The Rolling Stones confirm the release of their 1st Lp of new material in 18 yrs.
Hackney Diamonds (Polydor/Geffen) released October 20 (likely to be one of the biggest sellers of Q4) The band dropped lead single Angry + video, directed by Francois Rousselet starring Sydney Sweeney.
The Stones peaked at No.1 with their last album, covers set Blue & Lonesome, in 2016, as well as reaching the summit with the Goats Head Soup reissue in 2020. But this is their first record of new material since 2005’s A Bigger Bang.
During an entertaining launch event with Jimmy Fallon at Hackney Empire (globally via YouTube), the band confirmed that the late Charlie Watts appears on the record along with former member Bill Wyman. “Ever since Charlie is gone it’s different, he’s number four,” said Keith Richards. “He’s missing, of course he’s missed incredibly, but thanks to Charlie we have Steve Jordan [the drummer] who was his recommendation if anything should happen to him. He’s been a friend of ours so he was a natural progression, it would have been a lot harder without Charlie’s blessing. We had the original rhythm section on one track,” added Sir Mick Jagger. Lady Gaga also appears on the album. “Lady Gaga sings really sweet on Sweet Sound Of Heaven,” said Ronnie Wood.
The 12-track album was recorded in various locations around the world, including Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles; Metropolis Studios, London; Sanctuary Studios, Nassau; Electric Lady Studios, New York; and The Hit Factory/Germano Studios, also in New York. Hackney Diamonds marks the Rolling Stones’ first collaboration with Andrew Watt, who was named Producer Of The Year at the 2021 Grammys. Watt has worked with Post Malone, Iggy Pop and Elton John.
PHOTO: Mark Seliger
The new Stones album is likely to be one of the biggest releases of Q4. However, the ultimate prize for the Rolling Stones and Universal Music is set to be a significant long-term catalogue boost for the band. Even before the announcement of Hackney Diamonds, there have been key developments on the streaming front for the Stones. At the beginning of 2023, the band launched an official TikTok account, enabling creators around the world to access their full music catalogue for the first time.
In terms of releases, the major step was to bring a comprehensive catalogue title to streaming audiences. Forty Licks was released for the first time on both vinyl and DSPs in July including Dolby Atmos versions. It was originally released in 2002 to mark the Stones’ 40th anniversary and featured 36 classics, including Gimme Shelter, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, Paint It Black and Jumpin’ Jack Flash, alongside four new songs. Forty Licks was released digitally in 2006 before being deleted in 2008. With previous sales of 1,135,650, it returned to the chart in August for the first time since 2006, re-entering at No.39 on consumption of 2,771 units (Official Charts Company) – 794 vinyl four-packs, 1 CD, 48 digital downloads and 1,927 sales-equivalent streams. Since then, the compilation has maintained its position in the Top 75.
When the band released covers set Blue & Lonesome in 2016, it finished the year at No.17 overall, despite only appearing at the tail end of Q4 in December. In a very different kind of market seven years ago, Blue & Lonesome opened at No.1 with sales of 105,830 (95,484 physical, 9,150 downloads and 1,196 from streams). It has gone on to sell 358,564 copies in the UK. The Stones scored another No.1 with the reissue of Goats Head Soup in 2020. As well as compilations including Hot Rocks and Honk, their biggest sellers in 2022 included studio album Sticky Fingers, which moved 25,606 copies last year. Classic LP Exile On Main Street sold 7,058 copies. The Stones have 25.3 million monthly Spotify listeners, before Forty Licks returned to DSPs the band had not been among those UK Top 40 streaming perennials by the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, ABBA, Queen, Bob Marley & The Wailers, The Beatles and David Bowie.
But there’s now a renewed focus on a hits collection to complement the release of a brand new album. The goal now will be to take Forty Licks much nearer the top so it’s competing with the likes of Elton John’s Diamonds (No.7 overall last year with 208,779 sales), Fleetwood Mac’s 50 Years – Don’t Stop (No.8, 208,053 sales), ABBA’s Gold: Greatest Hits (No.10, 197,844 sales) and Queen’s Greatest Hits (No.11, 193,111). Elton John, Queen and ABBA are also with the team at Universal Music Recordings. Elton John spoke about the long-term plan they put in place to conquer the streaming world, which began in 2017 with the Diamonds compilation. While the Stones have collaborated with Lady Gaga, Elton John teamed with Dua Lipa in a similar move to reach a younger audience.
During the YouTube event at Hackney Empire, Keith Richards revealed that one earlier title for the new record was Smash And Grab. More than 60 years after they formed, the Stones are preparing to make an assault on the charts with both new songs and classic hits.
