I'm probably one of the only ones here who actually likes Dirty Work a lot. It's got good riffs and a really mean, dirty sort of sound, it has an energy and anger to it that more acclaimed and accepted records--like every record including and since Voodoo Lounge--lack.  Voodoo Lounge and the like try to take the Stones back the '70s, but lack any of the murky rawness or the spirit of the early '70s records. But I think Dirty Work has it. It isn't an album of slick, polished, pop infected songs like Steel Wheels was, nor is it really experimental album like Emotional Rescue and Undercover were, but it's angry, dirty Rock N' Roll album, IMO.

A lot of people I've seen call it one of the worst Stones albums, but I disagree. It's actually a really brutal and honest album, a product of division and tension in the band. It isn't the band pretending it's 1971 still like Voodoo Lounge; it isn't Mick trying to embrace and run with every new musical trend like Some Girls through Undercover were; It's just honest, raw and ugly. Remember, too, that Dirty Work came out in the middle of the 80s--when the music was all about electro-pop and cheesy, overproduced Hair Metal bands. Considering the period, it's a real rocker. It actually kind of reminds me of an '80s version of Exile on Main St, just not as diverse or as all encompassing in sound and style.

The only real weak link is Charlie's drumming--it's like he's not really trying, and on some tracks it almost sounds like a drum machine, he embraces a VERY 80s style of drumming on this record, which hurts a lot of the tracks. Mick too sounds different than we're used to--I swear his voice dropped a few octaves and got much deeper sometime in the mid '80s--and he was just settling into his new voice. Keith and Ronnie click really well together on this record, though, lots of great riffs and licks from them here, some good solos as well.

It's basically forgotten by the Stones--I don't think any of the songs were ever played on tour or included on any of the major collection releases--and has been kind of relegated to obscurity as a Stones record, but I think it's actually really good.

They played One Hit a few times in 89 and of course Keith played Too Rude with the Winos.   You are not the only fan of this record here.  They'll be along soon.  

But for me it's  :forfucksake

max?? MAX???

so good to have you back my friend!

huge letdown at the time

filler without the hot sauce.........

I continue to await the Dirty Work Deluxe edition. :warhorse

The first rule of Dirty Work is: you do not talk about Dirty Work. The second rule of Dirty Work is: you DO NOT talk about Dirty Work!

BLASPHEMY !
DIRTY WORK RULED THE PLANET FOR A FEW SHORT WEEKS IN 1986.I WAS THERE AND PARTICIPATED IN THE HOOPLA !
THE RECORDS ONLY BAD POINTS ARE THE ANNOYING KEYBOARD IN WINNING UGLY AND BACK TO ZERO AS A WHOLE. RST OF IT SHOULD BE CRANKED UP TO 11 !

They also played Harlem Shuffle during the Steel Wheels tour.

I need to leave work early and I will look for it to play as it is sunny and 70 and I need to piddle in the garage.

StonesFan1990 wrote ;

The only real weak link is Charlie's drumming--it's like he's not really trying, and on some tracks it almost sounds like a drum machine, he embraces a VERY 80s style of drumming on this record, which hurts a lot of the tracks. Mick too sounds different than we're used to--I swear his voice dropped a few octaves and got much deeper sometime in the mid '80s--and he was just settling into his new voice. Keith and Ronnie click really well together on this record, though, lots of great riffs and licks from them here, some good solos as well.  

I think Charlies drum sound may have been thanks to Steve Lillywhite's production. Although it was reveiled later that he was in the middle of his heroin addiction ,so that won't have helped either. I think he does a great job on Harlem Shuffle though.

sc uk

straycatuk wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 12:32pm:

I think Charlies drum sound may have been thanks to Steve Lillywhite's production. Although it was reveiled later that he was in the middle of his heroin addiction ,so that won't have helped either. I think he does a great job on Harlem Shuffle though. sc uk

Doesn't Ronnie contribute some of the drumming on this album?

I can't find it- I also can't find Some Girls and Tattoo You. This is disturbing!

I like Dirty Work altho' I have to be in the mood for it. Must say I'm not a big fan of The Stones ballads and other forays except for the obvious too good to ignore.

