So what's so bad about The Rolling Stones' Emotional Rescue?

[Ilash]

I'm talking here about the album, not so much the song. For years I've heard that it's this totally terrible embarrassment but I saw it for very cheap today and decided to give it a shot. Maybe it's just low expectations and maybe it will get worse over time but it really ain't half bad. I mean, yeah, it's no Let It Bleed but it sounds an awful lot to me like a mid-level Stones album. I already like it much more than Undercover and it doesn't sound a whole lot worse to me than even the better post-Tattoo You Stones albums.

Does anyone else here find this album to be rather underrated or is it really just me?

[howyadoin]

I seem to recall liking it when it was new. Mind you, I think I was 16 at the time...

[berk]

I remember finding it pretty boring at the time. But I did like the last song, All About You, which was sung by Richards and sounded like it was from a totally different record. A much better one.

But I haven't heard it in probably 25+ years, so who knows, it's possible I'd change my mind if I gave it a listen now. I doubt it, though.

[leonaozaki]

I've owned it for years but I really only bought it for "She's So Cold." I hate the title track, so it kind of balances out.

rob

[Ilash]

I remember finding it pretty boring at the time. But I did like the last song, All About You, which was sung by Richards and sounded like it was from a totally different record. A much better one.

But I haven't heard it in probably 25+ years, so who knows, it's possible I'd change my mind if I gave it a listen now. I doubt it, though.

Though on the other hand, expectations for what to expect from the Stones must have fallen for you over the last 25 years. After all, back then you were only, what, 4 or 5 years away from their last truly great record, Tattoo You? We're getting close to being 30 years away from that album.

Of course, it's not like I hate every album they've released since then but most of them have been the Stones working in autopilot - in comparison to their heyday especially. That fits in oddly well with what I think of Emotional Rescue. It's clearly not a great album and it's clear that they weren't working to hard on it - well, on a song writing level anyway - but it's fun and at least some of that Stones magic is still there.

[Ilash]

I've owned it for years but I really only bought it for "She's So Cold." I hate the title track, so it kind of balances out.

rob

Actually I really like the title track. It's no Miss You but it's a fun little disco-type number with a very cool Jagger falsetto.

[berk]

Though on the other hand, expectations for what to expect from the Stones must have fallen for you over the last 25 years. After all, back then you were only, what, 4 or 5 years away from their last truly great record, Tattoo You? We're getting close to being 30 years away from that album.

Of course, it's not like I hate every album they've released since then but most of them have been the Stones working in autopilot - in comparison to their heyday especially. That fits in oddly well with what I think of Emotional Rescue. It's clearly not a great album and it's clear that they weren't working to hard on it - well, on a song writing level anyway - but it's fun and at least some of that Stones magic is still there.Oh yeah, I don't even think Tattoo You was that good. Some potential, but the production didn't work for me. Start Me Up is probably the last decent single they've had, though. But even that was pretty much Stones-by-the-numbers. I don't think they've had a great album since, maybe Sticky Fingers. Even Some Girls is nearly half filler, though the good songs are up there with their best. The last solid album where I thought every song was at least pretty good was probably It's Only Rock n Roll.

[howyadoin]

I've owned it for years but I really only bought it for "She's So Cold."Oh shit, I love that tune.

Though on the other hand, expectations for what to expect from the Stones must have fallen for you over the last 25 years. After all, back then you were only, what, 4 or 5 years away from their last truly great record, Tattoo You? We're getting close to being 30 years away from that album.

Of course, it's not like I hate every album they've released since then but most of them have been the Stones working in autopilot - in comparison to their heyday especially.Keep in mind that Tattoo You was mostly assembled from studio outtakes.

[Ilash]

Oh yeah, I don't even think Tattoo You was that good. Some potential, but the production didn't work for me. Start Me Up is probably the last decent single they've had, though. But even that was pretty much Stones-by-the-numbers. I don't think they've had a great album since, maybe Sticky Fingers. Even Some Girls is nearly half filler, though the good songs are up there with their best. The last solid album where I thought every song was at least pretty good was probably It's Only Rock n Roll.

It's Only Rock and Roll? Weird choice. I actually think it's their worst 70s album. Some Girls' second half was much, much better than its first - Miss You aside. I really do think that Tattoo You is great though. Again, its second half is especially wonderful. And for an outtakes collection, it's a surprisingly cohesive collection.

[Shellhead]

This wasn't a terrible album, but it was disappointing compared to earlier work by the Stones. To make matters worse, the singles from this album got a lot more airplay than they deserved, partly just because it was the Stones, and partly because 1980 wasn't a great year for music in general.

[berk]

It's Only Rock and Roll? Weird choice. I actually think it's their worst 70s album. Some Girls' second half was much, much better than its first - Miss You aside. I really do think that Tattoo You is great though. Again, its second half is especially wonderful. And for an outtakes collection, it's a surprisingly cohesive collection.If they'd somehow slipped Imagination onto the 2nd side, I'd go along with that. But it's one of the best songs on that album and one of their best covers, so the side1/side2 dichotomy doesn't totally hold up for me. I think the great tracks on that album are Imagination, Beast of Burden, and Before They Make Me Run. For me, of the rest, some decent, lame, most of it pretty forgettable. Outside those three standout tracks, a lot of the rest sounded to me at the time like the Stones trying to emulate the energy and drive of the new punk scene and not quite getting where that energy and drive came from.

