Rolling Stones Hackney Diamonds Review

Wow!

The Rolling Stones give us a fantastic album with Hackney Diamonds. Definitely a classic. It belongs right up there with Beggars Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main St. Some Girls, Tattoo You, and Steel Wheels. Will it be an essential Stones album? Only time will tell. Until then, we can enjoy listening to Hackney Diamonds. 

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards both in their 80s and Ronnie Wood, 75, manage to create a youthful, ageless work of music on Hackney Diamonds. Another magical album by The Stones. This album has a feel of their late 70s to early 80s releases. If it was released at that time, it would fit in nicely. But it fits in rather nicely today, in 2023. 

Angry kicks things off. It is the first single prior to the album's release. It is a good, catchy, stonesy rocker with a bouncy bass line. Classic Stones through and through. Get Close is a terrific, groovy, mid-paced rocker, with a marvelous sax sole. Depending on You has a jangly, slow countryish vibe. 

Bite My Head Off is a fun punky rocker with a fuzzed out bass played by non-other than Paul McCartney. Paul was excited playing on the new Rolling Stones record. It was like they were all 18 again, and you can hear it in the recording. "I just played fucking bass with The Stones and I'm a fucking Beatle," said McCartney.

Whole Wide World is a colossal, punky, English bollocks buster. Dreamy Skies takes us on a luscious, slow, country bluesy ride. Get your platform shoes out for Mess It Up. A fun disco dance groove to shake yer booty to.

Live by the Sword back legendary Stones bassist Bill Wyman. Also, playing on one of his last tracks in Charlie Watts. A special tune with the last time these two have played together. A nice raucous blues to cap off their career together. 

Driving Me Too Hard is an uproarious country swing similar to Tumbling Dice. Tell Me Straight is a ballad sung by Keith. 

Sweet Sound of Heaven is a gospel influenced song.  Lady Gaga does her best Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin, that would make them proud. Stevie Wonder provides rollicking piano as well. 

The album closes with a Muddy Waters cover, Rolling Stones Blues. It is also the song that Brian Jones named the band after. 

Their first album in 18 years shows us the stones can still rock and roll. Full of youthful energy and exuberance, the Stones never lose a beat. Producer Andrew Watts wore a different Stones t-shirt for every session. Just a group of musicians/friends making great music together and having a good time doing it. You can feel the magic when listing to Hackney Diamonds. 

The Stones re-invigorate their classic formula and it makes it innovative. To make music, The Stones do not be rocket scientists. Just great tunes, good vibes, and making wonderful memories for the soundtrack of our lives. 

The Rolling Stones are like the City of Rome, eternal. 

Album rating 5 out of 5 guitar picks:

Band

• Mick Jagger – lead and backing vocals, guitar, percussion, harmonica on "Dreamy Skies" and "Rolling Stone Blues"
• Keith Richards – guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Tell Me Straight"
• Charlie Watts – drums on "Mess It Up" and "Live by the Sword"
• Ronnie Wood – guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals

Additional Musicians

• Bill Wyman – bass guitar on "Live by the Sword"
• Stevie Wonder – keyboards and piano on "Sweet Sounds of Heaven"
• Paul McCartney – bass guitar on "Bite My Head Off"
• Elton John – piano on "Get Close" and "Live by the Sword"
• Lady Gaga – vocals on "Sweet Sounds of Heaven"
• Benmont Tench – keyboards and organ on "Depending On You"
• Steve Jordan – drums
• Ron Blake – trumpet on "Get Close" and "Sweet Sounds of Heaven".
• David Campbell – string arrangement
• Matt Clifford – keyboards, piano, Wurlitzer
• Karlos Edwards – percussion
• James King – saxophone on "Get Close" and "Sweet Sounds of Heaven".
• Andrew Watt – bass guitar, guitar, percussion, keyboards, backing vocals, string arrangement

Produced by Andrew Watt

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