Talk Is Cheap [30th Anniversary]

by Keith Richards

Overview

Keith Richards is not a man you want to be cross with you. After two decades of occasionally uneasy give and take between Richards and Mick Jagger, the Rolling Stones seemed on the verge of imploding when, after making himself scarce during the recording of 1986's Dirty Work, Jagger made it clear he not only wasn't going to tour with the band, he was going to devote his time to promoting his second solo album, 1987's Primitive Cool, including playing some shows on his own in Japan. If Jagger threw down a gauntlet, Richards could be said to have picked it up and slapped Mick hard with it, going into the studio to cut his solo debut, 1988's Talk Is Cheap. To the surprise of absolutely no one, Talk Is Cheap often resembles a Rolling Stones album ("Take It So Hard" could pass for the best Stones single since "Start Me Up"), but part of its charm is that even when it strays far from the band's template -- such as the churning funk of "Big Enough" or the Chuck Berry tribute/rip-off "I Could Have Stood You Up" -- it still beautifully captures what Richards brought to the band as a guitarist and songwriter, only in different surroundings and fresh contexts. It always sounds like Keith, even when it doesn't sound like the Stones, and he's passionate, engaged, and effortlessly cool on every track, with his trademark rhythm-as-lead guitar front and center throughout. The stellar band that accompanies Richards -- Waddy Wachtel, Steve Jordan, Mick Taylor, Bernie Worrell, Johnnie Johnston, and Ivan Neville -- have a mind and an approach of their own, but they understand the root of what Richards does is about the groove, and they don't let him down for a moment. Talk Is Cheap was good, raucous, high-attitude fun in a way a Stones album hadn't been since Tattoo You in 1981, and if Primitive Cool unwittingly revealed Mick Jagger wasn't entirely sure what his musical identity was outside of the Stones, this album made it clear that all Richards needed to make a good record was to be himself. [In March 2019, Richards released an expanded edition of Talk Is Cheap to celebrate the album's 30th Anniversary, though he was actually five months late. In addition to expanded artwork and more elaborate packaging, the reissue included a bonus disc featuring six unreleased tracks from the Talk Is Cheap sessions. Most of the tracks are fine but unremarkable (the fact that one is called "Blues Jam" should tell you something), but the musicians are in fine fettle, and "Slim" is a superb showcase for Johnnie Johnson's piano. The bonus cuts aren't quite essential, but anyone who loves the thrust and parry of Keith's guitar will enjoy them, and the original album is still a gem.] ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	03/29/2019
Label:	BMG Rights Management
UPC:	4050538424973

Tracks

1. Big Enough
2. Take It So Hard
3. Struggle
4. I Could Have Stood You Up
5. Make No Mistake
6. You Don't Move Me
7. How I Wish
8. Rockawhile
9. Whip It Up
10. Locked Away
11. It Means a Lot

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Keith Richards   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Percussion,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Ben Cauly   Horn
Jimmi Kinnard   Horn,Horn
Sam Bulter   Vocals (Background)
Bootsy Collins   Guitar (Bass),Guest Artist,Bass
Patti Scialfa   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Bernie Worrell   Guest Artist,Organ,Clavinet
Joey Spampinato   Guitar (Bass),Bass
Johnnie Johnson   Guest Artist,Piano
Ivan Neville   Guest Artist,Piano,Keyboards
Buckwheat Zydeco   Guest Artist
Maceo Parker   Guest Artist,Sax (Alto)
Michael Doucet   Guest Artist,Violin
Gary Topper   Horn
Steve Jordan   Bass,Drums,Congas,Guitar,Percussion,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Gray E. Topper   Horn
Charley Drayton   Drums,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background),Bass
Waddy Wachtel   Guitar,Slide Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Sam Butler   Vocals (Background)
Mick Taylor   Guitar
The Memphis Horns   Horn,Percussion
Willie Mitchell   Horn
Stanley 'Buckwheat' Dural   Accordion
Stanley Dural   Accordion
Andrew Love   Horn
Bobby Keys   Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone),Baritone (Vocal)
Jack Hale   Horn
James Mitchell   Horn
Ben Cauley   Horn
Chuck Leavell   Organ
Sarah Dash   Vocals,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Roger Talkov   Audio Engineer,Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Noah Barton   Audio Engineer
Julio Pena   Audio Engineer,Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Richard Ealey   Audio Engineer,Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Robert Berry   Audio Engineer,Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Paul Milner   Audio Engineer,Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Richard Moakes   Audio Engineer,Assistant Engineer,Engineer
Steve Jordan   Audio Production,Composer,Producer
David Dorn   Audio Engineer,Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Keith Richards   Audio Production,Composer,Producer
Alastair Thain   Sleeve Photo
Little Johnny Jones   Composer
Noah Baron   Assistant Engineer
Greg Kalbi   Mastering
Jane Rose   Producer
Lawrence Peryer   Producer
Joey Spampinato   Composer
David Kennedy   Engineer
Waddy Wachtel   Consultant,Production Consultant
Mick Taylor   Composer
The Memphis Horns   Group
Willie Mitchell   Arranger,Horn Arrangements
Donald Smith   Engineer
Bobby Keys   Composer
Joe Ferla   Engineer
Joe Blaney   Mixing,Engineer
Don Smith   Mixing,Engineer
Johnnie Johnson   Composer
Chuck Leavell   Composer
Willie Dixon   Composer
Sante d'Orazio   Cover Photo,Photography