The Rolling Stones "Dirty Work" in retrospect

I love the Stones, but I'd rather pour molten lava into my ears than listen to Dirty Work.

 

I agree that Dirty Work is generally not given a fair shake. I think it is definitely better than folks give it credit for, and I also agree that the production could have been a LOT worse than it actually was (even though I think the production was not particularly sympathetic to the Stones sound...) I'd give it a solid B.

But I stop well short of calling it great.

 

I love this album so much.

 

Dirty Work has a few decent tracks (One Hit, Too Rude, Harlem Shuffle). One Hit is one of the heaviest Stones songs ever in my opinion, but it falls short of being a classic Stones song like Start Me Up, Brown Sugar, Live With Me, etc.
Aside from that, Dirty Work is forgettable. I prefer the 1983 album Undercover, which I thought was pretty good, the Stones at their sleaziest. Dirty Work was their first album on CBS, and to me they lost that cool sound they had during the 70s on Atlantic.

 

I don't listen to either Undercover or Dirty Work much these days, but perhaps Undercover was the last sleazy Stones album and Dirty Work was the last "raw, angry" album as the OP stated. Both hold some merit.

As little as I listen to those '83 and '86 versions of the Stones, I NEVER listen to Bridges from the late 90s.

So, yes, am thankful for Dirty Work's few high marks as already mentioned....

 

DIRTY WORK is not a bad album at all. It doesn't ever get a fair shake. There's some fine material on that record.

 

Underwork would have been a pretty good album.

 

As I've said before it amazes me that Exile gets lauded for being a tough, grimy, unpolished album whilst Dirty Work is criticised for having similar characteristics.

The sheer energy and vitality of the album set it apart from so much of the Stones more generic output. Give me Dirty Work over any post Exile Stones album (especially Steel Wheels) other than Some Girls and Tattoo You.

 

Amazing album cover. I want a full size one for my music room!

 

That's the only song I like on the album.

 

I really like the 12" mix of "One Hit To The Body" which wasn't available on cd anywhere until recently with that huge cd singles box set that came out a few years ago.

 

Only 4 good songs on this that would have made a great ep.

 

Geez, where did you guys all go? There wasn't nearly this much traction when I reviewed the LP for the album-by-album thread. Well, nice to see there's a broad range of opinions, as usual for the Bill Wyman era. A huge majority seem to be protesting the later albums by staying away...

 

I felt intimidated by that Stones album-by-album thread. Right from the start, there was so much knowledge on display. I felt like someone's kid brother looking in.

Threads devoted to single albums kind of let you jump in and spout off. Of course, what better album to spout about than one that gets a lot of flak.

 

This is not a good album. Come on, listen to any other Stones before it.

 

Have a look in, we've been a little more casual about things since the World War III era. Mostly because it's so quiet!

 

god i love dirty work! like another said, i'll take this over the majority of their 90s output.

 

Gave you a like just for that hilarious description.

 

I don't think anyone criticizes Dirty Work for those reasons. To me the slick 80s production and non-Charlie drumming make it sound anything but grimey and unpolished. I have a sentimental soft spot for this record, but I wouldn't argue that it's great, because it lacks great songs. Some good ones, some bad, but nothing I would call great. That is the main thing that differentiates it from Exile.

 

Not to mention that sleeve - didn't do them any favors either. I still love One Hit to the Body though.

 

An album saved by Jimmy Page.

 

And they didn't write it!

 

I loved it when it was new because I loved the Stones. The years have given me clarity on the album however. There has to be a "worst Stones record ever made" and Dirty Work is it.

 

Of course, the cover is hideous, and - to add to the issues - wasn't Charlie kind of in and out at this point with his own drug problems? Regardless, I liked this album when it came out (was crazy about "Had it with You") and I still really like it. I pull it out and give it a spin in just about equal rotation with the classics that preceded it...

 

"One Hit" is a great tune and "Sleep Tonight" is nice, but the rest of the album is a snooze. The songs are not memorable and the playing is so generic that I've always assumed a bunch of studio musicians were used. Most of the album sounds nothing like the stones.