Rolling Stones Album: Voodoo Lounge
Release Date: July 11, 1994
Label: Rolling Stones
Popular Songs:
Songs You Need to Listen To:
Written By: Andy Trcka
July 18, 2019
A friend of mine traveled to New York in 1981 to see the Stones Tattoo You tour because “it might be their last.” I mention this because with Voodoo Lounge the Rolling Stones show their age. The topic of the aging Stones is a tired topic that inspires no shortage of wisecracks, I believe the concept of age is a meaningful platform to discuss Voodoo Lounge. Written as the Stones were nearing 50, this is an album reflective middle age – part rocking and part reflective.
50 is a crossroads age; youth is behind, but there’s plenty of aging ahead, far ahead. It is an age where you might put a little mustard on the ball when playing catch with your nephew. Why? Because you still can! Let the little rugrat know you still have some stuff! Like the poet Ogden Nash said, “middle-age is when you’re old enough to know better but still young enough to do it.”
This mindset is evident throughout Voodoo Lounge and represented in the vacillation between smoky, dark of the night, lounge paced, introspective songs and upbeat rockers. “Sparks Will Fly,” “You Got Me Rocking” and “I Go Wild” inspire dancing as Stones rocking and rolling songs often do. While these songs carry a similar weighty tempo and feel with other late-career fast-paced Stones offerings, they also mingle well amongst any lineup. A possible explanation for the common feel of their fast-moving songs from the 1990’s onward is the addition of Don Was as producer.
Don Was, along with the Glimmer Twins (Mick and Keith), produced Voodoo Lounge. Don has produced every Stones album onwards, including live products such as Forty Licks. Voodoo is the first album without their bassist and founding member Bill Wyman. Bill actually left the band in 1991 following their Steel Wheels tour but his departure wasn’t officially noted until 1993. A host of folks provided bass for the albums, with Daryl Jones eventually landing the full-time gig as Wyman’s replacement. Daryl is still the Rolling Stones bassist.
Songs like “The Worst” and “You Don’t Have to Mean It” demonstrate an evolution of thought and deepened appreciation of relationships. Gone is the control and machismo of “Under My Thumb,” replaced by tunes that demonstrate a discerning respect for women. It is a respect that develops from seeing a daughter grow into a woman. Many of the highlights of the album are the introspective, slow movers such as “Out of Tears,” “Blinded By Rainbows,” “The Worst” and “Moon is Up.” But “Mean Disposition,” a rockabilly tinged song about a damaging lover, is an insightful song delivered with muscular velocity.
She’s got a mean disposition
She’s got a big shooter too
She’s got a mean disposition
Really make a mess
Really make a mess out of you
Songwriters: Keith Richards / Mick Jagger
Mean Disposition lyrics © BMG Rights Management
At 2005’s Saint Paul Xcel Energy Center Keith treated us to “The Worst” – it was a home run (Sept 6, 2005 Setlist). Damn is it a great song! Keith also had the added duty of cleaning up Mick’s guffaw of mistaking the Xcel as being in Minneapolis. Earnest lyrics paired with a haunting steel guitar and a dreamy, late-night feel enshrine “The Worst” amongst Stones classics. Most hardcore Stones fans are delighted to hear this live. My wife says “listen when a guy tells you he’s flawed.” Usually this advice is shouted at the TV as a gal is making a bad decision. In the song’s opening lines Keith pretty much lays it out in a manner not subject to interpretation:
Well I said from the first
I am the worst kind of guy
For you to be around
Songwriters: Keith Richards / Mick Jagger
Mean Disposition lyrics © BMG Rights Management
A common assessment of Voodoo Lounge (which I disagree with) characterize it as a mixed bag of styles and tempos that fit together disjointedly. I disagree because Mick and Keith appear to have drawn upon a deeper reservoir of emotions than their previous 3 albums. I think this depth is evident in the gravity of the lyrics. I believe a degree of randomization is acceptable given the myriad of circumstances of which this album was created: they were working with a new producer, it was recorded in multiple locations, Bill Wyman was gone and it was their first attempt at recording an album in half a decade. A lot happens in five years. Despite these circumstances the Stones delivered an enjoyable album.
Of course, this effort isn’t without its stinkers: “Brand New Car” and “Suck On The Jugular” should be avoided. Interestingly enough, “Suck on the Jugular” occasionally finds itself in setlists. That’s ok, if you encountered in concert it provides a convenient time to visit the restroom. But hey…a couple of duds on a diverse and lengthy album isn’t too shabby!
Looking for Live stuff from Voodoo Lounge?
Stones live releases traditionally have been underwhelming, Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out being a rare exception. Disappointing offerings is part of the reason there has been a robust bootleg market for the Stones. Fortunately, from about 2010 onwards, Mick and crew have released live concerts from various years/stages of their career. These new releases, coupled with the multitudes of streaming services, have eliminated the need for exploring the black market for live Stones. I suggest the following live releases from the Voodoo Lounge era (numbered regarding the order you should pursue):
1) Totally Stripped (3 in this series: Brixton, Paris and Amsterdam)
2) Stripped (a little too polished but features an awesome version of Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone”)
3) Voodoo Lounge Uncut (highlights include “Sparks Will Fly”, “The Worst,” “Tumbling Dice”)
For their current tour (No Filter) the Stones are allowing fans to vote on a song they’ll play live (1 per concert). Kicking the tour off in Chicago, the fans suspiciously chose “You Got Me Rocking.” Suspicious because I doubt any Stones fan would vote this as their 1st choice. Yes, I say this despite praising the song in an earlier paragraph. Maybe it’s time as fans that we demand RANKED CHOICE VOTING?
Any rate, if Mick afforded me the opportunity to choose one song to hear live from this album it would be “New Faces.” I avoid “The Worst” because it is already a regular in their setlists. I wouldn’t cash in my chips on a song that is routinely played! It’d be interesting to see how they perform “New Faces” – for example, would they roll out a harpsichord for Mick? A very close second is “Thru and Thru.” It’s hard not to vote for this song as it’s one of my favorite of the album and it made for an awesome ending scene in Season 2 of The Sopranos. I pass on it simply for the same reason as “The Worst” – it is frequently played live. You probably figured it, but yes, I’m that jerk who enjoys hearing new songs in concert.
I often recommend Voodoo Lounge for music fans. By “fan” I mean the sort of person whose familiar with the experience of waiting till Midnight on a Tuesday AM to visit a local record store for a new release. The juxtaposition between upbeat and contemplative makes for a rich collection of songs. Because late-career Stones albums are usually spaced fairly far apart, Stones junkies have PLENTY of opportunities to digest content. Thus a hardcore fan has loads of time to train themselves to enjoy the album. But such is not the case with Voodoo Lounge…no training necessary! Voodoo offers a diverse set of songs that deserves the attention of music fans and Rolling Stones aficionados alike. So dust off that LP, crack open the cd case or use your thumb to navigate Spotify because Voodoo Lounge will afford you 60+ minutes of blessed Stonesyness. Enjoy!
Postscript and Other Thoughts
- Up next on our Rolling Stones journey is Out of Our Heads on July 30th. Oh boy the “Good Times” ahead! You’ll really “Play With Fire” when listening to this Stones classic. Mick might not have had any “Satisfaction,” but you will after listening to this gem from 1965.
- Thank you for subscribing to Andy’s Stones! Until the next time, as our brethren, the Deadheads say… Fare Thee Well
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