The Very Best of Mick Jagger

by Mick Jagger

Overview

There is no rock star greater than Mick Jagger. There are plenty other as great, but nobody eclipses Mick in terms of art and influence, as he virtually created the modern-day rock & roll rebel. Given that, why is it that almost nobody takes his solo recordings seriously? Even his longtime partner Keith Richards is quoted on record calling Jagger's 2001 album Goddess in the Doorway "Dogsh*t in the doorway," a tacit signal that all the dismissive reviews of Jagger's solo stuff were not only justified, but appropriate -- a judgment that may be a bit extreme, but in a way it's understandable, because Jagger's solo recordings showcased his least lovable aspects, particularly his relentless social climbing and obsession with style. In the Rolling Stones, this trend-chasing clashed with Richards' stubborn traditionalism, a creative tension that often resulted in tremendous music, but on his own Jagger was able to indulge his taste for fleeting fashion, which gave his solo albums a brittle, dated sound that also accentuated his cold, mercenary edge, which, in turn, made them feel a bit desperate. The Very Best of Mick Jagger, the first-ever compilation of his solo career, doesn't erase that impression, but it does illustrate some merit in it. By not relying strictly on hit singles and mixing in solo cuts from the '70s, when Jagger had yet to start his solo career in earnest, this 17-track set paints a better picture of what Jagger was attempting to achieve outside the Stones, capturing a rocker desperate to leave his status as the leader of the greatest rock & roll band ever far behind. Only "Memo from Turner," his contribution to the 1970 film Performance, truly treads close to the Stones, a cover of Sonny Boy Williamson's "Checkin' Up on My Baby," an unreleased track from his 1993 session with the L.A. blues band the Red Devils, coming in a close second. Jagger's solo career was all about running away from the Stones, but it's nice to have that reminder of his strengths here, since so much of his solo career is so carefully competent, playing to the sounds of the time, whether it's the stiff Nile Rodgers dance-rock of "Just Another Night," the tasteful classicism of the Rick Rubin-produced Wandering Spirit, or the featureless studio sheen of Goddess in the Doorway. More than anything, it's the productions that hurt the Jagger solo albums, as they lack the heart and muscle of the Stones, substituting it for careful craft. At least that sense of craft could still be heard in many of the songs, and many of the best are here, including his first solo hits "Lucky in Love" and "Just Another Night," but also latter-day songs like the lively "Put Me the Trash" and the terrific country tune "Evening Gown." These are solid songs; they're only weighed down by the professional polish, so determined to fit into the mainstream that it winds up being too bland. And that's why all the odd detours that are sprinkled through the album stand out so much: not just "Memo from Turner" and "Checkin' Up on My Baby," but his duet with Peter Tosh on "(You Got to Walk And) Don't Look Back," his goofy duet with David Bowie on "Dancing in the Street," and especially, the John Lennon-produced disco of "Too Many Cooks (Spoil the Soup)," heavily bootlegged but unreleased until now and easily the highlight of this collection. These are times where the music is alive and unpredictable, a perfect contrast to Mick's meticulousness -- which, of course, means they feel like the Stones, which is why Jagger never followed their path on his actual solo albums. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	10/02/2007
Label:	Rhino / Rhino/Warner Bros. / Warner Music
UPC:	0081227464028
Rank:	40008

Tracks

1. God Gave Me Everything
2. Put Me In the Trash
3. Just Another Night
4. Don't Tear Me Up
5. Charmed Life [Previously Unreleased]
6. Sweet Thing
7. Old Habits Die Hard
8. Dancing In the Street
9. Too Many Cooks (Spoil the Soup) [Previously Unreleased]
10. Memo From Turner
11. Lucky In Love
12. Let's Work
13. Joy
14. Don't Call Me Up
15. Checkin' Up on My Baby
16. (You Got To Walk and) Don't Look Back
17. Evening Gown

