I guess for those who's senses first opened in the eighties this remains a pretty good album. Though not generally critically aclaimed it sold very well and managed top five on many important lists around the world. But for me who'd stayed with them over twenty years by then it was, and still is, one of their all time lows. Recorded when it seemed the band was on the edge of disintegrating. Charlie so down on drugs he couldn't do all the tracks, leaving part of the drumming to Steve Jordan, Anton Fig and Ronnie Wood. Keith was annoyed at Mick for him putting his pop solo carreer before the band and instead of participating in the sessions just showing up and adding the vocals later on. It could also be the state they were in to some extent affected pianist and road manager Ian Stewart, who sadly died from a heart attack after the recordings. But even under those circumstances it could have been ok if it wasn't for the finish. There's some good rock'n'roll going on under the surface - as "I Had It With You", "Fight" and "Hold Back" - and if presented right it could have been the dirty work the title promise. But for some reason someone decided to add reverb and polish to get a glossy unsoiled picture...which has nothing to do with The Rolling Stones I know. Like covering a pepper steak with spun sugar - it leaves a bad taste. And I wont even mention the clean and colorful band pic. Issued and reissued all over the world through the years in every possible way. Premiere UK had label as shown here, thin matt cover (originally in red stickered shrinkwrap missing on this copy) and glossy inner with comic strip and lyric/credits. (RÅ*)
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