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!"

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.

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.

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


...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...

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


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!

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

http://mirroreyes.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/michael-jordan-slam-dunk-contest.j...

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.

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.

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


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.....

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

Now that's rock & roll

" 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 !!!! ®

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


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

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

Underated???

I am surprised it is rated at all!!!

" 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  .. ?! .. !!!!! **

  !!!!!!