Bill Wyman - Stuff

Fourth solo platter from (then) soon-to-be-ex-Stone

You’d have to be a truly dedicated Stones fan to already possess this 1992 album, released in Japan only prior to the recent rash of Wyman reissues. It just pre-dated his departure from the band’s ranks, and owes more to the synth-heavy style of (Si Si) Je Suis Un Rock Star and its self-titled parent album, than Wyman’s first two early/mid-70s solo efforts. Two covers, Randy Newman’s Leave Your Hat On and Ray Davies’ This Strange Effect, are tackled in almost easy listening style, while the fact that both Bill and lieutenant Terry Taylor are credited with ‘Fairlight Programming’ betrays the origin of much of the music here. The lack of discernible guitars is understandable in distancing Bill’s solo work from his day job, but the overbearing presence is that of backing vocalists Maggie Ryder and Barbie Carey, whose contributions appear designed to disguise any shortcomings in the boss’s languid, almost semi-spoken delivery. Two 12” mixes for (unreleased) singles and an arty black-and-white promo video of the title track complete an album of ‘pseudo-pop’ (as Bill himself described it after setting out in a more retro direction with his Rhythm Kings). Sadly, one must agree. Hot stuff it ain’t.

Sanctuary | CMRCD 1365

Reviewed by Michael Heatley
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