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Talk Is Cheap
Talk Is Cheap
Talk Is Cheap
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Talk Is Cheap
Studio album by
Keith Richards
Released3 October 1988
RecordedAugust 1987 – May 1988
StudioAir Studios, Montserrat; Le Studio, Morin-Heights, Quebec
Genre
Length47:01
LabelVirgin
Producer
Keith Richards chronology
Talk Is Cheap
(1988) 		Live at the Hollywood Palladium, December 15, 1988
(1991)

Talk Is Cheap is the debut solo album by English musician Keith Richards, the guitarist of the Rolling Stones, released in 1988. Recorded and released during a long-standing falling out with Mick Jagger, Talk Is Cheap received positive reviews upon its release.

Background

[edit]

Relations between Jagger and Richards had grown tense during the 1980s as they began to disagree on the musical direction of the band; "You Don't Move Me" would be written about their feud. The image-conscious Jagger was keen to follow the trends and keep the Rolling Stones current, while Richards wanted to preserve their reputation and roots. When Jagger was more interested in pursuing his solo career instead of touring for Dirty Work in 1986, Richards began a solo project for the first time.

Richards teamed up with Steve Jordan, who had worked on Dirty Work and eventually became the Rolling Stones' touring drummer following Charlie Watts' death in 2021, and the pair wrote several new songs. One of which, "Almost Hear You Sigh", would be placed on the Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels in 1989 (with lyric modifications by Jagger). Recording began in August 1987 at Le Studio in Morin Heights, Quebec, and continued sporadically until the following May with visits to Montserrat and Bermuda. In order to assert his independence further, Richards signed with Virgin Records, while the Rolling Stones were under contract to Sony Music (they followed him to Virgin in 1993).

The core of the band, called the X-Pensive Winos, consisted of Waddy Wachtel, Ivan Neville, Charley Drayton and Jordan, with many guest artists taking part in the recording, including Sarah Dash, Bootsy Collins, Maceo Parker, the Memphis Horns and Patti Scialfa, and the only musician from the Stones to appear, guitarist Mick Taylor.

A live version of "Make No Mistake" performed at the Hollywood Palladium was later featured in an episode of The Sopranos and on the 2001 soundtrack album The Sopranos: Peppers & Eggs: Music from the HBO Original Series.

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarHalf star[1]
BlenderStarStarStarStar[2]
Chicago TribuneStarStarStarStar[3]
Los Angeles TimesStarStarStarHalf star[4]
NME3/10[5]
QStarStarStarStar[6]
Record CollectorStarStarStarStar[7]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarHalf star[8]
Uncut7/10[9]
The Village VoiceB+[10]

Released in October 1988, Talk Is Cheap was met with critical acclaim, with some reviews half-jokingly calling it the best Rolling Stones album in years. The Houston Chronicle noted that "if Richards can't sing and his songs are unexceptional, he co-opted those potential problems by providing these sessions with a looseness that borders on the feel of a demo tape, an ingenious antidote to the day's polished pop (why eight studios then?)."[11] It peaked at No. 37[12] in the UK and No. 24 in the US,[13] where it went gold.[14] Reflecting on the record in 2022, Far Out wrote, "Sometimes the popular opinion is the right one: Talk Is Cheap is the best of the solo albums, and it ranks with much of the best work The Rolling Stones put to tape."[15]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks written by Keith Richards and Steve Jordan.

Standard edition

[edit]

Side one

  1. "Big Enough" – 3:17
  2. "Take It So Hard" – 3:11
  3. "Struggle" – 4:10
  4. "I Could Have Stood You Up" – 3:12
  5. "Make No Mistake" – 4:53
  6. "You Don't Move Me" – 4:48

Side two

  1. "How I Wish" – 3:32
  2. "Rockawhile" – 4:38
  3. "Whip It Up" – 4:01
  4. "Locked Away" – 5:48
  5. "It Means a Lot" – 5:22

2019 reissue bonus tracks

[edit]
  1. "Blues Jam" (Keith Richards, Steve Jordan, Mick Taylor, Joey Spampinato, Johnnie Johnson, Chuck Leavell, Bobby Keys) – 4:39
  2. "My Babe" (Willie Dixon) – 3:13
  3. "Slim" (Richards, Jordan, Taylor, Spampinato, Johnson, Keys) – 10:18
  4. "Big Town Playboy" (Little Johnny Jones) – 4:19
  5. "Mark on Me" – 5:51
  6. "Brute Force" – 4:00

The 2019 reissue features six previously unreleased tracks.

