The Rolling Stones went through the process of auditioning several guitarists, including Wayne Perkins and Harvey Mandel, who both guest on Black And Blue, the album which debuted at number one in the US in 1976. But Wood was always the favourite and duly joined Charlie Watts on the back of the gatefold sleeve. Recorded in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the US, Black And Blue features the wonderful ballads Fool To Cry and Memory Motel and some top notch riffing on Hand Of Fate and Crazy Mama. The irresistibly funky Hot Stuff became a club hit, a sign of things to come for a formidable band equally at ease with blues, rock, country, reggae or dance.
- Hot Stuff
- Hand Of Fate
- Cherry Oh Baby
- Memory Motel
- Hey Negrita
- Melody
- Fool To Cry
- Crazy Mama
The reggae influence on the songs on Black And Blue came primarily from Keith... Mick was certainly into reggae. I had all those (reggae) records in France with me when we moved there and when we were recording tracks for Exile On Main Street at Keith's house. Mick used to have them as well. I'd play him Cherry Oh Baby or he'd play one to me. And The Harder They Come was an album Keith listened to a lot.