I like the Rockers....thats what I go to the Stones for...If I want anything else ........so many others do it much better.

Having said that...........'Had It w/ You' is one of my fave;s they have done

So raw and simple it threatens to fall apart every second

and this was in spite of the 80's over instrumentation

and Charlie was sick so there you go

best quote I  ever heard
'The Stones is Watts Snare and Hi Hat
everything else is just filler"

so good !


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImjRVtYkWxY

StickyStones wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 1:44am:

I'm probably one of the only ones here who actually likes Dirty Work a lot. It's got good riffs and a really mean, dirty sort of sound, it has an energy and anger to it that more acclaimed and accepted records--like every record including and since Voodoo Lounge--lack.  Voodoo Lounge and the like try to take the Stones back the '70s, but lack any of the murky rawness or the spirit of the early '70s records. But I think Dirty Work has it. It isn't an album of slick, polished, pop infected songs like Steel Wheels was, nor is it really experimental album like Emotional Rescue and Undercover were, but it's angry, dirty Rock N' Roll album, IMO. A lot of people I've seen call it one of the worst Stones albums, but I disagree. It's actually a really brutal and honest album, a product of division and tension in the band. It isn't the band pretending it's 1971 still like Voodoo Lounge; it isn't Mick trying to embrace and run with every new musical trend like Some Girls through Undercover were; It's just honest, raw and ugly. Remember, too, that Dirty Work came out in the middle of the 80s--when the music was all about electro-pop and cheesy, overproduced Hair Metal bands. Considering the period, it's a real rocker. It actually kind of reminds me of an '80s version of Exile on Main St, just not as diverse or as all encompassing in sound and style. The only real weak link is Charlie's drumming--it's like he's not really trying, and on some tracks it almost sounds like a drum machine, he embraces a VERY 80s style of drumming on this record, which hurts a lot of the tracks. Mick too sounds different than we're used to--I swear his voice dropped a few octaves and got much deeper sometime in the mid '80s--and he was just settling into his new voice. Keith and Ronnie click really well together on this record, though, lots of great riffs and licks from them here, some good solos as well. It's basically forgotten by the Stones--I don't think any of the songs were ever played on tour or included on any of the major collection releases--and has been kind of relegated to obscurity as a Stones record, but I think it's actually really good.

I also like Dirty Work. Youve made good points in support of the album.

Just saw this today for the first time. A promotional reel advertising the new album when it came out in March 1986.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ihXR9Tm9hU&feature=player_embedded#at=79

Mick at his cheesy worst, and a voiceover guy in a near-orgasmic state over the sleeve design. Would anyone have bought it after viewing this?

:sad

That voiceover guy is Larry King. :forfucksake

Honky Tonk Man wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 12:46pm:

straycatuk wrote on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 12:32pm: I think Charlies drum sound may have been thanks to Steve Lillywhite's production. Although it was reveiled later that he was in the middle of his heroin addiction ,so that won't have helped either. I think he does a great job on Harlem Shuffle though. sc uk Doesn't Ronnie contribute some of the drumming on this album?

He does, as does Anton Fig. Charlie was AWOL at times due to his worsening smack problem, not helped by him breaking a leg while falling in his cellar.

The drum sound is horrible, and the only thing worse is Mick's persistent growling. The all-time nadir of his career as a singer. The mix is dreadful as well.

Might have been a good album if Jagger had made a worthwhile contribution and they'd put a few decent songs on it.

The outtakes are far more enjoyable, although as Keith sings most of the best ones, Walter Yetnikoff and the bigwigs at CBS would probably have had a brown haemorrhage had the Stones presented them with an album mostly consisting of songs with him on lead vocal as the band's first effort after being advanced their $30 million.

"  ............................actually likes Dirty Work a lot. It's got good riffs and a really mean, dirty sort of sound, it has an energy and anger to it that more acclaimed and accepted recordsA lot of people I've seen call it one of the worst Stones albums, but I disagree. ..........It's actually a really brutal and honest album, a product of division and tension in the band .............  It's just honest, raw and ugly but I think it's actually really good "


************ " WTF ?! " **************


http://i40.tinypic.com/euk3ko.gif   !!!!!!