Personnel

[edit]

The X-Pensive Winos

Charts

[edit]

Weekly charts

[edit]
Year Chart Position
1988 UK Top 100 Albums[12] 37
1988 Australian (ARIA Charts)[16] 15
1988 The Billboard 200[13] 24
1989 The Billboard 200[13] 54
2019 Polish Albums (ZPAV)[17] 44
UK Top 100 Albums[12] 43

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Talk Is Cheap
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[18] Gold 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[19] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Talk Is Cheap

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Talk Is Cheap is the debut solo studio album by English rock musician , best known as the co-founder, guitarist, and backing vocalist of , released on October 3, 1988, by . Recorded amid a public rift with lead singer , the album marked Richards' first full-length solo effort outside the band. Richards assembled and co-produced the record with drummer Steve Jordan, forming a backing ensemble called the X-Pensive Winos that included Jordan on drums, bassist Charley Drayton, keyboardist Ivan Neville, and guest appearances by musicians such as Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins, and Maceo Parker. The 11-track album draws on blues-rock, R&B, and roots influences, showcasing Richards' signature raw guitar riffs and songwriting in a looser, more collaborative style than typical Rolling Stones fare. Key singles included "Take It So Hard," which peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, and "Struggle," reaching number 47 on the same chart. Upon release, Talk Is Cheap was praised by critics for its energetic grooves and authentic rock 'n' roll feel, with noting its "great grooves" despite lacking a singular purpose, and highlighting its solid blues-rock execution. The album debuted at number 24 on the US , earned RIAA gold certification for 500,000 units sold, and its success contributed to reconciling Richards and Jagger, paving the way for ' 1989 reunion tour.

Background and development

Origins

By the mid-1980s, had long been established as the rhythm guitarist and primary songwriter alongside in , but escalating internal tensions within the band threatened its stability. The partnership between Jagger and Richards, once the creative core of the group, had deteriorated amid disagreements over musical direction and commitments, particularly as both pursued individual interests. A key flashpoint occurred in 1985 when Jagger embarked on a solo tour to promote his album without involving Richards or the rest of the Stones, which Richards viewed as a betrayal of band loyalty. This event exacerbated their rift, setting the stage for further conflict. The tensions peaked in 1986 during attempts to record a follow-up to the Stones' Dirty Work album, sessions that ultimately collapsed due to Jagger's lack of engagement and focus on his solo career. By 1987, the discord had led to a full hiatus for , with Jagger releasing his second solo album Primitive Cool and refusing to commit to a band tour, leaving Richards disillusioned. Richards had repeatedly expressed reluctance to pursue a solo career, insisting that he would only do so if the Stones disbanded permanently, as he prioritized the band's legacy over personal ventures. However, the enforced break from group activities in 1987 compelled him to explore music independently, marking a pivotal shift. Amid these developments, Richards began nurturing early songwriting ideas in 1987, collaborating on initial demos with drummer Steve Jordan to develop material outside the Stones framework.

