The Rolling Stones - Bridges to Babylon

Voodoo Lounge confirmed that the Stones could age gracefully, but it never sounded modern; it sounded classicist. With its successor, Bridges to Babylon, Mick Jagger was determined to bring the Rolling Stones into the '90s, albeit tentatively, and hired hip collaborators like the Dust Brothers (Beck, Beastie Boys) and Danny Saber (Black Grape) to give the veteran group an edge on their explorations of drum loops and samples. Of course, the Stones are the Stones, and no production is going to erase that, but the group is smart enough -- or Keith Richards is stubborn enough -- to work within its limitations and to have producer Don Was act as executive producer. As a result, Bridges to Babylon sounds like the Stones without sounding tired. The band is tight and energetic, and there's just enough flair to the sultry "Anybody Seen My Baby?," the menacing "Gunface," and the low-key, sleazy "Might as Well Get Juiced" to make them sound contemporary. But the real key to the success of Bridges to Babylon is the solid, craftsmanlike songwriting. While there aren't any stunners on the album, nothing is bad, with rockers like "Flip the Switch" and "Low Down" sounding as convincing as ballads like "Already Over Me." And, as always, Keith contributes three winners -- including the reggae workout "You Don't Have to Mean It" and the slow-burning "How Can I Stop" -- that cap off another fine latter-day Stones record. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Sanderson Mixing Assistant, Assistant Engineer Alan Sanderson Assistant Engineer Allan Ayers Illustrations Benmont Tench Piano, Vocals (Background), Organ (Hammond), Keyboards Bernard Fowler Vocals (Background) Billy Preston Organ (Hammond) Blondie Chaplin Shaker, Bass, Maracas, Tambourine, Piano, Vocals (Background) Bob Clearmountain Mixing Charles Gooden Assistant Engineer Charlie Watts Drums Chuch Magee Technical Support Clinton Clifford Piano, Organ (Hammond) Dan Bosworth Engineer Danny Saber Clavinet, Mixing, Keyboards, Guitar, Bass, Producer Darrell Leonard Trumpet Darryl Jones Bass, Vocals (Background) Dave Rouze Technical Support Don Was Producer, Bass, Executive Producer, Keyboards, Wurlitzer Doug Wimbish Bass, Vocals (Background) Ed Cherney Mixing, Engineer Francis Mayer Images George Fullan Assistant, Mixing Assistant Gerard Howland Illustrations Jamie Muhoberac Keyboards, Bass Jason Rankins Studio Assistant Jeff Sarli Bass (Acoustic), Bass Jim Keltner Shaker, Vocals (Background), Percussion Jim Scott Engineer Joe Sublett Saxophone, Sax (Baritone) John Sorenson Mixing, Assistant Engineer John X. Volaitis Engineer, Mixing Keith Richards Guitar (Electric), Hands, Piano, Vocals (Background), Vocals, Handclapping, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar Kenny Aronoff ? Kevin Murphy Illustrations Mauricio Riagorri Assistant, Mixing Assistant Max Vadukul Photography Me'Shell Ndegéocello Bass Mick Jagger Vocals, Wah Wah Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Shaker, Keyboards, Guitar (Electric), Harmonica Mike Ellis Studio Assistant Pierre de Beauport Wurlitzer, 6-String Bass, Producer, Fender Rhodes, Mixing, Bass Richard Lowe Mixing Rob Fraboni Producer, Mixing, Engineer Robi Banerji Mixing Assistant, Assistant Ron Boustead Digital Editing Ron Wood Slide Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Pedal Steel, Guitar (Bass), Dobro, Guitar Ryan Freeland Mixing Assistant, Assistant Stephen Marcussen Mastering Stewart Whitmore Mastering Stuart Brawley Assistant, Mixing Assistant The Dust Brothers Engineer, Producer The Glimmer Twins Executive Producer, Producer Tom Lord-Alge Mixing Waddy Wachtel Guitar (Electric), Vocals (Background), Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar Wally Gagel Mixing Wayne Shorter Sax (Soprano)