Mick Jagger
"Wandering Spiri"
© Atlantic
February 02 - 08, 2025
Year of Release: 1993
Rating:
Wired All Night
Sweet Thing
Out Of Focus
Don't Tear Me Up
Put Me In The Trash
Use Me
Evening Gown
Mother Of A Man
Think
Wandering Spirit
Hang On To Me Tonight
I've Been Lonely For So Long
Angel In My Heart
Handsome Molly
See how this album ranks...
The Complete WSVNRadio Album Archive
History List
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
|
Mick Jagger's third solo album, Wandering Spirit (1993) gets the nod for review this week (and second album)
on the WSVNRadio website. Mick Jagger's solo career hasn't been as popular as his famous band, The ROlling Stones
(however, neither has some of the the Stones' studio albums have received positive reviews either). But, he's been
performing with this band continuously, whether it be in the studio, or on another tour (which are supposedly the LAST
TOUR(s).
Wandering Spirit was produced by famous record album producer Rick Rubin. (So, it's obvious, that Wandering
Spirit should get a positive review, as many other Rubin-produced albums). "The album was commercially successful,
reaching No. 12 in the UK and No. 11 in the US, going gold there. The track "Sweet Thing" was the lead single,
although it was the second single, "Don't Tear Me Up," which found moderate success, topping Billboard's Album Rock
Tracks chart for one week. Critical reaction was very strong, noting Jagger's abandonment of slick synthesizers in favour
of an incisive and lean guitar sound." -- from the album's Wikipedia article. Along with the two singles mentioned,
both "WIred All Night" and "Out Of Focus" were the other singles released from the album. Wandering
Spirit was the only solo album released by Jagger, from the 1990s decade. The 1990s decade saw two studio albums by
the Rolling Stones - Voodoo Lounge (1994), and
Bridges To Babylon (1997).
"Wired All Night" rocks in Jagger fashion, and not only does it does not have the synthesizers as before, it is
also a song that's not really a "Rolling Stones sounding song." (His first solo album,
She's The Boss was not only
a fantastic solo album from him in my opinion (some other critics' thought otherwise), the songs from that particular album
could have been "Rolling Stones sounding tracks." "Sweet Thing" gets your attention at first, but the vocals
takes you back to the Stones' Emotional Rescue album. It's not a "disco sounding track, as heard on the Stones'
album mentioned. The vocals could have been better, although this song was one of the album's four singles released.
It also has it's own sound, not sounding like "another Rolling Stones song." "Out Of Focus" has excellent (gospel
sounding) piano in it's beginning. And once the song kicks in, it does have a soulful sound, definitely not heard this way
on "Rolling Stones songs." "Don't Tear Me Up" is a much more slower-driven song, and Mick's mellow vocals makes
the song even better, as the song kicks in as well. "Put Me In The Trash" rocks it out, and it could be a "Rolling
Stones track" (almost).
"Use Me" is the remake of the classic Bill Withers song. Mick's version is quite good, and he sings it in his own
(solo) style. The slow-driven style returns on "Evening Gown," and Mick's voice is quite different than you heard
on past Stones/solo Jagger tunes. "Evening Gown" could pass as a Country song -- imagine that. "Mother Of A
Man" is another rocker; it's an "almost" "Rolling Stones song." Mick does it his own way here, again. "Think"
is another rocker, as Mick does it again, in his own solo way. "Wandering Spirit" is nostalgic, having a somewhat
"Mystery Train" rock style. A very impressive track. Could it be Country? Hmm, maybe. On "Hang On To Me
Tonight" is another (great) slow-driven track. Mick does it again, recording another great non-Rocking sounding song.
"I've Been Lonely For So Long" is another impressive song - it has it's own sound for Mick, and it sounds like he's
having a good time recording this tune. "Angel In My Heart" is way, way different; it's kind of dark, it's a sound
not heard from Mick, but it works. Ending the album is another way, way, different song in sound - "Handsome Molly."
It has an authentic Irish sound, and Mick's vocals sound very different as well. It's another song (like "Sweet
Thing" to place as the least favorites (just saying, in my own opinion).
Mick Jagger's Wandering Spirit is not a "Rolling Stones album." Having the help from Rick Rubin makes the big
difference here. Each song is Mick Jagger, solo. Most solo albums from members of a popular band separates from the band's
albums' material. Mick Jagger shines his own ways on each track. ("Sweet Thing" and "Handsome Molly" are the
only the "least favorite tracks" on the album, in my opinion.) But, Wandering Spirit is a very good solo album, and
again as mentioned, Rick Rubin's help made it. Mick Jagger is a rocker, and he rocks on the songs on this album, and he can
turn slow-driven songs into his own. Wandering Spirit is a good Rock solo album. He would release another future
solo album in 2001, Goddess In The Doorway; his "last" solo album, as of this date. That album, likewise his other
solo album, Primitive Cool, will be reviewed at later dates.
© 2025 WSVNRadio.net. All rights reserved.
Review or any portion may not be reproduced
without written permission. Cover art is the
intellectual property of
Atlantic
and is used for reference purposes only.
|