Joey wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 6:22pm:

************ " WTF ?! " ************** http://i40.tinypic.com/euk3ko.gif   !!!!!!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jwJWxJ1P58s/TDNV8g-ZE_I/AAAAAAAAADE/MnehhiAh4PM/s1600/Young-Man-asleep-at-work--001.jpg

Joey wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 6:22pm:

"  ............................actually likes Dirty Work a lot. It's got good riffs and a really mean, dirty sort of sound, it has an energy and anger to it that more acclaimed and accepted recordsA lot of people I've seen call it one of the worst Stones albums, but I disagree. ..........It's actually a really brutal and honest album, a product of division and tension in the band .............  It's just honest, raw and ugly but I think it's actually really good " ************ " WTF ?! " ************** http://i40.tinypic.com/euk3ko.gif   !!!!!!

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/1874/daffyduckmasturbatingjp.gif

It's an album i never, ever play. I dont like anything about it, and actually totally loathe and despise alot about it (like "back to zero" and "winning ugly")

I think Ronnie drums on "Had it with you".

It could have been a great EP....

THANKS GAZZA..THAT SURE BROUGHT ME BACK TO THE BLITZ OF 86!
"GET DOWN AND DO THE DIRTY WORK,RONNIE!"

Some Guy wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 7:04am:

huge letdown at the time

But didn't the album cover lessen the blow? Sure, we had already heard One Hit on MTV....but looking in the Rolling Stones bin at the record store and being blinded by that neon monstrosity just depressed the hell out of me.

Dirty Work hasn't been in the CD player since I transfered a couple of the better tracks to my i-Pod a cople of years ago - and it had been a couple of years prior that, when I last actually listened to the release. It's shite... utter shite.

texile wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2011 at 4:20pm:

Some Guy wrote on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 7:04am: huge letdown at the time But didn't the album cover lessen the blow? Sure, we had already heard One Hit on MTV....but looking in the Rolling Stones bin at the record store and being blinded by that neon monstrosity just depressed the hell out of me.

'Harlem Shuffle' was the first single - coming out a couple of weeks ahead of the album in March.

They didnt release 'One Hit' as a single until the summer. The video was only filmed in May '86. The reason Charlie is so truculent in that famous interview on the set of it is because he had planned to go to watch Tottenham playing in Ossie Ardiles' testimonial game that night, but had to cancel his plans to sit around a movie set filming a music video - something he hates doing at the best of times.

Harlem Shuffle....
Dang, I'd forgotten about that. I remember thinking it odd that after three years and Mick's solos, they would release a cover for their first single.
They'd done it before (Aint to Proud..), but not as the lead-in to a new Stones album after all that time.
I do remember the buzz of a new Stones album, but even for an obsessed fan, Jagger's solo shenanigans had me doubtful of what Dirty Work would be. I have not listened to it since 1986.

I like Winning Ugly.

Some Guy wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2011 at 6:55pm:

I like Winning Ugly.

...As a Jagger solo track, maybe.

Take off the three worst songs - Winning Ugly, Back to Zero, Fight*...

Polish up the three best outtakes - What Am I Gonna Do with Your Love, Too Much For Me, Strictly Memphis...

Put some better lyrics on Hold Back...

...And it's geeeeeeen-yezzzzzzzzz !!


*Gazza hates me already...

---

The song Dirty Work is a good representative of the album. Could have been decent but the horrid production, mix, vocals, echo, etc. turned it to shite. You take out Hold Back, Back to Zero, Winning Ugly, and Fight, then you can work with something. However, that's half the album so it says a lot there.

The interesting thing for me about Dirty Work is that it shows that all this Keith is the heart of the Stones bullshit was shown to be utter crap. Charlie has said it before but without Mick, the Stones would be a shambles, no matter what Keith wants to trot out once in a while.

texile wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2011 at 6:43pm:

Harlem Shuffle.... Dang, I'd forgotten about that. I remember thinking it odd that after three years and Mick's solos, they would release a cover for their first single. They'd done it before (Aint to Proud..), but not as the lead-in to a new Stones album after all that time. I do remember the buzz of a new Stones album, but even for an obsessed fan, Jagger's solo shenanigans had me doubtful of what Dirty Work would be. I have not listened to it since 1986.