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mick Jagger   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Clavinet,Harmonica,Percussion,Drum Machine,Slide Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Bono   Primary Artist,Vocals
Peter Tosh   Primary Artist,Vocals,Autoharp,Clavinet,Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar (Acoustic)
David Bowie   Primary Artist,Vocals
Dave Stewart   Primary Artist
Red Devils   Primary Artist
Brendan O'Brian   Guitar
Phil Ashley   Keyboards
Cris Frederiksen   Bass
Ian Thomas   Drums
Aiyb Dieng   Drums,Shaker,Percussion,Water Drums
Kris Fredriksson   Bass
Guy Fletcher   Synthesizer
Herbie Hancock   Synthesizer,Fairlight CMI
Chris Sharrock   Drums
Ron Magness   Synthesizer
Mikey Mao Chang   Guitar,Fender Rhodes,Moog Synthesizer
Paul "The Kid" Size   Guitar
Sweet Singing Cava Leers   Vocals (Background)
Karis Jagger   Vocals (Background)
Harrison College Choir (Barbados)   Vocals (Background)
Luther Francois   Sax (Soprano)
Ally McErlaine   Guitar
Brenda King   Vocals (Background)
Pedro Ortiz   Percussion
Dave Lee Bartel   Guitar (Rhythm)
JayDee Mannes   Pedal Steel
Frank Simes   Guitar
Denzil Miller   Keyboards
Phil Spalding   Bass
Royce Nelson   Vocals (Background)
Stan Harrison   Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor)
Helena Springs   Vocals (Background)
Danny Kortchmar   Guitar
Yolanda Charles   Bass
Rob Rio   Piano
Mike Rowe   Keyboards
Steve Knightley   Cello,Mandolin
Simon Phillips   Drums
Jimmy Rip   Guitar,Percussion,Guitar (Rhythm),Music Direction
Richard Cottle   Keyboards
Chuck Leavell   Organ
Craig Derry   Vocals (Background)
Craig Ross   Guitar,Guitar (12 String Acoustic)
Benmont Tench   Organ,Piano
G.E. Smith   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Lenny Pickett   Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone)
Pete Townshend   Guitar
Jim Capaldi   Drums
Jim Keltner   Drums
Matthew Seligman   Bass
Matt Clifford   Vocals (Background),Organ,Piano,Vocals,Strings,Synthesizer,Organ (Hammond)
Jesse Ed Davis   Guitar
Marti Frederiksen   Guitar,Vocals,Strings,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Rabbit   Synthesizer
Bernard Fowler   Vocals (Background)
Jeff Pescetto   Vocals (Background)
Omar Hakim   Drums
Anton Fier   Drums
Al Kooper   Keyboards
Neil Conti   Drums
Brendan O'Brien   Guitar
David Bianco   Synthesizer,Moog Synthesizer
Harry Nilsson   Vocals (Background)
Billy Preston   Organ,Piano,Clavinet
David A. Stewart   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Lenny Kravitz   Tambourine,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background),Bass,Drums,Guitar,Vocals
Lynn Davis   Vocals (Background)
Doug Wimbish   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Jon Faddis   Trumpet
Dean Garcia   Bass
Robbie Shakespeare   Bass,Guitar,Guitar (Bass)
John Regan   Bass
Wally Badarou   Ob Xa,Piano,Synclavier
Jeff Beck   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)
Lenny Castro   Percussion
Lester Butler   Harmonica
Vernon Reid   Guitar (Rhythm)
Phillip Ashley   Keyboards
Robert Lyn   Organ,Piano,Clavinet,Fender Rhodes
Ruby Turner   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Tessa Niles   Vocals (Background)
Sly Dunbar   Gato,Drums,Simmons Drums
Steve Winwood   Bass
Jean McClain   Vocals (Background)
Kevin Armstrong   Guitar
Bill Bateman   Drums
Bill Evans   Saxophone
Ray Cooper   Percussion
Bill Laswell   Synthesizer
Bobby Keys   Saxophone
Keith Sterling   Keyboards
Jimmy Maelen   Percussion
Jim Barber   Guitar (Rhythm)
Cindy Mizelle   Vocals (Background)
Steve Nieve   Keyboards
Curt Bisquera   Drums
Jocelyn Brown   Vocals (Background)
Larry McDonald   Percussion
Courtney Pine   Saxophone,Percussion
Jack Bruce   Bass
Donald Kinsey   Guitar
Earl Slick   Guitar
Greg Phillinganes   Keyboards
Sticky   Percussion
Ry Cooder   Bottleneck Guitar
Pat Seymour   Keyboards
David Sanborn   Saxophone
John Pierce   Bass
Trevor Lawrence   Saxophone