Solo decision

In September 1987, Keith Richards announced his intention to pursue a solo album, driven by Mick Jagger's unavailability for Rolling Stones activities following the band's 1986 release of Dirty Work. This decision was framed by Richards' "talk is cheap" philosophy, which emphasized taking action rather than relying on unfulfilled promises about the band's future. He later reflected that the project arose from necessity, stating, "The only reason I would do a solo album was because I couldn’t keep the Stones together." Richards formed the X-Pensive Winos as his backing band, conceptualizing it as a tight-knit ensemble to support the album. Central to this was drummer Steve Jordan, whom Richards enlisted as both performer and co-producer, valuing Jordan's ability to foster a collaborative environment. The group included guitarist Waddy Wachtel, bassist Charley Drayton, and keyboardist Ivan Neville, assembled without formal auditions based on immediate chemistry. Initial rehearsals took place in New York, where the band honed their material and selected foundational tracks such as "Take It So Hard," which became the album's and exemplified Richards' gritty vocal delivery and guitar riffs. These sessions focused on building a that captured spontaneous energy, with Richards prioritizing songs that allowed for organic interplay among the musicians. Richards envisioned Talk Is Cheap as delivering a raw, band-oriented sound that contrasted with the Rolling Stones' more polished production. He sought an unrefined authenticity, describing the goal as creating "a real record" without contrived elements, where the emphasis was on live-feel grooves and direct emotional expression. This approach allowed Richards to explore his songwriting and production voice independently, free from the band's established dynamics.

Recording and production

Sessions

The recording sessions for Talk Is Cheap spanned from August 1987 to May 1988, commencing at in , , where initial tracks were laid down through mid-September, and wrapping up with additional work in the spring of 1988 at Air Studios in , as well as sessions in and New York studios like . The approach prioritized a raw, live band energy, with the core group—dubbed the X-Pensive Winos—focusing on extended jam sessions and improvisation to develop material organically, rather than relying on pre-composed demos. This method allowed songs to evolve naturally from loose riffs and grooves, minimizing overdubs to preserve the spontaneous feel of the performances. Co-producer Steve Jordan significantly shaped the rhythm sections, infusing them with a tight, propulsive funk derived from his experience backing Richards in informal settings, which grounded the album's rock foundation in infectious, danceable pulses. Keith Richards' production techniques emphasized his guitar work, particularly through multi-layering to build dense, textured soundscapes that complemented the rhythm-driven tracks. These sessions, following Richards' decision to pursue solo work amid tensions, highlighted a collaborative environment free from band politics, enabling focused creativity over roughly 10 months.

Key collaborators

Steve Jordan served as the album's drummer, co-producer, and co-writer, playing a pivotal role in assembling the core band known as the X-Pensive Winos and advocating for a raw blues-rock aesthetic that emphasized unpolished energy and live spontaneity. His contributions extended to percussion and backing vocals on multiple tracks, including "Take It So Hard" and "Struggle," where his dynamic drumming helped drive the album's rhythmic foundation. Bassist provided the album's primary low-end groove, appearing on tracks like "You Don't Move Me" and "Hate to See You Go," while also contributing drums on "Take It So Hard" and backing vocals throughout. Keyboardist added atmospheric layers with piano and synthesizers on selections such as "Struggle" and "It Means a Lot," enhancing the bluesy textures. Waddy , a frequent collaborator with Richards, handled electric and duties on most tracks, including "Make No Mistake" and "Rockawhile," co-writing several songs and bolstering the album's guitar-centric sound. Notable guests included vocalist , who delivered backing vocals on "Big Enough" and lead vocals on "Make No Mistake," bringing soulful harmonies to the mix. Bassist made a on the opening track "Big Enough," infusing elements into the arrangement. Keyboardist contributed on several tracks, adding and atmospheric elements, while saxophonist provided horn arrangements that enhanced the 's R&B influences. Keith Richards maintained creative leadership, handling lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, and percussion on every track while overseeing arrangements and co-producing the sessions to ensure a cohesive, band-like feel.

Music and composition

Musical style

Talk Is Cheap primarily draws from and , incorporating R&B and elements to evoke the raw authenticity of and rock. The album blends these influences into a sound that mixes grooves with reggae-inflected rhythms and early rock structures, creating a back-to-basics aesthetic free from overproduction. This approach results in tracks that range from rockabilly-tinged numbers to funk-driven cuts, all unified by a gritty, unpolished feel reminiscent of barroom performances. Signature to the album's style is its loose, jam-band energy, achieved through spontaneous studio sessions that prioritize groove over precision. Prominent work, often handled by collaborators like , adds a bluesy edge, while ' raspy vocals provide a stark contrast to Mick Jagger's smoother delivery, infusing the material with a weathered, lived-in quality. The album echoes ' early work in its emphasis on foundations but delivers a fresher, less commercial edge, thanks to Richards' liberated songwriting and production choices. Influences from are evident in the driving guitar riffs and rock 'n' roll urgency, and Motown-style soul via rhythmic horn sections and vocal harmonies. These elements coalesce into a cohesive "bar band" vibe, capturing the spontaneous spirit of live rock without the gloss of mainstream expectations.