IORR was the first single off the IORR album. Aint Too Proud To Beg was the follow up - in the US Wwhilst two singles was the norm on all US albums after they formed Rolling Stones Records, the UK didnt get a second single until 1978, when we got 'Respectable' (they released 'Beast of Burden' in the US instead, and then a third US-only single, 'Shattered').

The 2nd singles from all the albums from Sticky Fingers through Black and Blue (ie, Wild Horses, Happy, Heartbreaker, Aint Too Proud to Beg, Hot Stuff) were only released in the USA.

'Dirty Work' is also the only studio album unrepresented on '40 Licks'. All the others have their main 'hits' included on that compilation. I dont think I'm being cynical in assuming it was solely because the hit from that album happened to be a cover version and they could substitute it for another Jagger-Richards song off another album which would mean more royalties. It's one of two quite glaring omissions on that release - the other being 'Little Red Rooster', which was a number 1 in the UK and the only bonafide blues record in history to be a chart topper anywhere in the world.  Unfortunately, its also a cover, so there was obviously some kind of agenda when it comes to picking songs for that release to minimise the amount of cover versions that had to be included!

Dirty Work broke my heart and made me question my very faith in rock'n'roll.
I was not healed until 1989 when they played Bitch and Shattered as the second and third songs of my first live Stones show.

polytoxic wrote on Feb 24^th, 2011 at 8:58am:

Dirty Work broke my heart and made me question my very faith in rock'n'roll.

http://mirroreyes.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/michael-jordan-slam-dunk-contest.jpg?w=544&h=563

polytoxic wrote on Feb 24^th, 2011 at 8:58am:

Dirty Work broke my heart and made me question my very faith in rock'n'roll. I was not healed until 1989 when they played Bitch and Shattered as the second and third songs of my first live Stones show.

to me that's strange..
I'd say that Dirty Work is way more rock'n'roll than the sterile, polished Steel Wheels and the following three studio albums..
Sure, there IS utter shite on the album (Winning Ugly, Back to zero), and even at its peak it's a bit of a mess (One Hit), but to me Dirty Work is still the last interesting Stones album.

and yes I know this is not a widely held belief..

Dirty Work was the first Stones album that I could buy new for myself.  I was disappointed.  All that anticipation, especially after what mom did to Undercover.  Anyway I had just moved out, took it home, dropped the needle and C'mon Man!
It sounded overdone - still does.  Like when you know you have over salted the stew and try every thing in the world to fix but it still tastes like crap.

I still like One Hit to the Body and Sleep Tonight.  I played Sleep Tonight to death.  I love the way it switches from major to minor chords on the piano.  

Bill Wyman made the comment in 89 that Mick wrote his songs and Keith wrote his songs and some form or other of the band recorded them.  I think it was on MTV when they had that Stones weekend for the 89 tour.  It has stuck in my mind because it explained why Dirty Work sounded so bad.

AngieBlue wrote on Feb 24^th, 2011 at 12:46pm:

Dirty Work was the first Stones album that I could buy new for myself.  I was disappointed.  All that anticipation, especially after what mom did to Undercover.  Anyway I had just moved out, took it home, dropped the needle and C'mon Man! It sounded overdone - still does.  Like when you know you have over salted the stew and try every thing in the world to fix but it still tastes like crap. I still like One Hit to the Body and Sleep Tonight.  I played Sleep Tonight to death.  I love the way it switches from major to minor chords on the piano.   Bill Wyman made the comment in 89 that Mick wrote his songs and Keith wrote his songs and some form or other of the band recorded them.  I think it was on MTV when they had that Stones weekend for the 89 tour.  It has stuck in my mind because it explained why Dirty Work sounded so bad.

What did mom do to Undercover?

The Undercover story -
I was 15 when it came out.  Mom had gone through this religious thing and HATED the Stones. Deep, burning, HATRED.  They were scum and the root of all evil.  No kidding.  This from a woman who loved Elvis. And to this day no one knows why she hated the Stones the way she did.  She said they were the devil himself.

