Black and Blue

Black and Blue (1976) finds The Rolling Stones stretching beyond their blues foundation into funk, soul, reggae and hard rock while retaining their classic rock core. Recorded during a period of lineup change as the band auditioned replacement guitarists, the album features contributions from multiple players including Ronnie Wood and mixes muscular riffing and grooves on tracks such as "Hot Stuff" with softer, soul-tinged balladry like "Fool to Cry." The overall sound is eclectic and transitional, reflecting the band's mid 1970s exploration of new rhythmic and stylistic directions.