As first reported here in July, the ageless lead guitarist of ‘The Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World,’ Keith Richards, is releasing his first solo album in 23 years (and third overall) called Crosseyed Heart.
The album was actually finished some 18 months ago, but Richards’ first commitment to the band for which he toils, The Rolling Stones, has taken up a lot of his time in recent months.
Now it’s ready to roll, with a release date of September 18th, and it follows his previous singular sets – 1988’s Talk Is Cheap and Main Offender from 1992.
The first single from the new album, titled Trouble, will be released one day prior on September 17th.
Richards, 71, recently conducted a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times, and among some of the key things noted are:
- In 2010, following the release of his best-selling memoir Life, Keith considered retiring.
- In regard to his career, he’s very at ease with his age – “It’s all a matter of perspective, and which end of the telescope you’re looking at.”
- Richards admits he sometimes sleeps with his guitar in the bed; and confirms he did such when he recorded the guitar riff intro to (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction in the middle of the night on a bedside cassette recorder – either in a dream, or in his sleep. Regardless, it was done subconsciously, and he admits “There would be no ‘Satisfaction’ if I hadn’t.”
- His long-time co-producer and drummer Steve Jordan convinced him to record Crosseyed Heart, on which all instruments were played by humans.
- The album was non-digitally recorded using a traditional analog tape machine.
- Crosseyed Heart was one of the last studio sessions for one of his long-time musical collaborators – and Stones saxophonist – the late Bobby Keys (who passed away last December, and who Richards dubs his “Hidden Genius”).
- Although not directly related to the album, Netflix will premiere a documentary, Keith Richards: Under The Influence, on the same date as its release. It’s directed by Morgan Neville, who’s music documentary 20 Feet From Stardom (about backup singers who both literally and figuratively stand and remain in the shadows of rock stars) took home an Oscar in 2013.
- About the Stones touring, and the possibility of a new album, Richards states the band “is playing South America in February and March, and I would like to (see us) get in the studio around April or May.”
- As in 1992, the X-Pensive Winos – Richards, Jordan and studio musicians from his second solo album, guitarist Waddy Wachtel and keyboardist Ivan Neville (son of Aaron Neville – who guests on Crosseyed Heart), are considering doing a few shows prior to the next Stones tour.
X-Pensive Winos (L-R): Ivan Neville, Waddy Wachtel, Charley Drayton, Keith Richards, Steve Jordan
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Source: NYTimes.com
