Blue & Lonesome (Rolling Stones album)

Blue & Lonesome was recorded over a three-day period in December 2015. In April 2016, at the launch of the Rolling Stones career retrospective Exhibitionism, the band confirmed that their new album was due to be released "some time in the autumn". Richards said the album would feature "a lot of Chicago blues". Eric Clapton plays guitar on two tracks; he was recording his own album I Still Do in the same studio as the Stones were and was asked to play on a few tracks. The album is entirely blues-based, consisting of covers of artists such as Howlin' Wolf and Little Walter. It is the first album since Dirty Work (1986) to not feature any guitar playing from Jagger (who instead concentrates completely on vocals and harmonica), although he is pictured in the album's booklet playing guitar during the album's sessions. It is also the first album since ''It's Only Rock 'n Roll (1974) to not feature a lead vocal from Richards. Likewise, it is also the first album since Dirty Work'' to release a lead single that was not a Jagger/Richards composition with "Just Your Fool". ==Promotion==

On 6 October 2016, the Rolling Stones changed their tongue and lips logo, which first appeared on their Sticky Fingers album, from red to blue. On 8 November 2016, the Rolling Stones released a video for "Hate to See You Go". On 25 November 2016, the Stones released a one-track limited edition electric blue 10" vinyl record of "Ride 'Em on Down" (on the UMC label) on the occasion of the Record Store Day Black Friday 2016. The track is a cover of Eddie Taylor's "Ride 'Em on Down" originally recorded by Taylor in Chicago on 5 December 1955 for the Vee-Jay Label (and released as VJ 185). The video features actress Kristen Stewart driving through Los Angeles in a blue 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback. ==Release and reception==

During its first week the album moved 106,000 sales to debut at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, the second-highest opening sales week for an album in the UK in 2016. On 3 February 2017 it was certified Platinum, for sales over 300,000 copies. It also debuted at No. 4 on the US Billboard 200 with 123,000 album-equivalent units, of which 120,000 were pure album sales. It was also the No. 2 best-selling album of the week in the US. Despite strong initial sales, the album remains to this day the only Stones' studio album without at least a gold certification for certified sales in the USA. Greil Marcus was not impressed either, writing that "except for Mick Jagger everyone sounds bored." ==Accolades==

The album won Album of the Year at the 2017 Jazz FM Awards. The Rolling Stones also won the Blues Artist of the Year Award at the event, held in April 2017. On January 28, 2018, Blue & Lonesome received a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album of the Year at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. The award was the Stones' third Grammy of their career and their first win since the 1995 show. ==Track listing==

Personnel from Blue & Lonesome liner notes. The Rolling Stones • Mick Jagger – vocals, harmonica • Keith Richards – electric guitar • Ronnie Wood – electric guitar • Charlie Watts – drums Additional musicians • Darryl Jones – bass guitar • Chuck Leavell – acoustic piano (1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 11), Hammond B3 (3, 5, 7, 12) • Eric Clapton – slide guitar on "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing", lead electric guitar on "I Can't Quit You Baby" • Matt Clifford – Wurlitzer piano (1–3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12), electric keyboards (4, 8, 10), Hammond B3 (6, 8, 10) • Jim Keltner – percussion on "Hoo Doo Blues" Production and design • Andy Cook – assistant engineer • Jason Elliott – assistant engineer • The Glimmer Twins – producer • Richard Havers – liner notes • Stephen Marcussen – mastering • Ron McMaster – mastering • Krish Sharma – engineer, mixer • Pierre de Beauport – crew chief • Don McAulay – drum technician • Anna Donarski – guitar technician • Derrick Stockwell – assistant engineer • Don Was – producer • Studio Fury – sleeve design and art direction ==Charts==

Weekly charts Year-end charts ==Certifications and sales==