Technical Credits

Rick Rubin   Audio Production,Producer,Original Recording Producer
Lenny Kravitz   Audio Production,Composer,Producer,Original Recording Producer,Mixing,Arranger
Peter Tosh   Audio Production,Arranger,Producer,Collaboration,Original Recording Producer
Matt Clifford   Audio Production,String Arrangements,Original Recording Producer,Arranger,Producer
Bill Laswell   Audio Production,Producer,Original Recording Producer
Jack Nitzsche   Audio Production,Arranger,Producer,Original Recording Producer
Dave Stewart   Audio Production,Composer,Composer,Producer
Clive Langer   Audio Production,Producer,Original Recording Producer
Alan Winstanley   Audio Production,Producer,Original Recording Producer
John Lennon   Audio Production,Producer,Original Recording Producer
Mick Jagger   Audio Production,Compilation Producer,Original Recording Producer,Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Collaboration,Soundtrack Producer
Marti Frederiksen   Audio Production,Arranger,Producer,String Arrangements,Original Recording Producer
Robbie Shakespeare   Audio Production,Arranger,Producer,Horn Arrangements,Original Recording Producer
Mick Dolan   Recording,Engineer
Max Heyes   Engineer,Recording
Steve Mustars   Assistant Engineer
Brandon Duncan   Mixing Assistant
Moira Marquis   Assistant Engineer
Henry Hirsch   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
Richard Sullivan   Assistant Engineer
Sig Sigworth   Product Manager
Tony Wadsworth   Executive Producer
Albert Bucholz   Assistant Engineer
Sheryl Farber   Editorial Supervision
Edyth Wayne   Composer
Glen Johansen   Assistant Engineer
Michiel Hoogenboezem   Assistant Engineer
Robin Eggar   Liner Notes
Natalie Richards   Project Assistant
Sophia T. Fields   Project Assistant
Ira McLaughlin   Assistant Engineer
Andrea Craig   Project Assistant
Mark Saunders   Engineer
Danny Mormando   Assistant Engineer
May Pang   Production Coordination
Scott Mabuchi   Assistant Engineer
Sean Burrows   Assistant Engineer
Steve Musters   Assistant Engineer
Charles Shyer   Executive Producer
Mirek Stiles   Assistant Engineer
Masaki Koike   Design,Art Direction
Lisa Portman   Executive Producer
Peter Lewis   Assistant Engineer
David Ponak   Project Assistant
Peter & The King Pins Lewis   Assistant Engineer
Peter Lindbergh   Photography
David A. Stewart   Original Recording Producer,Composer,Producer,Soundtrack Producer
Dave Jerden   Engineer
Steve Thompson   Mixing,Producer
Steve Holroyd   Assistant Engineer
Keith Richards   Composer
Jimmy Rip   Arranger,Composer
Ivory Joe Hunter   Composer
Carlos Alomar   Composer
Robin Hurley   Project Supervisor
Smokey Robinson   Composer
Roy Cicala   Remixing
Reggie Collins   Discographical Annotation
Martin "Max" Heyes   Engineer
Richard Chycki   Engineer,Recording
Karl Pitterson   Remixing
Matt Knobel   Engineer,Pro-Tools
Ned Douglas   Programming
Nile Rodgers   Producer
Michael Barbiero   Mixing,Producer
Olle Romo   Programming
Ashley Beedle   Remixing
David Bianco   Mixing,Engineer
David Bowie   Collaboration
Kevin Harp   Mixing Assistant
Manu Guiot   Engineer
Tom Lord-Alge   Mixing
Errol Thompson   Engineer
Jon Bavin   Engineer
Jim Champagne   Assistant Engineer
Ronald Dunbar   Composer
Marvin Gaye   Composer
Stephen Marcussen   Mastering Engineer,Mastering,Remastering
Paul Hamingson   Mixing Engineer
Steve Boyer   Assistant Engineer
Andy Bradfield   Assistant Engineer
Steve McLaughlin   Engineer
Sonny Boy Williamson II   Composer
Steve Rinkoff   Assistant Engineer
Angelo Bond   Composer
Bob Rosa   Engineer
Bob Clearmountain   Mixing,Engineer
Bob Ludwig   Mastering
Keith Diamond   Programming
Chris Anderson   Assistant
Jack Joseph Puig   Mixing
Ed Stasium   Mixing,Engineer
David Tickle   Engineer
Greg Calbi   Mastering
Geoffrey Chung   Engineer
Stephen Benben   Engineer