Various Artists - Rolling Stones’ Jukebox

Another excuse for a damn good selection of classics

The Jukebox concept has already worked entertainingly this year with Hendrix and Van Morrison. If Keef has got a big old Wurlitzer in one of his front rooms there’s a fair chance it’ll boast many of the tunes featured in this latest edition of the series which ropes together some of the songs or artists which have either inspired or been covered by some of our musical icons. Present and correct are the expected names like Muddy, Bo, Chuck, Hank, Hooker, Little Richard, Reed and even Barbecue Bob, who named the endless jams with Ronnie Wood. There are songs the Stones have covered, like Robert Johnson’s Love In Vain and Roosevelt Sykes’ Night Time Is The Right Time (recently a highlight of the A Bigger Bang tour). For Jagger, there’s Little Walter, while Charlie’s beloved Charlie Parker is here along with Charles Mingus. Brian Jones’ hero Elmore James is represented by the always-exhilarating rush of Dust My Broom. Just for good measure, they throw in Bukka White. As ever, the project is knitted together by Derek Barker’s exhaustive notes, which make it more than just a diverse bunch of old chestnuts and might even prod reaching out for the first Stones album.

Chrome Dreams | CDCD 5018

Reviewed by Kris Needs
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