My best friend knew the Stones were my favorite band and bought Undercover for me for Christmas.  Naturally, she got it on vinyl which is harder to hide.  Mom found it, burned the album in the wood burning stove and left the cover for me to find.  I was grounded for three months for daring to bring that into her house even after my best friend and her mother tried to soothe things over.  That's the short version of the story.

AngieBlue wrote on Feb 24^th, 2011 at 1:51pm:

The Undercover story - I was 15 when it came out.  Mom had gone through this religious thing and HATED the Stones. Deep, burning, HATRED.  They were scum and the root of all evil.  No kidding.  This from a woman who loved Elvis. And to this day no one knows why she hated the Stones the way she did.  She said they were the devil himself. My best friend knew the Stones were my favorite band and bought Undercover for me for Christmas.  Naturally, she got it on vinyl which is harder to hide.  Mom found it, burned the album in the wood burning stove and left the cover for me to find.  I was grounded for three months for daring to bring that into her house even after my best friend and her mother tried to soothe things over.  That's the short version of the story.

You did 3 months hard time for Undercover?.....Angie you are my heroin!!!!!!oops maybe I misseed an "e" on heroine????..both fit here!

Gazza wrote on Feb 24^th, 2011 at 7:03am:

texile wrote on Feb 23rd, 2011 at 6:43pm: Harlem Shuffle.... Dang, I'd forgotten about that. I remember thinking it odd that after three years and Mick's solos, they would release a cover for their first single. They'd done it before (Aint to Proud..), but not as the lead-in to a new Stones album after all that time. I do remember the buzz of a new Stones album, but even for an obsessed fan, Jagger's solo shenanigans had me doubtful of what Dirty Work would be. I have not listened to it since 1986. IORR was the first single off the IORR album. Aint Too Proud To Beg was the follow up - in the US Wwhilst two singles was the norm on all US albums after they formed Rolling Stones Records, the UK didnt get a second single until 1978, when we got 'Respectable' (they released 'Beast of Burden' in the US instead, and then a third US-only single, 'Shattered'). The 2nd singles from all the albums from Sticky Fingers through Black and Blue (ie, Wild Horses, Happy, Heartbreaker, Aint Too Proud to Beg, Hot Stuff) were only released in the USA. 'Dirty Work' is also the only studio album unrepresented on '40 Licks'. All the others have their main 'hits' included on that compilation. I dont think I'm being cynical in assuming it was solely because the hit from that album happened to be a cover version and they could substitute it for another Jagger-Richards song off another album which would mean more royalties. It's one of two quite glaring omissions on that release - the other being 'Little Red Rooster', which was a number 1 in the UK and the only bonafide blues record in history to be a chart topper anywhere in the world.  Unfortunately, its also a cover, so there was obviously some kind of agenda when it comes to picking songs for that release to minimise the amount of cover versions that had to be included!

I knew Aint too Proud was the second single, that's why I thought it was strange they would  release Harlem Shuffle for the first single ...
Seemed like of lazy....and by-the-numbers.....

gimmekeef wrote on Feb 24^th, 2011 at 1:59pm:

You did 3 months hard time for Undercover?.....Angie you are my heroin!!!!!!oops maybe I misseed an "e" on heroine????..both fit here!

Thanks.  Really it says more about mom than me.  That was just one run in she and I had over the years about the Boys.  Even my kids knew not to bring up the Stones in front of her.  The entire thing is a loooong story.  But when kids in high school would laugh about the Stones being has beens and parents not being upset about them any more; Julia, my best friend, and I would just laugh.  Nope, we still know of one who is!  ;D

AngieBlue wrote on Feb 24^th, 2011 at 1:51pm:

The Undercover story - I was 15 when it came out.  Mom had gone through this religious thing and HATED the Stones. Deep, burning, HATRED.  They were scum and the root of all evil.  No kidding.  This from a woman who loved Elvis. And to this day no one knows why she hated the Stones the way she did.  She said they were the devil himself. My best friend knew the Stones were my favorite band and bought Undercover for me for Christmas.  Naturally, she got it on vinyl which is harder to hide.  Mom found it, burned the album in the wood burning stove and left the cover for me to find.  I was grounded for three months for daring to bring that into her house even after my best friend and her mother tried to soothe things over.  That's the short version of the story.

