Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Black and Blue

Top positive review

Stones ahead of their times...again!

Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2017

I couldn't stand this album when it was released all those years ago. After "Beggars", "Let It Bleed", "Sticky Fingers", "Exile", and even "It's Only RnR" to a greater extent "Black & Blue" just didn't have the Rock n Roll punch that we'd come to expect from the boys. It has a Reggae feel on some songs and Reggae had not caught on yet with us R n R fans in the states. In fact I saw Toots & The Maytalls open for The Who on their "Who By Numbers" tour and they were treated rather rudely by the Springfield, Mass crowd. Well all these years later I decided to pull out my copy of Black & Blue only to find that I hadn't purchased a CD version. So I ordered a copy from Amazon and played it to death. It was so ahead of its time. If you are a Stones fan you'll love it and should own it. But then again, unlike me...you probably do.

21 people found this helpful

Top critical review

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Anthony Winters

Misleading

Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2019

The album is in fair condition at best. There are a lot o scratches and there are places where the record skips. I played it loud and was able to not hear the crackling during the songs. My only concern was how the record was advertised. I would not have sold the record. I bought other records that were older and in great condition.

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From the United States

Ted H.

Stones ahead of their times...again!

Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2017

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21 people found this helpful

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Terrence J. Reardon

Why this album gets a bad rap I'll never know

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2012

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The Rolling Stones' fifth studio album of the 1970s (and sixth overall for their Rolling Stones Records label which was distributed by Atlantic Records) entitled Black and Blue was released in April of 1976.
This particular Rolling Stones album was the first studio album for the band since the abrupt departure of guitarist Mick Taylor who left after the It's Only Rock and Roll album's releaseand promo videos shot for the album. Some have called Black and Blue "the guitar audition album" because Wayne Perkins, Harvey Mandel (of Canned Heat) and Ron Wood (of Rod Stewart's Faces) all took turns auditioning for the guitarist spot abandoned by Taylor (and Wood would eventually acquire the spot as of 1975). Lead singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards wrote all but one track ("Cherry Oh Baby") on this album and the album is a classic (as I found out when I grabbed the album for Christmas in 1989 on cassette when it was on Rolling Stones/Columbia/CBS Records).
The Black and Blue album was recorded between December of 1974 and December of 1975 in Germany at Musicland Studios and at Mountain Studios in Montreux with Mick and Keith producing and the late Keith Harwood recording and the legendary Glyn Johns mixing in February of 1976 at Atlantic Studios. Bass player Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts played well on this album as well.
The Black and Blue album opens with the funky opener "Hot Stuff" which featured lead guitarist Harvey Mandel which stiffed as a single. Next is the rocker "Hand of Fate" with Wayne Perkins doing some great fretwork. We follow with the reggae version of "Cherry Oh Baby" featuring Nicky Hopkins on organ. Side one closed with the superb ballad "Memory Motel" featuring Mick on piano as well as vocal with Keithalso singing the refrain at the end of the choruses.
Ron Wood's slide induced guitar kicks Side 2 off with the rocker "Hey Negrita". Next is the jazzy duet with Billy Preston called "Melody" which sounds like something from a jazz club complete with horn sections. Next is the hit ballad from the album entitled "Fool to Cry" featuring Jagger on vocals and Fender Rhodes piano and Nicky Hopkins on grand piano (the song was a Top 10 hit in the US). We close with the rocker "Crazy Mama" with a great guitar riff from Mick Jagger whom played rhythm guitars on the track and also sings like no tomorrow..
The Black and Blue album did very well hitting #1 making it the fifth Stones studio effort in a row to top Billboard and was the first Platinum album for the band. Some fans hate this album, but others like me, love it. The remaster has all of the original LP credits and artwork restored.
This album is highly recommended.

25 people found this helpful

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Rich Van Vlack

Another Great Stones Memory

Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2015

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Really enjoyable first effort with Ronnie Wood. Funk, rock, reggae, ballads, it's all here. "Hot Stuff" is a strong lead-off, as many Stones records include, but not in the typical stones rock-groove fashion. Rather, George Clinton-style funk flows into rousing reggae, and it gets the job done. "Hand of Fate" is ferocious, here we do enjoy the classic stones rock grooves and this one rates to me with my favorites of the band's mid-seventies rockers. "Cherry Oh Baby" is more great reggae stuff while 'Memory Motel" ranks among the best ballads done by the band in the decade. "Fool to Cry" is very soulful, I've always liked it since way back when. I really like this album start to finish.

One person found this helpful

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John Dunneback

There are 3 very good songs ( 'Hand Of Fate

Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2018

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This should have been called 'Black & Blue To Da Grooves'. There are 3 very good songs ( 'Hand Of Fate, Memory Motel' + Crazy Mama'. The rest is basically mediocre songs and grooves. Not essential, but I still play it occasionally.

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brian rosenberg

The most underrated Stones album ever. Mick Jagger's dream ...

Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2016

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The most underrated Stones album ever. Mick Jagger's dream was to be a black singer. On this album he's accomplished that. Ron Wood on bass as he joins the group for the first time and Billy Preston on keyboards and vocals.

4 people found this helpful

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