by The Rolling Stones have confirmed details of a new reissue of their classic album Black and Blue to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Set for release on November 14th through Universal Music, the Black and Blue box set will be available on both 5LP and 4CD editions which include a Blu-ray disc, a 100-page hardback book, and a replica tour poster.
Additionally, The Stones are set to release a limited edition 5LP version, which is fittingly available on exclusive black and blue marbled vinyl, via select online retailers, alongside streamlined two-disc and on-disc formats on both vinyl and CD. Lastly, a one-disc zoetrope vinyl version is also set to be able to be bought by fans.
Black and Blue was recorded at a strange time in the history of The Rolling Stones, following the departure of guitarist Mick Taylor and before the permanent arrival of Ronnie Wood in 1976. The sessions were essentially used as an auditioning process with guitarists Harvey Mandel and Wayne Perkins contributing to tracks, as well as Wood.
There is also six unreleased tracks that will appear on the upcoming box set, including the Mick Jagger and Keith Richards original composition, ‘I Love Ladies’.
To coincide with the announcement, The Rolling Stones have also shared a previously unreleased take on Shirley & Company’s ‘Shame, Shame, Shame’. An official video, directed by Dutch filmmaker Camille Boumans, will premiere on September 25th.
Furthermore, the box set boasts a full live concert recording from their legendary six-night residency at London’s Earls Court Exhibition Centre, and the Blu-ray features an unreleased TV broadcast of the band’s 1976 performance at Les Abattoirs in Paris.
50 years on from Black and Blue, The Rolling Stones are continuing to work hard in the studio. While he was coy on delving into detail, award-winning producer Andrew Watt recently confirmed he’d reconvened with the band to work on follow-up material to 2023’s Hackney Diamonds.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, the producer said of teaming up with the rock legends once again: “I’ve said it before, but it’s like working for Batman.” Watt added, “When the tongue is up in the air, you just go… I can say we did some recording together, but that’s all I can say.”
