(LONDON, U.K.) – As well as being the biggest band in the world, The Rolling Stones are also the biggest champions of the blues, so who better to curate a compilation of the music that inspired them throughout their career?
Confessin’ The Blues collects the greatest bluesmen ever and provides a perfect study of the genre. The tracks on the various formats of the release have been chosen by the Rolling Stones in collaboration with BMG and Universal. The sets are due out from BMG on November 9, 2018.
The Rolling Stones have long been supporters of the blues, from before the start of their career right through to their latest album, Blue & Lonesome, which featured their interpretations of the classics; many of those songs appear in their original versions here on Confessin’ The Blues. Mick Jagger was an early fan of the genre: “The first Muddy Waters album that was really popular was Muddy Waters at Newport, which was the first album I ever bought.” Keith Richards said, “If you don’t know the blues… there’s no point in picking up the guitar and playing rock and roll or any other form of popular music.”
As such big supporters of the blues, the band and BMG have decided that 10% of BMG’s net receipts* from the sale of this album will be donated to Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation (registered as a 501(C)3 non-profit organization in the United States).
Jacqueline Dixon, President/CEO of The Blues Heaven Foundation, said: “We are extremely honoured, grateful and humbled that Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation has been included in such an astonishing project. It means so much that my father’s dream of creating an organisation that promotes, protects and preserves the Blues for future generations is being recognised and supported by artists that have achieved so much.”
Confessin’ The Blues includes tracks by the biggest blues pioneers including Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Elmore James, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Big Bill Broonzy and Robert Johnson. All of these artists had an impact on the nascent Rolling Stones, whether influencing Keith’s guitar licks or Mick’s vocals and lyrics. As Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood says: “That’s how Mick and Keith first got close as well, on the train coming back from college. They noticed each other’s record collection and it was, “Hey, you’ve got Muddy Waters. You must be a good guy, let’s form a band.”
Confessin’ The Blues will be available as a 2-CD set, 2×2 Vinyl LP sets and a 5×10” Vinyl book-pack (mimicking the original 78 RPM releases). All versions include liner notes by music journalist Colin Larkin and the book-pack contains removable art card prints by noted blues illustrator Christoph Mueller. The album cover artwork comes courtesy of Wood, who has added his own personal twist to the project by painting his interpretation of a bluesman.
Confessin’ The Blues is a real musical education from those who know the genre best, the greatest living band on the planet, the Rolling Stones.
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Pre-Order 5×10” Vinyl Bookpack with six art cards
U.S. Publicity for BMG’s Confessin’ the Blues:
Cary Baker
