Like what you see? Help keep it going! This site runs on the support of readers like you. Your donation helps cover costs and keeps fresh Rolling Stones content coming your way every day. Thank you!
Blessed Poison, working title of the Bridges to Babylon album
Before it became Bridges to Babylon, the album lived under a darker, more provocative name: Blessed Poison. Recalled by Charlie Watts in interviews, the title suggested a band keenly aware of its own contradictions—excess and control, danger and endurance. When Bridges to Babylon finally arrived in 1997, it revealed that tension in sound. The Stones fused their trademark rock swagger with late-’90s production, weaving in dance rhythms, electronic textures, and flashes of hip hop. Produced by Don Was and the band, the album wasn’t nostalgia—it was proof that the Stones could still take risks without losing their bite.
Blessed Poison was the working title of what later was the Bridges to Babylon album, as originally told by Charlie Watts in an interview. A 2-CD set bootleg recording featuring the Anaheim 1999 concert finally received the former working title of the album.
Mick Jagger (2003): “We didn’t have a title for the tour until we’d built the bridge model and I asked Tom Stoppard to come and look at it and to give his opinion as somebody from outside the rock world. It’s funny how people can come in from other parts of theatre, take a look at something that you’ve been looking at for weeks and go You shouldn’t have that thing in there. Tom started to talk about Babylon and came up with a number of incredibly long titles. I shortened one and ended up with the Bridges to Babylon title for the tour and the album.”
In 1997, the Rolling Stones dropped Bridges to Babylon, an album that mixed their classic rock swagger with late-’90s sounds—think dance beats, electronic textures, and even a touch of hip hop. Produced by Don Was and the band, it was a daring experiment that kept the Stones’ raw energy intact while exploring new sonic territory.
Lyrically, the album balanced love, lust, and rebellion with sharper reflections on fame, society, and change. Tracks like Anybody Seen My Baby? hooked listeners with catchy riffs, while Saint of Me revealed Jagger’s introspective side. Polished yet edgy, Bridges to Babylon showcased the band’s ability to evolve, proving that decades in the game hadn’t dulled their appetite for experimentation.
Bridges to Babylon: Classic Rock Meets Modern Vibes
Bridges to Babylon was also notable for its blend of old and new. It mixed traditional rock elements with modern production techniques, appealing to both long-time fans and a new generation of listeners. It wasn’t just a reinvention; it was a continuation of the Stones’ ability to stay relevant in the ever-changing music world.
While not as universally acclaimed as their earlier works, Bridges to Babylon still holds a special place in the Stones’ catalog. It’s a snapshot of a band unafraid to evolve, experiment, and keep rocking long after they’d conquered the world. The album gave us a glimpse into their ability to adapt, ensuring their legacy continued into the new millennium. More than Blessed Poison, then, a really blessed album!
Like what you see? Help keep it going! This site runs on the support of readers like you. Your donation helps cover costs and keeps fresh Rolling Stones content coming your way every day. Thank you!
