notch below Emotional Rescue which in turn is several notches below Tattoo You. So, clearly the Stones were a band in decline as the 80's progressed but none of their 80's albums are BAD, and Dirty Work certainly is as brutal as you make it out to be. To be honest, I think their 90's output is worse than the 80's - all which makes the quality of Hackney Diamonds (easily their best record since Tattoo You) so amazing! Love the videos!
Thanks for watching and commenting. As a Stones fanatic, even a bad Stones album is still good compared to other bands album. Dirty Work has a bunch of really good songs. But for a Stones album it’s better than what it could have been because the band was in such bad shape at that time. But for a stones album it’s still a mess and sounds it. To me steel Wheels and Undercover are superior but it’s all opinion. Thanks so much. Happy Holidays.
I wanted to like the album back then...having waited so long for new music since Undercover (a whole three years...geez, compared to the last 30, they were hyper-productive back then), but the material was nil. And the production was not good--I really think this was their least worthwhile studio album...as a vocalist and lyricist Jagger mailed it in--over singing on the rockers, and writing some ridiculous lyrics to boot. I mean, One Hit is a pretty good song, and Had It/You is an okay 50s send up, but even Keith's tunes were forgettable. I think Fight may be the worst song they ever did, followed closely by Don't Hold Back and One More Try.
Yea - Hold Back is expecially noisy, tuneless and ycch.
As a serious lover and student of rock ‘n’ roll who believes that The Rolling Stones are unparalleled in the pantheon of the all-time best bands, I find it almost painful to admit that I think “Dirty Work” is, for the most part, a BIG embarrassment. Yes, I know that no band - not even the cream of the crop - can bring its A game to every album it releases (especially after putting out about 20 albums up until 1986, when “Dirty Work” was unleashed to the general public). But, to me, “Dirty Work” is an album of “mostly” clunkers by arguably the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band in the world. Other bands may be able to get away with the kind of disappointing, if not downright bad, songs that constitute “Dirty Work,” but I have always held The Stones to a much higher standard. You did an excellent job of framing the album, starting off with your analysis of the positioning and body language of the band members on an album cover that yells “1980s,” but does not give so much as a whisper to any Rolling Stones esthetic. Your comments about the band’s fractured relationships and Charlie’s downward spiral owing to heroin addiction and alcohol abuse, during the creation of the album, enhanced your breakdown of each song on the album. The only song that I, personally, think is a REALLY GOOD rocker, from start to finish, is “One Hit (To the Body).” Believe it or not, I like “Winning Ugly.” The beat and the guitar work grab me, and the lyrics are quite good and very apropos - nearly 30 years later - of today’s political and cultural environment. (I find this album to be very weak, lyrically, as well as musically. Jagger and Richards are capable of SO MUCH BETTER.) However, I think the song goes on for too long. About 2 minutes less would have been fine with me. As you said, “Sleep Tonight” is too long. (I think it’s a ho hum ballad). I also think “Harlem Shuffle” overstays its welcome to the point of becoming monotonous. I believe that once the 1970s arrived, The Stones should not have released any cover song as a single. Once Jagger and Richards demonstrated their great writing abilities, even good covers including “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” should have been relegated to just album cuts. I wish I could say that “Hold Back” is the only mess on “Dirty Work.” Maybe the album’s messes and misses don’t bring it down to the level of trash. But I think they have given it a spot at the bottom of the barrel.
Always look forward to your amazing commentary and didn’t disappoint here as well. Other people have commented that they also like Winning Ugly. Considering it was supposed to be the 3rd single and made it out to Canada I believe, someone else also loved the song. To me sonically it didn’t match the album at all. Same with Back To Zero. Overall not for me. Thanks as always.
Undercover is ten times worse.
Dirty Work is a killer album.
Well, we're all entitled to our opinion and we like what we like...but.... Dirty Work is not a killer Rolling Stones album....and Undercover is much better. In fact Dirty Work is the worst Rolling Stones studio album. So I'm glad you love Dirty Work, because then you must really love their other albums too.
Yeah, I hate this album, it’s the nadir of their discography for sure! lol
The Rolling Stones should have never been a part of the 80s. Nothing after Tattoo You is worth your time!
I wouldn’t go that far. But certainly Tattoo You is their last true classic album. But all their albums have done gems on them. SW, VL, BTB, ABB are too long.
Great reaction. I remember the contoversey at the time. I thought it was a decent alblum.
