Hackney Diamonds cover art

  Studio Album · No. 28

Hackney Diamonds Songwriting Credits by The Rolling Stones

2023 Polydor Records 12 tracks 48 min

Produced by Andrew Watt, Don Was, The Glimmer Twins  ·  Engineered by Serban Ghenea, Paul LaMalfa, Matt Colton

Polydor Records RockBlues Rock
92%
Authorship
Artist

Holds writing credit on 11 of 12 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 11 / 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.

92%
11 trackswritten by The Rolling Stones 1 trackoutside writers
The Rolling Stones's roles on this album

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

Lyricist92%
Composer92%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

12
Tracks
4
Lyricists
1
Producers
2023
Released

Awards & Recognition 1

Best Rock Album (2025)
Data Insight

Hackney Diamonds is the Rolling Stones' first album of original Jagger/Richards material since A Bigger Bang in 2005, produced by Andrew Watt, who pushed the band toward a punchy, modern rock sound. It carries Charlie Watts's final studio recordings, captured in 2019 before his death, with Steve Jordan playing drums on most of the album. The record features high-profile guests: Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder on 'Sweet Sounds of Heaven,' Elton John on piano, and Paul McCartney on bass on 'Bite My Head Off,' while the songwriting stays rooted in the Jagger/Richards partnership.

Released October 20, 2023, Hackney Diamonds was the first Rolling Stones album of new original material since A Bigger Bang (2005) and the first without Charlie Watts, who died in August 2021. Steve Jordan played drums throughout. Guest appearances include Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder on 'Sweet Sounds of Heaven,' Elton John on 'Get Close,' and Paul McCartney on 'Bite My Head Off.' Charlie Watts' archived drumming appears on 'Mess It Up.'

Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Angry #32
Mick JaggerKeith RichardsAndrew Watt Michael Philip JaggerKeith RichardsAndrew Watt Andrew Watt Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
2
Get Close
Mick JaggerKeith RichardsAndrew Watt Michael Philip JaggerKeith RichardsAndrew Watt Andrew Watt Elton John (piano)
3
Depending on You
Mick JaggerKeith RichardsAndrew Watt Michael Philip JaggerKeith RichardsAndrew Watt Andrew Watt Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
4
Bite My Head Off
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Andrew Watt James Paul McCartney (bass)
5
Whole Wide World
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Andrew Watt Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
6
Dreamy Skies
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Andrew Watt Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
7
Mess It Up
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Andrew Watt Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
8
Live by the Sword
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Andrew Watt Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
9
Driving Me Too Hard
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Andrew Watt Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
10
Tell Me Straight
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Andrew Watt Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
11
Sweet Sounds of Heaven #45
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Andrew Watt Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (vocals)Stevland Hardaway Morris (harmonica)
12
Rolling Stone Blues
Muddy Waters McKinley Morganfield Andrew Watt Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 10 contributors

KR
Keith Richards
Writer
On this album11 written
MP
Michael Philip Jagger
Writer
On this album11 written
MJ
Mick Jagger
Writer · Vocals
On this album11 written
AW
Andrew Watt
Writer · Producer
On this album3 written
MM
McKinley Morganfield
Writer
On this album1 written
MW
Muddy Waters
Writer
On this album1 written
EJ
Elton John
piano
On this albumGuest
JP
James Paul McCartney
bass
On this albumGuest
SJ
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta
Vocals
On this albumGuest
SH
Stevland Hardaway Morris
harmonica
On this albumGuest

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Frequently Asked Questions Hackney Diamonds

Who wrote the songs on Hackney Diamonds?
The original songs on Hackney Diamonds are credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, continuing the band's core songwriting partnership. The album closes with 'Rolling Stone Blues,' a Muddy Waters cover that gave the band its name, but the new material is all Jagger/Richards. It is the Stones' first album of originals since A Bigger Bang in 2005.
Are Charlie Watts's drums on Hackney Diamonds?
Yes. Hackney Diamonds includes Charlie Watts's final studio recordings, drumming on 'Mess It Up' and 'Live by the Sword' from 2019 sessions before his death in 2021. Steve Jordan plays drums on the rest of the album. The record serves as a tribute to Watts's place in the band.
Who produced Hackney Diamonds?
Hackney Diamonds was produced by Andrew Watt, a younger producer known for his work across rock and pop. He pushed the Rolling Stones toward a sharp, contemporary rock sound while keeping the band's identity intact. It was the band's first studio album in seven years.
Which guest stars appear on Hackney Diamonds?
The album features Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder on 'Sweet Sounds of Heaven,' with Gaga sharing vocals and Wonder on piano and keyboards. Paul McCartney plays bass on 'Bite My Head Off,' and Elton John contributes piano to two tracks. Former bassist Bill Wyman also returns on one song.
How did Angry perform on the charts?
'Angry,' the lead single, reached number 32 on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart and number 14 on Rock & Alternative Airplay. It did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was nominated for Best Rock Song at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.
Did Hackney Diamonds win a Grammy?
Yes. Hackney Diamonds won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in 2025. The win recognized the band's first album of new original material in eighteen years. It was a major late-career honor for the Rolling Stones.
When was Hackney Diamonds released?
Hackney Diamonds was released in 2023 on Polydor and Geffen Records. It runs about 48 minutes across 12 tracks. The album marked the Rolling Stones' return to original songwriting after Blue & Lonesome and A Bigger Bang.

Sources

Wikipedia: Hackney Diamonds Wikipedia: Angry (Rolling Stones song) Wikipedia: Sweet Sounds of Heaven MusicBrainz release group Cover Art Archive front cover Cover Art Archive: Hackney Diamonds by The Rolling Stones