Song structures and themes

The album Talk Is Cheap consists of 11 tracks, the majority co-written by Keith Richards and drummer/producer Steve Jordan, reflecting their collaborative songwriting process during the sessions. Notable co-writes include "Big Enough" and "Struggle," both penned solely by Richards and Jordan, while "Rockawhile" adds contributions from guitarist Waddy Wachtel. This partnership infused the songs with a raw, conversational lyricism drawn from Richards' personal experiences, emphasizing straightforward narratives over elaborate metaphors. Lyrically, the tracks explore recurring themes of relationships strained by betrayal and longing, personal resilience amid hardship, and a critique of anti-commercialism through disdain for hollow rhetoric. The title track "Talk Is Cheap," for instance, directly lambasts empty promises and superficial talk, with Richards singing lines like "You talk big when you preach / But empty promises are what you keep," a sentiment rooted in his frustrations during the Rolling Stones' internal conflicts. Songs like "Struggle" highlight resilience, portraying life's battles as an ongoing fight where "the struggle goes on," underscoring endurance without sentimentality. Relationship dynamics appear in tracks such as "You Don't Move Me," which conveys emotional detachment in faltering romances, blending vulnerability with defiance. Structurally, the album balances energetic rockers and introspective ballads, showcasing Richards' guitar work as a central element. Mid-tempo rockers like "Take It So Hard" build through verse-chorus frameworks with extended guitar solos—featuring interplay between Richards and Wachtel—that extend beyond three minutes, creating a loose, jam-like feel reminiscent of . In contrast, ballads such as "Make No Mistake" employ slower tempos and sparse arrangements to amplify emotional depth, with Sarah Dash's backing vocals adding layers of soulful regret to lyrics about misjudged affections: "Make no mistake about it / Things ain't what they seem." This track's bridge swells with horn accents, heightening its confessional tone. A unique element is "I Could Have Stood You Up," an original uptempo rocker co-written by Richards and , infusing swagger and Richards' raspy delivery into a tale of romantic resilience and playful defiance.

Release and promotion

Singles

The from Talk Is Cheap, "Take It So Hard", was released in September 1988 as a 7-inch vinyl and cassette single, backed with the album track "I Could Have Stood You Up". The track, co-written by and Steve Jordan, peaked at No. 3 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, marking Richards' strongest solo chart performance to that point. A promotional for the song, featuring live performance footage, was directed by Paul Boyington and . The second single, "Struggle", followed in January 1989, released on 7-inch vinyl and 12-inch formats with "Make No Mistake" as the b-side, both drawn from the album. The song's explore themes of personal conflict and broader social tensions, reflecting Richards' raw, introspective style amid the era's cultural upheavals. It reached No. 47 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The third single, "Make No Mistake", was released in 1989 on 7-inch vinyl and other formats. It achieved minor chart success, reaching No. 167 on the UK Singles Chart. Singles from the album were primarily issued in traditional formats like 7-inch vinyl and cassettes, with 12-inch vinyl promos emerging for radio play; CD singles, though nascent in 1988, were not widely used for these releases. No unique remixes or non-album b-sides appeared on commercial singles, though promotional copies included extended versions for airplay.