Thanks. I agree it is a decent good album. Just not for The Stones. But even subpar Stones is decent and has some good stuff there.
Hi Alan I would like to do a top 10 or top 12 Stones albums with you via Zoom . Thoughts?
Well on my channel I definitely covered the Stones albums rankings - I did three Stones album rankings fairly recently. I've also never did a zoom video on my channel though I've been a guest on some others. I've no idea how to do it and I'm not at that point yet, but I would do it on my channel down the line.
Really good look at this album, and look at Undercover as well man. I had mostly forgotten how out of it they were at the time, and I did not know how little work Bill did on this album. I remember back then looking at the tracklist thinking «why is Ronnie getting all these writing credits all of a sudden?!?» I haaad heard Ronnie played drums but couldn’t fathom why back then. When did we hear how bad Charlie was doing at the time?
Thank you for another great Stones deep dive.
Thanks so much. The news about Charlie with severe addiction issues at that time came out over a decade later. They kept it really quiet. I personally had no idea. Apparently Charlie's marriage to Shirley at the time was also very much on the rocks, also apparently because of is addiction. It was also causing distress in the band at the time. As a side note, it's always interesting to see what Stones played on what. There are occasional shocks. Their legendary producer Jimmy Miller was an excellent drummer and did the occasional drumming on some classic Stones tracks because Charlie couldn't get the groove. And Bill Wyman is missing from many classic Stones tracks (because Keith and Ronnie can both play some great bass as well). And this is in no way any kind of putdown of Charlie or Bill. Just the life of every musician. Sometimes you're not around and sometimes you just can't grab the groove. And we all know Mick came up with riff of Brown Sugar.
You’ve motivated to join back and listen to this album.
Lol. I actually know like every note on this album....Trash for the Stones, but still some really great stuff on there....and some really trash stuff too. Thanks.
Back to zero is the worst stones tune.
Definitely amongst the worst. Sounds like sub par solo Jagger and doesn't fit the album at all. Same with Winning Ugly
Had it with you is a smoking tune
I think it's ok - lack of bass gives it some edge and a different feel.
Dirty Work is unequivocally the worst Rolling Stones album ever made, period. Definitely not a Glimmer Twin highlight by any stretch of the imagination. As soon as I saw that ridiculous "Miami Vice" album cover, I knew there was trouble. With the exception of One Hit To The Body, the album is an absolute mess and lacks any cohesion from start to finish, in fact it's been years since I've listen to that record from start to finish. Based on what I know about the history of making it was that just about everyone seemed to have one foot out the door, especially with Mick signing a solo deal that I believe took everyone by surprise. In fact I remember the story of Charlie Watts punching Mick Jagger in the face at a band meeting in Amsterdam shortly before the recording of Dirty Work. That should tell you everything you need to know about the state of the band at that time. I know Keith wanted to tour that album in the early stages of recording but that was not meant to be. I believe that experience for him was the beginning of the Expensive Winos.
Great topic and discussion by all.
Thanks as always. That Charlie punching Mick is a classic story. What I heard was Charlie was sleeping and Mick was a bit drunk. Mick called Charlie up on the hotel phone. Charlie got dressed into his suit. Went to where Mick was and punched Mick. lol - yea. some story. Of course Mick and Charlie actually were very close up to the end, so that was another good example, of what you said. They really (including Charlie) were at the low point of the Rolling Stones history at that time.
Yeah, when you've been together that long, Shit Happens!
Hi Alan...your review inspired me to go back and listen to this album in full for the the first time since...oh, I don't know. Maybe 1989...I know I commented briefly on this a few months ago, and I think my comment then still stands. However, good point that the "worst Rolling Stones album is still pretty good", compared to a lot of other records, then and now, if you ask me. That being said I think my earlier comment that Jagger 'mailed it in' is even more apparent--his singing was forced and uninspired, his lyrics were either insipid or idiotic (conjoining Stalin and Roosevelt? putting a hole where your face used to be? I love you dirty fucker? letting some fucker do the dirty work--shades of admonishing people to get off their lazy asses a couple of year later 🤮🤮climbing this tree of promises???--I could go on, but we get the point). I think he delivered solid vocal performances on One Hit and Harlem Shuffle--the rest of the time, he seemed to be shouting at the top of his throat. I did not know (at the time) that Bill and Charlie played so little on the album, unless that was detailed on the inner sleeve, and I just don't remember, having been so long since I read the sleeve.
