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.

max?? MAX???

so good to have you back my friend!

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

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!

They also played Harlem Shuffle during the Steel Wheels tour.

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

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

so good !


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

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?

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


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.

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

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".

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