Now that's rock & roll :keithpunky

sweetcharmedlife wrote on Feb 24^th, 2011 at 2:23pm:

AngieBlue wrote on Feb 24th, 2011 at 1:51pm: The Undercover story - I was 15 when it came out.  Mom had gone through this religious thing and HATED the Stones. Deep, burning, HATRED.  They were scum and the root of all evil.  No kidding.  This from a woman who loved Elvis. And to this day no one knows why she hated the Stones the way she did.  She said they were the devil himself. My best friend knew the Stones were my favorite band and bought Undercover for me for Christmas.  Naturally, she got it on vinyl which is harder to hide.  Mom found it, burned the album in the wood burning stove and left the cover for me to find.  I was grounded for three months for daring to bring that into her house even after my best friend and her mother tried to soothe things over.  That's the short version of the story. Now that's rock & roll :keithpunky

or maybe a scene from Carrie........

" the horrid production, mix, vocals, echo, etc. turned it to shite.  "

<  ----- Amen !!!!!


************* ODE TO DIRTY WORK !!!!!! **************


" Man looks into the abyss and sees the Dirty Work Album staring back at him ;
It is at THIS point that man finds his character ......
.....and THAT is what keeps Man out of the Friggin Abyss !!!!!  "


The Joey ( March 5th , 1999 )


***** { Tremendous Applause and standing Ovation for The Legendary Joeykins !!!! } *****

" I LOVE YOU ALL !!!!!! "


O'kins !!!! ®

polytoxic wrote on Feb 24^th, 2011 at 8:58am:

Dirty Work broke my heart and made me question my very faith in rock'n'roll.

That was Undercover for me

AngieBlue wrote on Feb 24^th, 2011 at 1:51pm:

My best friend knew the Stones were my favorite band and bought Undercover for me for Christmas.  Naturally, she got it on vinyl which is harder to hide.  Mom found it, burned the album in the wood burning stove and left the cover for me to find.  I was grounded for three months for daring to bring that into her house even after my best friend and her mother tried to soothe things over.  That's the short version of the story.

God love ya, Ange - Ya lived the R'n'R dream right there.

Egon wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2011 at 11:38am:

It could have been a great EP....

1.One Hit (To the Body)
2.Harlem Shuffle
3.Too Rude
4.Dirty Work
5.Had It with You
6.Sleep Tonight
7.excerpt from Key to the Highway

I have held off responding to this thread...but in all honesty...

Underated???

I am surprised it is rated at all!!!

This song's good, yeah, I love this dirty little fvcker!

HAD IT WITH YOU
(M. Jagger/K. Richards)

I love you, dirty fucker
Sister and a brother
Moaning in the moonlight
Singing for your supper
'Cos I had it I had it I had it with you
I had it I had it I had it with you

You always seem to haunt me
Always try to haunt me
Serving out injuctions
Shouting out instructions
But I had it I had it I had it with you
I had it I had it I had it with you
I had it I had it I had it with you

And I love you with a passion
In and out of fashion
Always got behind you
When other tried to blind you
But I had it I had it I had it with you
I had it I had it I had it with you
I had it I had it I had it with you

It is such a sad thing
To watch a good love die
I've had it up to here babe
I've got to say goodbye
'Cos I had it I had it I had it with you
And I had it I had it I had it with you

Loved you in the lean years
Loved you in the fat ones
You're a mean mistreater
You're a dirty dirty rat scum
I had it I had it I had it with you
I had it I had it I had it with you
I had it I had it I had it with you
I had it with you
I had it with you
I had it with you.........    

" It could have been a great EP .....


1.One Hit (To the Body)
2.Harlem Shuffle
3.Too Rude
4.Dirty Work
5.Had It with You
6.Sleep Tonight
7.excerpt from Key to the Highway "



** WHAT  .. ?! .. !!!!! **

http://i40.tinypic.com/euk3ko.gif   !!!!!!

They'd put out an 8-song LP before (Black and Blue), so Dirty Work was eminently fixable...except for the mismatched drums, which come off worse than the various lead guitars on Black and Blue.