As for the packaging, every Stones fan I knew hated it, especially the ultra Miami Vice cover. Personally, I didn't mind that so much--the picture in and of itself, if only because they were trying to catch a contemporary, trendy look. I did not like the lyric sheet, as I always appreciated that the Stones, by NOT printing their lyrics, gave them a cool, mysterious persona, (and left some mystery to their words) especially since every other band began printing lyric sheets after Pepper. What I thought was absolutely shameful was the stupid cartoon strip "Dirty Workout"--I mean, what the hell was that, besides dumb? And, strictly as a comic, looked pretty grotesque.
As for the music, I remember reading Richards pre release comments in Rolling Stone in late '85 that half of the songs would likely have a Jagger/Richards/Wood credit, and that's "too bad for him" because he (referring to Mick) wasn't at the sessions in any great capacity, since, correct me if I'm wrong, they commenced just when he was doing publicity and video shoots for She's the Boss, which clearly got more of Jagger's attention, focus and energy than this album. The riffs and the guitar interplay certainly have that crude, razor blade quality that defines much of the Stones music--but ultimately the songs that were cooked up weren't anything great. And maybe I like Keith's Sleep Tonight more than I realized before, having just concluded his work on Rain Dogs with Tom Waits--a lot of that was obviously rubbing off on Keith. And regardless of circumstance, what you'd get from Keith is always heartfelt.
The two most oddball songs on the album were clearly Winning Ugly and Back to Zero--oddball if only because they have nil of the slashing, two guitar stuff that the rest of the tunes seem to be built on--one, an 80s synth pop tune that could have fallen off, I don't know, maybe the Back to the Future of Footloose soundtrack, and a stab at Minneapolis pop funk that would have made more sense as She's the Boss outtakes.
I don't know...almost 40 years later, it is now more clear to me than ever before, that the great Rolling Stones Grand Slam ('68-'72) didn't end with Exile, as misinformed critics (that lame first edition Rolling Stone Record Guide, in particular) duped fans and the majority of the public into believing in. I always thought the Stones remained at the height of their creative powers until Tattoo You, and the massive amount of excellent, but unreleased material recorded from 1973-1983 stands as testament to that. Their post Exile output has been unfairly maligned and unfortunately dismissed by too many. The real slump for the band started with this album in 1985.
Thanks for your awesome analysis of which I agree with most if not all of it. I do think their studio pinacle is 68-73 - damn the naysayers - Goats Head Soup is an incredible album, and part of the run. I love IORR, B&B, but I wouldn't put at the classic perfect album run from before. Some Girls definitely is a 5 star classic. And I also love ER, which is "greater than the sum of it's part". Its a great listen. Tattoo You is a classic as well. Now I'm a big fan of Undercover which to me is "a great Stones album for Stones fans". Dirty Work - well you saw my video and I agree with your assessment. Jagger doesn't so much sing on a lot of it - he screams like you said. I don't know if it was a different affectation or just anger from being fed up with the terrible situation that was occuring. But a not great Stones album would still be a pretty great album for someone else. As you stated Back To Zero and Winning Ugly - stick out like sore thumbs - good or bad, they simply don't belong on the album. They don't mesh with the sound. And the lead single, even if it's a good standard cover (and Jagger sings it well), is still not a good omen for the material when it's a cover version. Anyway, thanks as always - love the comments as we gear up for the upcoming Stones shows.
Yeah, fair enough…I have just always loved that era (in part I’m sure, because it corresponds to the time when I became obsessed with them) and having heard such a wealth a great material in bootleg releases from that time, you get a much different picture of the band then what those official albums gave us. I recently have been immersed in the Undercover Sessions, which have deepened my appreciation for that album, really among the better albums of that year, and maybe even concluding the “mini slam” of ‘78-‘83. And they still seem to be challenging themselves on it, with its weird textures and sound, bizarre imagery and hard hitting approach-when they tried to hit hard on Dirty Work, it comes off as forced, or fake-not so on Undercover, which is much more genuine.
@@anthonyaswe4174 Absolutely - I'm a big fan of Undercover - actually did a video of it. But as you so well said - Dirty Work sounds forced in some ways. Also the anger and disfunction within the band is right there in the grooves. Undercover is as you said much for genuine - much more organic. Plus I'm a sucker for Too Much Blood - I LOVE that song...lol.
Just my imagination was on Some Girls. That was a good remake, great guitar work!
