Description
Rolling Stones – Tattoo You – Double 180 Gram Vinyl Records
The Rolling Stones’ Tattoo You, released on August 24, 1981, is widely regarded as the band’s last truly great album. A hard-rocking, swagger-filled record that both revisited their past and unexpectedly pushed them into a new chapter of their career. It emerged at a time when many critics and fans were beginning to question the Stones’ relevance in the post-punk and new wave era, yet the album silenced doubters with a confident, muscular sound that reasserted their dominance in rock music. Fueled by the massive success of the lead single “Start Me Up,” Tattoo You became a global commercial triumph and a live staple that energized their 1981–82 world tour.
What makes Tattoo You particularly unique in the Stones’ catalog is that it’s not composed of newly written material, but rather a collection of reworked outtakes and leftovers from previous recording sessions spanning the 1970s. Tracks were pulled from shelved or incomplete sessions dating as far back as Goats Head Soup (1973), Black and Blue (1976), and Some Girls (1978), yet thanks to savvy editing, overdubbing, and sequencing—mostly overseen by longtime producer Chris Kimsey—the album feels cohesive and purposeful, not like a patchwork of the past.
The album is neatly divided into two sides: the rock-driven “fast” side A and the more reflective, ballad-heavy side B. Side A kicks off with “Start Me Up,” a song originally conceived as a reggae-inflected jam during the Black and Blue sessions, before morphing into one of the most recognizable guitar riffs in rock history. It became a career-defining hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and permanently earning its place as one of the band’s most enduring anthems. Other rockers on this side—like “Hang Fire,” “Slave,” and “Neighbours”—channel the Stones’ gritty, streetwise charm, with Keith Richards’ jagged riffs and Charlie Watts’ ever-reliable backbeat anchoring each track.
Side B reveals a different side of the band, offering a suite of introspective and occasionally romantic songs that contrast beautifully with the snarling rock of side A. The standout here is “Waiting on a Friend,” originally recorded during the Goats Head Soup sessions and reworked to include a lyrical, wistful saxophone solo by Sonny Rollins, which adds a jazzy texture to the Stones’ usual sound. The track is a rare moment of tenderness in the band’s catalog, with Jagger delivering a surprisingly earnest vocal about the value of friendship over fleeting love. Other ballads like “Worried About You” and “Heaven” lean into falsetto vocals, ambient textures, and slower grooves, showing the band’s versatility and openness to sonic experimentation even a decade and a half into their career.
Despite its piecemeal origins, Tattoo You is remarkably unified, both thematically and sonically. Much of this is thanks to the skillful post-production work done in 1980–81, with Jagger overdubbing new vocals and lyrics to complete the songs. The band’s chemistry is still palpable, especially between Richards and Ron Wood, whose interplay on guitar helped define the Stones’ late-’70s and early-’80s sound. Bill Wyman’s bass and Watts’ drumming remain understated but essential, laying down grooves that never feel dated or out of place.
Tattoo You was a major success. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and stayed there for nine weeks, propelled not just by “Start Me Up” but by the band’s massive touring presence. The accompanying Tattoo You tour was one of the highest-grossing tours of its time, and the songs from the album translated well to live performance, breathing new life into the Stones’ setlists.
The album was praised for its energy and consistency, especially given its unconventional construction. Over time, it has come to be seen as the last classic Rolling Stones album before a long period of uneven output. It captures the band in a unique moment: veterans with nothing left to prove, yet still able to deliver stadium-sized rock and emotionally resonant ballads with equal ease. In 2021, for its 40th anniversary, Tattoo You was reissued in a deluxe edition featuring newly unearthed outtakes, remixes, and a full live set from 1982, further cementing its status as a vital entry in the Stones’ extensive catalog.
Tattoo You is a late-career triumph that encapsulates everything great about The Rolling Stones: raw swagger, introspective cool, musical diversity, and a timeless sense of style. Whether you’re drawn to its hard-rocking front half or the moody soul of its second side, it remains a compelling and cohesive album—proof that even the world’s most infamous rock band could still surprise and impress, even while mining their own archives.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Start Me Up
Hang Fire
Slave
Little T&A
Black Limousine
Neighbours
Worried About You
Tops
Heaven
No Use In Crying
Waiting On A Friend
Lost & Found: Rarities
Living In The Heart Of Love
Fiji Jim
Troubles A’ Comin
Shame, Shame, Shame
Drift Away
It’s A Lie
Come To The Ball
Fast Talking, Slow Walking
Start Me Up (Early Version)
