VARIOUS ARTISTS

Confessin’ The Blues: In Collaboration With The Rolling Stones 8/10

Back in 2002, Keith Richards curated a 22-track album of blues and R&B favourites for Uncut covermount CD The Devil’s Music. There’s no monopoly on a great idea, and belatedly the official Rolling Stones ™ juggernaut has caught up with the concept by releasing this two-disc, 42-track collection compiled by the band, which expands upon the seminal lineup on Uncut’s album. Alt least half of the standards here by the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Chuck Berry, Slim Harpo, Robert Johnson and Little Walter have been recorded or performed by the Stones at some point, although sadly only one of the artists – Otis Rush – is still around to benefit. The selection is rather macho: no Bessie Smith, Etta James, Big Mama Thornton, or even Irma Thomas or Tina Turner, both of whom featured on Richards’ Uncut CD. But it’s still an invaluable resource that reinforces Keith’s comment that, “If you don’t know the blues there’s no point in picking up the guitar and playing rock’n’roll.” Extras: 6/10. Artwork by Ronnie Wood.