Yes one of the all time great Stones covers. Not sure what that has to do with the Dirty Work album....lol. Thanks.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow you mentioned "ain't too proud to beg" on an earlier album about their covers and the 2 covers on dirty work album on how they were "so, so" Imagination on SG was an awesome re-invention of a classic motown hit!
@@DaveGoldShow Oh - now I get it. Yes you are so right Imagination is one of the all time great covers - in fact I think its superior to the original. Thanks so much.
So interesting that you decided to focus on this album, Alan, amongst all the others. And whilst I always respect your opinions, even if I don't necessarily agree with them, I concur with you almost 100% when it comes to Dirty Work. Note the 'almost', however!
Treasure or trash? I guess DW is split down the middle evenly. As for the songs you disparaged Alan, you're right, let's just not go there. (Harlem Shuffle - dull, dull, dull....) On the other hand, as you say, this album is a whole lot better than it has any right to be, given the backbiting and recriminations that were going on in the band at the time. And something you also said made me think: it seems to be the Keith songs that hold this album up, and Mick's ones that drag it down. Or am I being unfair to Michael Philip?
'One Hit': an absolutely terrific song, featuring one of Keith's finest riffs of all time, in my view. The man can do serious damage with just a single note (check out his opening chord to 'If You Can't Rock Me' on 'Love You Live', if you don't believe me). And Jimmy Page's acoustic intro doesn't hurt either. But like 'I'm Going Down' (one of my all-time favourites) on Metamorphosis, I think the song starts to lose direction midway through, and that prevents it being quite the song it might have been.
Two lovely songs from Keith: 'Too Rude' and 'Sleep Tonight'. And who knew Ronnie was such a good drummer? Keith certainly has the back-a-yard rub-a-dub Kingston vibe down to a tee, and I speak as someone who liked 'Cherry Oh Baby' a lot. (Never for the life of me understood why 'Luxury' is thought of as a reggae song, however: smooth as Belgian chocolate for sure, and in its way, one, one of the finest things the band has ever done, but reggae? Surely not).
'Had It With You' is, for my money, one of the best things the band has done too (in a very crowded field, admittedly). Lean, mean, and nasty, the Stones beat Status Quo at their own game here, in terms of back-to-basics bar-room blues, and as for those who moan that there's no bass on the track, I'm afraid that doesn't bother me in the slightest.
'Dirty Work': not exactly the best song, on an album that's already slightly dodgy anyway, but it is a good one I think all the same. And I love the way Keith's guitar lopes about all over the the place on this song (as it did on the 'Undercover' album), rather like a cat-burglar, leaping from one rooftop to another.
Till the next goodbye, as they say.
First, I chose dirty work because it’s the only stones album that I could even consider going into trash or treasure. Second, your comments were extraordinary. Better than my video. Lol. Your comments are so spot on and I agree with them entirely. Love your comment on Cherry oh Baby too. But your comments on luxury were especially awesome. I also love the track a great improvement over the original bootleg version. It has a reggae influence but it’s certainly far from reggae as you pointed out. Thanks so much again. For your great insight and comments, I love it
Thanks Alan, that's nice.@@TheAlanRosenbergShow
No - just the truth. Nothing better than sharing with incredibly knowledgeable fans that can point things out to me and my channel - with an honest passion - fantastic. Thanks for your contributions.@@bernardjennings3549
First time in a long time my comment didn't post. Anyway, stuff fell down 🤣😂 You can't go wrong when that happens. Alan, you all covers with naked women on them🤣😂. You can't go wrong with that either. Don't listen to this album much. It's definitely not trash. There are several songs worth listening to, as you say.
Been thinking about doing a video on sexy album covers. Gonna do it. Would be fun
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I like that idea. Remember the Ohio Players? They had some great sexy covers. Of course, you will have to include the Blind Faith album for sure.
@@davidkunzli680 I don't have any Ohio Players albums but I may have to buy one just for the video - yes those covers were fantastic. I do have the Blind Faith....but it's definitely not sexy to me.....it was of course controversial in it's time - maybe I would show it because of the controversy...we will see.
Chicago White Sox used Winning Ugly in their ads that summer, fyi. You need some sort of easel for your records. Keep up the good work on your viddies!