Marketing and tour

Talk Is Cheap was released on October 3, 1988, through , with initial marketing positioning the project as ' independent endeavor featuring his newly formed backing band, the X-Pensive Winos, distinct from his commitments. Promotional efforts emphasized Richards' creative , including interviews where he highlighted the album's outside the Stones dynamic, such as a feature in magazine discussing his solo direction and family life. Richards also made television appearances to build buzz. To support the release, Richards launched the Talk Is Cheap Tour with the X-Pensive Winos, a 15-date run across North American venues from late November to mid-December 1988, playing theaters and arenas to showcase the new material in a live setting. The tour culminated with a performance at the in on December 15, 1988, which was recorded and issued as the live album Live at the Hollywood Palladium, December 15, 1988 in 1991 and reissued in expanded form in 2020. Additional tie-ins reinforced the solo identity, including tour-specific merchandise like T-shirts and posters sold at shows to engage fans directly with the X-Pensive Winos brand. These efforts helped establish Richards' venture as a standalone artistic outlet amid his ongoing tensions with .

Critical reception

Initial reviews

Upon its release in October 1988, Talk Is Cheap garnered generally positive reviews from contemporary critics, who lauded its raw energy, blues-rock authenticity, and ' emergence as a compelling frontman independent of . The album was seen as a refreshing antidote to the era's polished production trends, emphasizing loose grooves and spontaneous performances over meticulous refinement. Rolling Stone awarded the album four out of five stars in a review by Parke Puterbaugh, praising its "grit and groove" and Richards' vocal maturity, which demonstrated his depth beyond his role in the Stones. Puterbaugh highlighted tracks like "Take It So Hard" and "Struggle" for their vibrant riffs and soulful delivery, noting that the record captured "a rollicking good time" with sharp guitar work, though some elements evoked rough demos. In the UK, Q magazine's Mat Snow echoed this sentiment, calling it the "swaggering return of Sir Keith Richards" and applauding its deep blues roots and unpretentious vibe. Not all responses were unqualified praise; some critics pointed to the album's casual, "demo-like" looseness as a drawback, particularly in comparison to Mick Jagger's more charismatic solo efforts. The New York Times' Jon Pareles described it as sounding "loose, sloppy, and unfinished," akin to early band rehearsals across multiple studios, though he recognized this as an intentional showcase of the creative process featuring collaborators like Steve Jordan and Waddy Wachtel. Overall, period reviews assigned it equivalent grades of A- or B+, reflecting a consensus on its spirited rock authenticity despite occasional critiques of underpolished production.

Retrospective assessments

In the decades following its release, Talk Is Cheap has been reevaluated as one of ' strongest solo efforts and a high point among -related projects. Music publications have frequently ranked it at or near the top of Stones solo albums, highlighting its raw energy and blues-rooted songcraft as enduring strengths. For instance, Far Out Magazine placed it first in its 2022 list of the 10 best solo albums, praising its tight performances and describing it as ranking alongside the band's finest work, born from the creative freedom amid Richards' feud with . Retrospective reviews emphasize the album's groove-driven approach and its role in revitalizing Richards' artistry during a turbulent period for the Stones. Uncut's 2019 reassessment for the 30th anniversary edition lauded its "quintessential Stones loose/tight joint," with tracks like "I Could Have Stood You Up" evoking rockabilly and doo-wop influences through contributions from guests such as Johnnie Johnson and Mick Taylor, while noting its closer affinity to the organic sound of Exile on Main St. than the slicker Dirty Work. Ultimate Classic Rock echoed this in 2023, calling it "the best Rolling Stones-related album in forever" for its gold-certified sales and its indirect influence in prompting the band's Steel Wheels reunion, as it demonstrated a viable audience for Richards' unpolished rock style. Critics have revisited some initial reservations about the album's production and structure, often finding them overshadowed by its strengths. While Uncut observed that it prioritizes "groove and mood rather than song" and that Richards himself viewed it as merely "filling in time" during the Stones hiatus, the overall consensus affirms its songcraft and collaborative spirit as timeless, with the 2019 reissue's bonus tracks reinforcing its foundations. Comparisons to Richards' 1992 follow-up frequently favor Talk Is Cheap for its intensity and guest-driven vitality, as adopted a more uniform lineup that diluted some of the debut's raw edge, according to a analysis. In broader rock histories, the album is cited as a "what if" scenario for the Stones without Jagger's involvement, capturing the essence of Richards' vision during their 1980s rift and underscoring his pivotal role in the band's sound. Music journalist Rich Cohen reflected on this in coverage of the era, noting how Talk Is Cheap prompted a reevaluation of the duo's dynamic, with Jagger's solo efforts paling in comparison and ultimately backfiring by highlighting Richards' core appeal.

