The Rolling Stones claim 11th official number one album with Hackney Diamonds – their first new material in 18-years
The Rolling Stones have achieved a significant milestone by claiming their 11th Official Number 1 album, according to the Official Charts Company.
The band surprised fans with the unexpected release of Hackney Diamonds, their twenty-fourth studio album, on October 20 and their first new material in 18 years.
In its first week, it has racked up 72,200 chart units, making it the third biggest sales week in 2023 so far, behind Lewis Capaldi’s Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent, and Ed Sheeran’s – (Subtract).
It also becomes their 11th studio album to reach the top spot – which places them alongside The Beatles, Robbie Williams and Bruce Springsteen as the acts who have achieved this milestone.
It’s the band’s – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood’s – first album since the death of Charlie Watts in 2021.
Achievement: The Rolling Stones have achieved a significant milestone by claiming their 11th Official Number 1 album, according to the Official Charts Company
There are 12 tracks on the album and while most feature Steve Jordan on drums, there are two tracks recorded in 2019 with Charlie.
On the song Live By The Sword the trio are backed by both Charlie and former bassist Bill Wyman, reuniting the original rhythm section of The Rolling Stones. The second song featuring Charlie is named Mess It Up.
Charlie passed away aged 80 in August 2021, surrounded by his family in hospital – weeks after he pulled out of US tour to recover from emergency heart surgery.
The London-born drummer joined the then-fledgling band in 1963 after meeting Mick, Keith and Brian Jones while playing in rhythm and blues clubs.
Along with Mick and Keith, he featured on every one of the band’s studio albums. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all time.
This week, Keith said The Rolling Stones have enough surplus material to record another album.
And Richards, 79, says fans won’t need to wait too long for more new music from the band because they demoed numerous tracks while recording Hackney Diamonds.
‘I think when we recover from Hackney Diamonds, we’ll be giving it a good thought,’ he told Matt Wilkinson on Apple 1.
New: The band surprised fans with the unexpected release of Hackney Diamonds, their twenty-fourth studio album, on October 20 and their first new material in 18 years
Amazing: In its first week, it has racked up 72,200 chart units, making it the third biggest sales week in 2023 so far, behind Lewis Capaldi and Ed Sheeran
‘But the reason these 12 are on it, these are the best. Also, you’ve got to draw a line somewhere. Some of them, because they’re not totally ready yet, they’re good, but they need a little work.
‘But there’s another one in there, I think maybe with a few more additions. But like I say, at the moment, let me get this one out the way, man.’
The new album comes with a handful of surprise guest appearances, notably from Motown legend Stevie Wonder, pop pioneer Lady Gaga and former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney.
Reflecting on their collaboration with McCartney, a close friend since their emergence in the early 1960s, he said: ‘I felt that it was about bloody time. I’ve known Paul for 60 years, just about. Although him and John [Lennon] did do a few backup vocals with us in the sixties.
‘Great fun to play with. At the end of it, I just said, “well, that’s just like the old days.”‘
While McCartney’s involvement was planned, Gaga’s contribution – the American singer provides vocals to album track Sweet Sounds of Heaven – was completely unexpected.
‘The thing is, it was such a spontaneous and organic session,’ Richards explained. ‘We knew that Stevie [Wonder] was coming by and I think Gaga only dropped in because she happened to be working in a studio across the hallway and just walked in, in the middle of the take and started to work her way in.
‘Playing with Stevie is always mind- blowing and I thought that Lady did an incredible job, man. She snaked her way in there and took it over and gave her as good as she got with Mick and it was great fun.’
Looking ahead: Keith says The Rolling Stones have enough surplus material to record another album
Getting involved: Lady Gaga (pictured onstage with the band) is one of several collaborators to feature on the new album
Resurgence: Richards says fans won’t need to wait too long for more new music from the band because they demoed numerous tracks while recording Hackney Diamonds
The guitarist, who recently revealed his arthritis was forcing him to change how he strummed, also claimed modern music is too ‘synthesised’.
He told The Independent: ‘The only way to cut a band is to put the boys in a room and play and look in each other’s eyeballs.
‘Don’t get me going on modern-day music. Push-button drums and everything is synthesised. Digital recording is a one-way toilet.’
Richards has been outspoken against electronic music, branding it as ‘cheap’ and ‘rubbish’. He said: ‘I like to hear music by people playing instruments.’
The decision to return to the studio came when front-man Jagger suggested it at the end of the group’s 60th anniversary tour last year.
‘I’ve got to give Mick hats off for this push,’ said Richards. ‘He said, “Come on, we’ve just got to do something… we’ve got to make a record.”‘
Source: Read Full Article