Wow. that's amazing information. I'm amazed anyone would use Winning Ugly for anything. That is pretty cool though. Thanks so much. Yea..I'm so low budget, right? I have a small house filled with records and CD's Pictures to come. But yea, I have to do better.. . although it seems some people love and wait for my occasional live music crashes...lol
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow I like dirty work I think it’s a damn pretty good album not great and like u mentioned before Bill Wyman only played base only on 4 songs and Charlie only played Drums on 2 songs and the song dirty work like u said is considered hard rock be honest did the stones ever write any songs that were really considered hard rock with hard rock guitar riffs I considered them just Rock N Roll did the songs ever write any hard rock songs or play any hard rock I never knew dirty work is a hard rock song
@@mikebarooshian7255 I would never consider the Stones a "hard rock" band but some of these songs on Dirty Work like "Dirty Work", "Fight", "Hold Back" and parts of "One Hit" certainly have a hard rock edge to them. But I agree that The Stones wouldn't be classified as a hard rock band.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow have u ever heard the stones song from emotional rescue called Let Me Go well to me that song sounds like hard rock it has the hard rock guitar riffs by Ronnie and I considered the song Bitch from sticky fingers a hard rock song but it certainly isn’t heavy metal I never considered the stones to be a hard rock band I always considered the stones to be Rock N Roll and Blues and Blues rock RnB Soul Country etc etc not hard rock
@@mikebarooshian7255 I agree with you, though I don't consider Let Me Go hard rock. Just another basic rocker to me. Mick used to go into the audience during Let Me Go on the 1981 tour - great footage of that out there.
Yes, DW is towards the bottom of their album output. It's frustrating b/c the bootlegs with the many outtakes show a MUCH better album in the works. (Same thing happened IMO with Voodoo Lounge, where the outtakes are a far better than released work). I agree that 'Hold Back' is a mess. It may be the worst song in the Stones canon haha.. And it was a last minute substitution. I think it was "Deep Love" that was slated for the album. Never been a big fan of 'Sleep'. Woody did ok on "Too Rude' but
'Sleep' is a mess. You are so right, that they always need each other. But Jagger did not bring his part. The vocals are more like barking. The lyrics are forced. In fairness to Keith, there was more Country, and Soul on all the rough tracking.
Thanks so much for your wonderful comments. Yes the outtakes are pretty interesting. I find that with so many Stones outtakes. Great comment on Voodoo Lounge (an album that I really like as a later day Stones album) - love listening to Voodoo Brew and even Voodoo Stew. Cool stuff. I didn't realize that Hold Back was a last minute replacement for Deep Love. Wow. What we're they thinking? And love your "barking" comment on some of Jagger's vocals. What a perfect description of his vocals on Hold Back. I always liked Sleep Tonight although I think it could've used a bit of editing. Thanks so much again.
I can't even remember the last time I played this album.But I will now so thanks Alan for bringing it to my attention.I always chuckle a little when your cds fall and when your talking about this album the cds falling was the high light lol
Lol - thanks. Let us know what you think of the album after you listen to it. I think my albums falling is a highlight for many viewers...though I promise, I really try to not let that happen. Luckily I have many extra jewel cases...lol
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow Alan I finally made it to my favorite record store with my friend.They had 3 bootlegs of the Stones.I forgot their names but one came out in -81 another one in '94 and the third was like a comp of live songs from the sixties have any idea about these???
@@thomaswery3087 Nice. Without exaggeration there's literally got to be thousands of Stones bootlegs. I myself have a couple of hundred. Most of mine are CD's but I have a bunch on vinyl (I showed some of them on my old bootleg vinyl video). And now with the vinyl craze, there's a ton of these "grey" market vinyl bootlegs of old radio shows etc that are constantly coming out. So I would have no idea. There's a couple of famous good sounding live shows from like 65 and 66 with Brian Jones, perhaps that was one of them. Also could have been old BBC records or TV soundtracks - Ed Sullivan etc. There's tons of live stuff from all the Stones tours. probably boots available in various quality on virtually every show by now from the later day tours....buyer beware.
Both, really… but its aged better for me, than I thought it would.
I have the same reaction for most of my "trash or treasure" albums. I love the bands, so the albums aren't trash - they all have some great songs on them. It's just that for that particular band, it's not a very good album, but often still better than many albums by other bands....But I guess when you love a band, that's bound to happen.
Not their best but certainly not trash, I know a lot more about it now than I did before!
Thanks so much. Even the worst Stones has some great stuff on it and overall is better than a lot of other bands good stuff.