It's Only RocknRoll isn't a great album, but it's solid. No weak songs on there, and one or two outstanding ones. I'd compare it to its predecessor, Goat's Head Soup.

Have you listened to Black and Blue?

[Ilash]

If they'd somehow slipped Imagination onto the 2nd side, I'd go along with that. But it's one of the best songs on that album and one of their best covers, so the side1/side2 dichotomy doesn't totally hold up for me. I think the great tracks on that album are Imagination, Beast of Burden, and Before They Make Me Run. For me, of the rest, some decent, lame, most of it pretty forgettable. Outside those three standout tracks, a lot of the rest sounded to me at the time like the Stones trying to emulate the energy and drive of the new punk scene and not quite getting where that energy and drive came from.

Oh yeah, I love Just My Imagination as well. It doesn't hold a candle to the Temptations version but it is cool. Besides the songs you listed I am also a huge fan of Faraway Eyes, Respectable and Shattered. It's not quite a perfect dichotomy but I think you see why I think side 2 is so much better.

As for their take on punk, you're right but that doesn't change the fact that those are really fun, really energetic rockers. Respectable being the most impressive of them by far.

It's Only RocknRoll isn't a great album, but it's solid. No weak songs on there, and one or two outstanding ones. I'd compare it to its predecessor, Goat's Head Soup.

I think Goats Head Soup was very uneven but its best moments were by and large better than pretty much everything on It's Only Rock and Roll, as far as I'm concerned. IORR suffered from nearly every song being much longer than they needed to be - Ain't To Proud To Beg, my favourite of their Temptations covers being the exception - and a very noticeable (to me anyway) laziness to the songwriting.

Have you listened to Black and Blue?

Yup. I like it a lot. Memory Motel is one of my favourite Stones tracks and while the rest of the album pretty much consists of goof offs and jams, there's a really nice off the cuff charm to the album that they actually haven't captured since.

[Ilash]

This wasn't a terrible album, but it was disappointing compared to earlier work by the Stones. To make matters worse, the singles from this album got a lot more airplay than they deserved, partly just because it was the Stones, and partly because 1980 wasn't a great year for music in general.

Oh yeah, I could totally understand why people had a problem with it at the time. But now, seeing what came after it, I would imagine that it would rise in people's esteem.

[leonaozaki]

This wasn't a terrible album, but it was disappointing compared to earlier work by the Stones. To make matters worse, the singles from this album got a lot more airplay than they deserved, partly just because it was the Stones, and partly because 1980 wasn't a great year for music in general.

Hmmm. 1980 gave us:

Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Get Happy!!
The Cramps, Songs the Lord Taught Us
X, Los Angeles
Magazine, The Correct Use of Soap
Peter Gabriel, III
AC/DC, Back in Black
Echo and the Bunnymen, Crocodiles
David Bowie, Scary Monsters
Dead Kennedys, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Killing Joke, s/t
Motorhead, Ace of Spades

and...Talking Heads, Remain in Light

All of which stomp all over Emotional Rescue.

[howyadoin]

Hmmm. 1980 gave us:

Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Get Happy!!
AC/DC, Back in Black
Motorhead, Ace of Spades

and...Talking Heads, Remain in LightYou could stop right there.

[Ziggy Stardust]

emotional Rescue, the song, blew moose cock, IMO.

The album was good, tho. ESPECIALLY She's So Cold.

And Tattoo You was the last good Stones album until A Bigger Bang, again IMO.

[Romero]

"Tattoo You" was my first Stones album and one of the first rock albums I ever owned. I was 6 or 7 at the time and got it because I liked "Hang Fire."

"Emotional Rescue" was my second. My uncle gave it to me. At the time I didn't appreciate it because I didn't know any of the songs and didn't think it had any "hits." I wasn't even familiar with "She's So Cold."

[V Disc]

Every Stones album has at least something worthwhile on it. Emotional Rescue is one of the weaker efforts by this band. Some o.k. tracks, but no knockouts.

I've bought just about every Stones album as a new release starting with Black & Blue.

[rick]

I tend to think of Some Girls as the last “great” Stones record.

But at the same time I think that Tattoo You, Emotional Rescue and especially Undercover were still solid albums.


Rescue has some lackluster cuts to it I grant you, but the title cut, She’s So Cold, Dance and Where the Boys All Go are all pretty enjoyable tunes.

[howyadoin]

I tend to think of Some Girls as the last “great” Stones record.

But at the same time I think that Tattoo You, Emotional Rescue and especially Undercover were still solid albums.I was starting to wonder if I was the only one left who liked Undercover.

[jdwrocks]

I was starting to wonder if I was the only one left who liked Undercover.
You are not alone. I like Undercover way more as an album than Tattoo You. Although I will say "Waiting on a Friend" is one of my top 10 favorite Stones songs. Well maybe top 15.

[Ilash]

You are not alone. I like Undercover way more as an album than Tattoo You. Although I will say "Waiting on a Friend" is one of my top 10 favorite Stones songs. Well maybe top 15.

Wow, really? I actually think that Undercover is a much larger drop from Tattoo You than Emotional Rescue is from Some Girls. There are a few songs from Undercover that I do enjoy but as it stands, it is probably my least favourite Stones album.