Commercial performance

Chart performance

"Talk Is Cheap" debuted on the US at number 75 on , 1988, and climbed steadily, reaching its peak position of number 24 during the week of November 19, 1988. The album spent a total of 23 weeks on the chart, demonstrating sustained interest driven by strong rock radio play. Singles from the album, such as "Take It So Hard," also contributed to its visibility, peaking at number 3 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Internationally, the album entered the at number 37 in October 1988 and spent a total of 3 weeks on the chart. In Australia, it debuted around mid-November 1988 and achieved a peak of number 15 during its second week on the chart. It also reached number 12 in , number 18 in , and number 20 in . The album performed moderately in , ranking number 87 on the RPM year-end albums chart for 1988, with a peak of number 20 and several weeks of charting. The album's chart trajectory benefited from ' supporting tour with the X-Pensive Winos in late 1988, which generated buzz and live performances that extended its radio airplay. Additionally, rumors of reconciliation between and fueled media attention, indirectly boosting sales as anticipation grew for a potential reunion, leading to a slow but steady climb on rock-oriented charts.

Certifications and sales

"Talk Is Cheap" was certified Gold by the on November 21, 1988, for shipment of 500,000 units in the United States. The album also received Gold certification from on December 1, 1988, for sales of 50,000 units. No Platinum certifications have been awarded for the album in any territory. The demonstrated strong initial sales in the United States, contributing to its chart success and enduring catalog value through reissues such as the 30th anniversary edition in 2019. Confirmed sales exceed 600,000 units in the United States, , and combined, with additional sales in other territories. In comparison to Mick Jagger's concurrent solo release "" (1987), which failed to achieve status and sold fewer than 500,000 copies worldwide, "Talk Is Cheap" outperformed its counterpart commercially.

Track listing

Original edition

The original edition of Talk Is Cheap, released on October 3, 1988, by Virgin Records, features 11 tracks co-written by Keith Richards and Steve Jordan. The standard track listing, with durations, is presented below:
No.TitleDurationWriters
1Big Enough3:20Richards, Jordan
2Take It So Hard3:12Richards, Jordan
3Struggle4:05Richards, Jordan
4I Could Have Stood You Up3:10Richards, Jordan
5Make No Mistake5:03Richards, Jordan
6You Don't Move Me4:47Richards, Jordan
7How I Wish3:32Richards, Jordan
8Rockawhile4:35Richards, Jordan
9Whip It Up3:58Richards, Jordan
10Locked Away5:49Richards, Jordan
11It Means a Lot5:21Richards, Jordan
On the original vinyl LP format, the tracks were split across two sides. Side A
  1. – 3:20
  2. Take It So Hard – 3:12
  3. Struggle – 4:05
  4. I Could Have Stood You Up – 3:10
  5. Make No Mistake – 5:03
  6. You Don't Move Me – 4:47
Side B
  1. How I Wish – 3:32
  2. Rockawhile – 4:35
  3. Whip It Up – 3:58
  4. – 5:49
  5. It Means a Lot – 5:21
The edition follows the same sequential order as the table above.