Is the track " Dirty Work" on any compilation album ?
No. I always really liked that track.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow hey just wanted to respond here. Not sure if you know but Bill wanted to quit in 1974. But the reason he didn’t was he worried that himself and Mick Taylor quitting around the same time would ruin the band. His head had gradually grown out of the Stones since the late 60s
@@TheAlanRosenbergShowmatter of fact a lot of their songs from 1968 for instance, or on Exile don’t feature Bill on bad but rather Keith. Similarly he’s barely on GHS with Mick Taylor and Keith covering for him. So Billkinda slowly quit the band over a 20 year period
@@Bklyn93 very true. Much of it at that time was distance. If inspiration hit and they were recording but a member was missing so be it. Certainly the other guys could play bass. There are tracks without Charlie as well.
@@Bklyn93 Doing Monkey Grip in 74 and Stone Alone in 76 helped satisfy him. He was definitely thinking of leaving in early 80s. I still have the clippings. He always wanted to do more.
Trash. You missed one of the best (saddest) elements of the album. I love the hidden final track segment “key to the highway” with only Ian Stewart playing. Don’t under estimate the impact of his loss on the band.
It was a classy move by including his little outro at the end of the album. But in the overall scheme of the whole album, it's nothing but an outro - a classy move on their part in the memory of Stu.
It was a very classy move to include that short Stu outro. But in reviewing the album and all it's songs - the album fading out with like 15 seconds of unaccompanied Stu, certainly doesn't change the album - just a nice fade out, that does bring a smile, one that was sorely needed for Dirty Work.
Cheers. Appreciate your work and channel. I’m a Stones nut (more of a 63 to 67 Jones r&b / physche then the typical Keith classic beggars to exile - although awesome as well)
@@deeg8849 thanks so much. Really appreciate it. Nice to hear from a Stones fan who’s favorite period is the early Brian Jones period. Rarely hear from that era. Even though we all love that period, and that really is the Hot Rocks era, still don’t hear about super fans of that time. Thanks again
Sure the hits of that era are great but I think it’s the deep cuts that are really special. I am waiting, we love you, child of the moon, back street girl, she smiled sweetly, the lantern, think, cool calm collected, if you let me and so many others @@TheAlanRosenbergShow
Treasure to me . Enjoy this album , although occasionally I’ll skip Harlem Shuffle. I think people judge this album on the cover ,& again Harlem Shuffle. Certainly not their worst to me.
Thanks. I'm certainly not out to debate...because there is no debate. It's all personal opinion and all equally valid. But I'd love to know what Stones album you deem worse. I'm wondering if it's like A Bigger Bang or Bridges to Babylon or Steel Wheels or maybe Their Satanic Majesties. Curious. Thanks.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow to me , better than bigger bang, voodoo, undercover, December, goats head. But that’s me. 😄. I enjoy all Stones albums though. I just go back to Dirty Work a lot.
@@fdsuperstar2547 Thanks so much for responding, and not feeling attacked, as I certainly wasn't and would never do. But very interesting to me. Because for me, it's not even close. Dirty Work for me is by far their worst studio album (although as you know I really like some of it). This is interesting. Goats Head Soup is my all time 3rd favorite Stones album. It was my first Stones album I bought the day it came out, so perhaps that influenced it, but I still play it a few times a year since 1973. I really like Undercover as I said. I really like December's Children, though it's a bit of a mish mash. I think Voodoo is the best of the later day Stones studio albums (though a bit long). Yea Bigger Bang has some great stuff on it, but also some lousy terrible stuff as well, so can see that. Very interesting. Thanks so much again for sharing your thoughts.
@@TheAlanRosenbergShow enjoy your channel & passion for music. I try & check out some of the bands you recommend. Have you done a show on all girl rock groups
@@fdsuperstar2547 Thanks so much. I really appreciate it. I've never done a video just about all girl groups. I've mentioned in a couple of videos this great CD compilation I have called "The Red Bird Girls - 1964 -1966" which is a fantastic all -girl compilation. I've mentioned the Go-Go's and The Bangles a bunch of times in previous videos - Beauty And The Beat being one of my favorite debut albums, although I wasn't a fan of The Go-Go's being inducted in the R&R Hall of Fame before so many other bands who aren't in yet. I don't have too many all girl group albums - Go-Gos, Bangles, Fanny - Genya Ravan but after Goldie and The Gingerbreads - Thanks again.