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Rating: A "dirty job," which is probably the most underrated Stones album. Certainly because it came during a period of acute crisis between Jagger and Richards, and moreover, it is the successor to "Undercover," an album that did not satisfy the taste of the hardcore fans. However, in my opinion, it is a good album of robust rock-blues, also because Keith Richards finally decided to take the musical reins of the album, leaving very little space for Mick Jagger's disco and dancehall whims, who still contributes to this album with a series of massive and fitting vocal performances for the various situations.
"Dirty Work" immediately lays its cards on the table with "One Hit (To The Body)," a track in full Stones tradition with initial acoustic guitars that immediately intertwine with Richards' and Woody's electrics, which then battle throughout the piece. A compelling riff and pure rock’n’roll fighting spirit accompany the song. "Fight" is also a rather hard piece, again a fast-paced and outright rock, while the flagship track of the album, the cover "Harlem Shuffle," a song from the '60s, is much less incisive and marked, though with a catchy and "sellable" chorus. It’s the only single from the album and was the only song from this album occasionally played in concert by the Rolling Stones in upcoming tours, but unfortunately. Right after, it returns to hard and pure rock with "Hold Back," while then Keith Richards gives free rein to his never-hidden passion for reggae and dub with "Too Rude," a beautiful track that will later also be included by Keith with his X-Pensive Winos in concerts promoting his two solo albums, "Talk Is Cheap" and "Main Offender."
This is followed by two tracks that I find rather weak with "Winning Ugly" and "Back To Zero,” which personally say very little to me, while the rock-blues returns blazing with the title track "Dirty Work," where Ronnie Wood's solo guitar work is absolutely commendable and Mick Jagger's vocal performance is fully up to par, enhancing everything with an effective harmonica solo. Finally, the closing track is sung by Keith, titled "Sleep Tonight,” and is one of the most beautiful and subtle ballads recorded by the Rolling Stones, with a sad and melancholic voice that seemed put there expressly to say "goodbye." Instead, it was just a "see you later," something that should have been an epitaph on a glorious career, but instead resulted in a record that deserves reassessment, among other things, it is a heartfelt dedication to Ian Stewart, the "sixth Stone" who, during the Paris sessions of this record, suddenly left this world due to a heart attack ("thank you, Stew, for twenty-five years of boogie-woogie" is the dedication in the liner notes).
Shortly afterwards, Richards will start a brief solo discography where he will further develop what was done in this record, while Jagger will attempt with little success to continue the solo career started with "She’s the boss." Then, convinced by the poor results (only the '93 album "Wandering Spirit" being good), he will gently return to the fold.
Tracklist and Lyrics
03 Harlem Shuffle (03:26)
(Relf/Nelson)
You move it to the left
And you go for yourself
You move it to the right
Yeah if it takes all night
Now take it kinda slow
With a whole lot of soul
Don't move it too fast
Just make it last
You scratch just like a monkey
Yeah you do real cool
You slide it to the limbo
Yeah how low can you go?
Now come on baby
Don't fall down on me now
Just move it right here
To the Harlem shuffle
Yeah yeah yeah to the Harlem shuffle
Yeah yeah yeah to the Harlem shuffle
Hitch hitch hike baby
Across the floor
I can't stand it no more
Now come on baby
Now get into your slide
Just ride ride ride
Little pony, ride!
Yeah yeah yeah do the Harlem shuffle
Yeah yeah yeah do the Harlem shuffle
Do the Monkey shine
Yeah yeah yeah shake a tail feather baby
Yeah yeah yeah shake a tail feather baby
Yeah yeah yeah do the Harlem shuffle
Yeah yeah yeah do the Harlem shuffle
Yeah like your mother told you how
Yeah yeah yeah do the Harlem shuffle
Yeah yeah yeah do the Harlem shuffle
05 Too Rude (03:13)
(Roberts)
Girl you're too bad
Girl you're too rude
Everyman I speak to
Says he wants you
Girl you're too bad
Girl you're too rude
Everyman I speak to
Says he wants you
Everywhere
All over the place
Every man, he has
A picture of your face
Hey little girl
Don't you realize
This is a goddamn disgrace
Girl you're too bad
Girl you're too rude
Everyman I speak to
Says he wants you
Girl you're too bad
Girl you're too rude
Everyman I speak to
Says he wants you
Oh little girl
You never want me
Tomorrow night you say
You need my key
Hey little girl
Go and have a ball
You know one day girl
You're bound to fall
Girl you're too bad
Girl you're too rude
Everyman I speak to
Says he wants you
Girl you're too bad
Girl you're too rude
Everyman I speak to
Says he wants you
Girl you're too bad
Girl you're too rude
Everyman I speak to
Says he wants you
Girl you're too bad
Girl you're too rude
Everyman I speak to
Says he wants you
Everywhere
All over the place
Every man, he has
A picture of your face
Hey little girl
Don't you realize
This is a goddamn disgrace
Girl you're too bad
Girl you're too rude
Everyman I speak to
Says he wants you
Girl you're too bad
Girl you're too rude
Everyman I speak to
Says he wants you
Girl you're too bad
Girl you're too rude
Everyman I speak to
Says he wants you
Girl you're too bad
Girl you're too rude
Everyman I speak to
Says he wants you
06 Winning Ugly (04:33)
(M. Jagger/K. Richards)
I wanna be on top
Forever on the up
And damn the competition
I never play it fair
I never turn a hair
Just like the politicians
I wrap my conscience up
I wanna win that cup
And get my money baby
But back in the dressing room
The other side is weeping
And we're winning, winning ugly
And we're winning, winning ugly
And we're heading for the heartbreak
Heading for the blues
We're heading for the heartbreak
Heading for the blues
And we're winning, winning ugly
And we're winning, winning ugly
I will not act unkind
I will not be so blind
I will not walk so proud
Come down from off my cloud
How can I live my life this way?
Beauty is staring me in the face
Ain't that the truth
Ain't that the truth
Hold on, come on girl
Hold on
Look out for number one
My country right or wrong
Let the devil take the hindmost
I was brought up to cheat
So long as the referee wasn't looking
I'm never wrong at all
I always fight the call
I don't admit it
But back in the dressing room
The other side is screaming
And we're winning, winning ugly, yeah
And we're winning, winning ugly
And we're heading for the heartbreak
Heading for the blues
We're heading for the heartbreak
Heading for the blues
And we're winning, winning ugly
I will not act unkind
I will not be so blind
I will not walk so proud
Come down from off my cloud
How can I live my life this way
Beauty is staring me in the face
Ain't that the truth
Ain't that the truth?
Come on baby, come on girl
A little bit louder
Walk a little bit prouder
And we're winning, winning ugly, that's alright
And we're winning, winning ugly, come on girl
And we're winning, winning ugly
And we're winning, winning ugly, winning ugly
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