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Rolling Stones on video:Mick Jagger on ‘Tattoo You’ marketing promo video, 1981
Tattoo Youdefinitively demonstrated that even the Rolling Stones’ so-called leftovers—those tracks that might have been gathering metaphorical dust in the vault—could outshine the best efforts of many rockers of the 1980s. The album showcased a unique blend of raw energy and polish that reaffirmed the Stones’ place at the forefront of rock, proving that their “warmed-over” material was leagues ahead of the dreams of their contemporaries.
The story behind the album’s creation is as unconventional as the music itself. Rather than being a collection of freshly penned songs, Tattoo You emerged as a patchwork masterpiece, crafted from outtakes and unfinished tracks spanning their career. Keith Richards, the band’s iconic guitarist, described the process as piecing together fragments of brilliance from their extensive backlog. These tracks, some dating back years, were reworked and refined to create an album that felt both cohesive and timeless.
This unconventional approach to recording was partly driven by necessity, as tensions within the band and busy schedules made it difficult to produce entirely new material. Yet, the result was an album brimming with hits like Start Me Up, a song that quickly became a staple of their live shows and an enduring rock anthem.
Tattoo You not only revitalized the Stones’ career but also underscored their unparalleled ability to turn scraps into gold. The album’s success was a testament to their craftsmanship, vision, and the undeniable magic that happens when the Stones are at work, even with material others might have overlooked.
In Keith Richards’ words, “The thing with Tattoo You wasn’t that we’d stopped writing new stuff, it was a question of time. We’d agreed we were going to go out on the road and we wanted to tour behind a record. There was no time to make a whole new album and make the start of the tour.” (Ref. marketing video)
Looking at the timeline, it’s clear there was ample opportunity to craft a new album. By October 1979, the Stones had finished recording Emotional Rescue. The following year saw them hosting a few launch parties for the album and performing the occasional gig. Despite this relatively light schedule, they didn’t manage to create a fresh release.
If we take Keith Richards’ explanation at face value, the only logical takeaway is that the Rolling Stones could have benefitted greatly from a crash course in time management and event coordination. Their sporadic activities suggest that either priorities were elsewhere, or the band simply wasn’t operating at peak organizational efficiency.
Associate producer Chris Kimsey. “Tattoo You really came about because Mick and Keith were going through a period of not getting on. There was a need to have an album out, and I told everyone I could make an album from what I knew was still there.” Kimsey rummaged through outtakes and unfinished tracks dating back to Goats Head Soupthen handed over the batch to the Stones for overdubs, fills, add-ons and one fabulous guest star.
The album boasts an outstanding cover, but the music inside holds its own as well. Side one showcases the Rolling Stones at their finest, delivering top-notch R&B-infused rock & roll. Meanwhile, side two takes a slower turn, focusing on mid-tempo and ballad-like tracks. While it doesn’t quite match the energy and excitement of side one, it still offers a few standout gems amidst some less thrilling moments. (Ref. marketing video)
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