Blue & Lonesome (2016)
Artist: The Rolling Stones
Type: Studio album
Released: 2 December 2016
Label: Polydor / Interscope
Genre: Blues rock • Rhythm and blues
Length: 42:35
Producers: Don Was, The Glimmer Twins
Blue & Lonesome marks the Rolling Stones’ first studio album of new recordings in 11 years. It’s a homage to their blues roots, featuring covers of classic blues songs from artists such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Little Walter.
The album received critical acclaim for its raw energy and faithful reinterpretation of traditional blues, showcasing the band returning to the music that inspired their early career.
📦 Cover Art & Design
🎨 Retro & Minimalist
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🖌️ Photography by Anton Corbijn, known for his striking, evocative portraits.
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🎭 Features a stark black-and-white close-up of Mick Jagger’s face, creating a raw, intimate mood.
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🔲 Bold, sans-serif typography for the album title reflects simplicity and focus on the music itself.
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🖼️ Inner sleeve includes candid photos of the band in the studio, emphasizing the live, unpolished recording process.
The visual style mirrors the album’s stripped-down approach and blues authenticity.
🎵 Tracklist
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Just Your Fool
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Commit a Crime
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Blue and Lonesome
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All of Your Love
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I Gotta Go
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Everybody Knows About My Good Thing
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Ride ‘Em on Down
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Hate to See You Go
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Little Rain
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Just Like I Treat You
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I Can’t Quit You Baby
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Run Back to Your Side
👥 Band Lineup
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Mick Jagger – Lead vocals, harmonica
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Keith Richards – Guitar, backing vocals
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Ronnie Wood – Guitar
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Charlie Watts – Drums
Additional Musicians:
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Darryl Jones – Bass
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Chuck Leavell – Keyboards
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Matt Clifford – Piano, organ, keyboard arrangements
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Guests: Eric Clapton plays guitar on “Everybody Knows About My Good Thing” (live versions/performances)
🎶 Top Tracks
⭐ Just Your Fool
High-energy opener, faithful blues cover with Stones’ signature punch.
⭐ Blue and Lonesome
Title track; raw, emotionally charged blues performance.
⭐ Ride ‘Em on Down
Up-tempo blues-rock track with dynamic guitar interplay.
⭐ I Can’t Quit You Baby
Slow blues classic delivered with soulful vocals and gritty instrumentation.
📈 Commercial Performance & Sales
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🥇 US Billboard 200: #4
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🥇 UK Albums Chart: #1
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💿 Platinum certification (US)
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🌍 Worldwide sales: ~1.5–2 million copies
The album debuted strongly, reflecting fans’ enthusiasm for the Stones’ return to their blues roots.
🏆 Awards & Recognition
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Won Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album (2018).
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Praised for authenticity and energy, considered one of the best blues albums of the 2010s.
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Lauded for revitalizing interest in classic blues among modern audiences.
🎤 Fun Facts & Trivia
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🎸 The album was recorded in just three days at British Grove Studios, London, to capture live spontaneity.
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🎶 The band focused exclusively on blues covers, avoiding any original material for this release.
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🔊 The raw, live-in-the-studio approach was intended to emulate the energy of the 1960s blues sessions that inspired the band.
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🏆 Considered a return to the roots, the album highlights the Stones’ lifelong love for blues.
🤯 Did You Know?
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The band recorded the album live, with all members playing together rather than using overdubs or studio layering.
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It is the final studio album to feature drummer Charlie Watts, who passed away in 2021.
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The album inspired renewed interest in Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and other blues legends among younger listeners.
🎼 Legacy
Blue & Lonesome is celebrated as a masterful return to the Rolling Stones’ roots in blues music. It demonstrates that decades into their career, the band can still capture raw energy, authenticity, and emotional power. The album solidified the Stones’ reputation as both rock icons and passionate custodians of traditional blues music.
