Blue & Lonesome cover art

  Studio Album · No. 27

Blue & Lonesome Songwriting Credits by The Rolling Stones

2016 Polydor Records 12 tracks 42 min

Produced by Don Was, The Glimmer Twins  ·  Engineered by Krish Sharma, Derrick Stockwell, Nico Essig, Jason Elliott, Andy Cook

Polydor Records Chicago BluesElectric BluesBlues Rock
0%
Authorship
Singer / Performer

Holds writing credit on 0 of 12 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 0 / 12 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether The Rolling Stones carries a lyricist or composer credit.

0%
0 trackswritten by The Rolling Stones 12 tracksoutside writers
The Rolling Stones's roles on this album

Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist0%
Composer0%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

12
Tracks
12
Lyricists
3
Producers
1.8 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
2016
Released

Awards & Recognition 1

Best Traditional Blues Album (2018)
Data Insight

Blue & Lonesome is an all-covers album: every one of its 12 tracks is a Chicago and electric blues standard, so the Rolling Stones wrote none of this material. The songs come from blues writers and performers including Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Magic Sam, Eddie Taylor, Jimmy Reed, Lightnin' Slim and Buddy Johnson, recorded live in the studio over just three days in December 2015. Eric Clapton, who happened to be recording in the same studio, guests on guitar on two tracks. Don Was and the Glimmer Twins produced.

Released December 2, 2016, Blue & Lonesome is an all-covers blues album recorded in just three days at British Grove Studios in London. The band covered songs by Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, and others, returning to the pre-Aftermath covers era of their roots. Eric Clapton guests on 'Everybody Knows About My Good Thing' and 'I Can't Quit You Baby.'

Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Just Your Fool #28
Buddy Johnson Woodrow Wilson Johnson Don WasMichael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
2
Commit a Crime
Howlin' Wolf Chester Arthur Burnett Don WasMichael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
3
Blue and Lonesome
Little Walter Marion Walter Jacobs Don WasMichael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
4
All of Your Love
Magic Sam Samuel Gene Maghett Don WasMichael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
5
I Gotta Go
Little Walter Marion Walter Jacobs Don WasMichael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
6
Everybody Knows About My Good Thing
Miles GraysonLermon Horton Miles GraysonLermon Horton Don WasMichael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Eric Clapton (guitar)
7
Ride 'Em on Down
Eddie Taylor Eddie Taylor Don WasMichael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
8
Hate to See You Go
Little Walter Marion Walter Jacobs Don WasMichael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
9
Hoo Doo Blues
Lightnin' SlimJerry West Otis HicksJerry West Don WasMichael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
10
Little Rain
Ewart AbnerJimmy Reed Ewart Abner Jr.Mathis James Reed Don WasMichael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
11
Just Like I Treat You
Willie Dixon William James Dixon Don WasMichael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
12
I Can't Quit You Baby
Willie Dixon William James Dixon Don WasMichael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Eric Clapton (guitar)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 25 contributors

LW
Little Walter
Writer
On this album3 written
MW
Marion Walter Jacobs
Writer
On this album3 written
WJ
William James Dixon
Writer
On this album2 written
WD
Willie Dixon
Writer
On this album2 written
BJ
Buddy Johnson
Writer
On this album1 written
CA
Chester Arthur Burnett
Writer
On this album1 written
ET
Eddie Taylor
Writer
On this album1 written
EA
Ewart Abner
Writer
On this album1 written
EA
Ewart Abner Jr.
Writer
On this album1 written
HW
Howlin' Wolf
Writer
On this album1 written
JW
Jerry West
Writer
On this album1 written
JR
Jimmy Reed
Writer
On this album1 written

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Frequently Asked Questions Blue & Lonesome

Did the Rolling Stones write the songs on Blue & Lonesome?
No. Blue & Lonesome is the Rolling Stones' first album made up entirely of cover songs, and the band wrote none of its 12 tracks. Every song is a Chicago or electric blues standard originally written and recorded by other artists such as Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Willie Dixon and Magic Sam.
Which blues artists are covered on Blue & Lonesome?
The album draws from a roster of classic blues writers and performers, including Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Magic Sam, Eddie Taylor, Jimmy Reed, Lightnin' Slim and Buddy Johnson. These were the artists who originally created the Chicago and electric blues material. The Rolling Stones interpreted their songs rather than writing new ones.
Did Eric Clapton play on Blue & Lonesome?
Yes. Eric Clapton plays guitar on two tracks, 'Everybody Knows About My Good Thing' and 'I Can't Quit You Baby.' He happened to be recording his own album in the same studio while the Stones were working and was invited to sit in. His contribution adds a second guitar voice to those two cuts.
How quickly was Blue & Lonesome recorded?
Blue & Lonesome was recorded over just three days in December 2015 at British Grove Studios in London. The band tracked the covers live in the studio, capturing a loose, spontaneous feel. The album runs about 42 minutes.
Did Blue & Lonesome win a Grammy?
Yes. Blue & Lonesome won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in January 2018. It was the Rolling Stones' first Grammy win in 23 years. The award recognized the band's return to the blues roots that first inspired them.
When was Blue & Lonesome released?
Blue & Lonesome was released on December 2, 2016 on Polydor and Interscope. It was the band's first studio album since A Bigger Bang in 2005, an eleven-year gap that was the longest between two Rolling Stones albums. It debuted at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart.
How did Blue & Lonesome perform commercially?
The album debuted at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart with 106,000 first-week sales and was eventually certified Platinum in the UK. Worldwide sales reached roughly 1.8 million copies. It was a strong commercial showing for a record made entirely of blues covers.

Sources

Wikipedia: Blue & Lonesome (Rolling Stones album) MusicBrainz release group Cover Art Archive front cover Cover Art Archive: Blue & Lonesome by The Rolling Stones