2019 reissue bonus tracks

The 2019 reissue of Keith Richards' debut solo album Talk Is Cheap introduced six previously unreleased bonus tracks, drawn from outtakes recorded during the album's original sessions between August 1987 and May 1988 at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec; AIR Studios in Montserrat; and additional locations including Bermuda and New York City's Hit Factory. These tracks, remixed and remastered by original producer Steve Jordan, feature contributions from key collaborators such as former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor, pianist Johnnie Johnson (of Chuck Berry's band), bassist Bootsy Collins, and saxophonist Bobby Keys, highlighting the improvisational blues-rock spirit of the X-Pensive Winos sessions. The bonus material appears on the second disc of the 2-CD deluxe edition, adding approximately 32 minutes to the original album's runtime and offering deeper insight into the creative process behind Talk Is Cheap. This , released on March 29, 2019, by BMG as part of the album's 30th celebration, also includes extensive by music journalist Anthony DeCurtis, along with previously unseen photos and memorabilia in higher-tier formats like the deluxe and super deluxe box sets. The bonus tracks are:
  • "Blues Jam" (Richards, , Taylor, Spampinato, Johnson, Leavell, Keys) – 4:39, an showcase featuring organ, , and .
  • "" (Dixon) – 3:13, a cover of Willie Dixon's standard with Taylor on guitar and Johnson on .
  • "Slim" (Richards, , Leavell, Johnson, Keys, Spampinato, Taylor) – 10:18, a lengthy jam emphasizing the band's rhythmic interplay.
  • "Big Town Playboy" (Jones) – 4:20, another cover with Taylor's guitar work and backing vocals from .
  • "Mark on Me" (Richards, , Wachtel, Neville) – 5:51, featuring guitarist and keyboardist .
  • "Brute Force" (Richards, , Worrell) – 4:00, a raw track with organ by and percussion elements.
These selections, which include both vocal covers and instrumentals, underscore the album's roots in blues and rock improvisation, providing fans with archival material that captures the unpolished energy of the era's recording process.

Personnel

Musicians

The debut solo album Talk Is Cheap by Keith Richards primarily features the musician on lead vocals and guitars, supported by his touring and recording band, the X-Pensive Winos, consisting of Steve Jordan on drums and percussion, Charley Drayton on bass, and Ivan Neville on keyboards and piano. Waddy Wachtel contributed extensively on guitars across multiple tracks, serving as a key collaborator in the rhythm section. Guest performers added specialized instrumentation and vocals, often on specific tracks, enhancing the album's blues-rock and R&B influences. Notable appearances include former guitarist on "Connection," and tenor saxophonist on the same track. Sarah delivered backing and featured vocals on several songs, including a with Richards on "Make No Mistake." The following table summarizes the primary musicians and their contributions, based on the original 1988 release credits (track numbers correspond to the standard listing: 1. "Big Enough," 2. "Take It So Hard," 3. "Struggle," 4. "Connection," 5. "Rockawhile," 6. "It Means a Lot," 7. "The Harder They Come," 8. "You Don't Move Me," 9. "How I Wish," 10. "I Could Have Stood You Up," 11. "Make No Mistake"):
MusicianInstruments/RolesTracks
Keith RichardsLead vocals, guitars (electric, acoustic, slide), backing vocals, percussionAll
Steve JordanDrums, percussion (congas), backing vocals; bass on 21–3, 5–11 (drums/vocals); 2 (bass)
Charley DraytonBass, backing vocals; drums on 22 (drums); 3, 5–11 (bass); 6, 8–10 (vocals)
Ivan NevilleKeyboards, piano2–3, 7, 10–11
Waddy WachtelGuitars (electric, slide, acoustic)2–3, 6, 8–11
Sarah DashBacking vocals; featured vocals on 51, 8 (backing); 5 (featured)
Bernie WorrellOrgan, clavinet1, 6 (organ); 5, 8 (clavinet)
Maceo ParkerAlto saxophone1
Bootsy CollinsBass1
Mick TaylorGuitar4
Bobby KeysTenor saxophone; baritone saxophone4, 9
Patti ScialfaBacking vocals7, 9
Stanley "Buckwheat" DuralAccordion6, 8, 10
Joey SpampinatoBass8
Sam Butler Jr.Backing vocals8
Michael DoucetViolin10
The Memphis Horns (Andrew Love, Ben Cauley, Floyd Newman, Jack Hale, James Mitchell, Jimmi Kinnard, Wayne Jackson, Willie Mitchell)Horns (arranged by Willie Mitchell)5

Production staff

The production of Talk Is Cheap was spearheaded by Keith Richards and Steve Jordan, who co-produced all tracks and shaped the album's raw, blues-inflected sound during sessions in 1987 and 1988. Jordan, a longtime collaborator and drummer for the X-Pensive Winos, contributed significantly to the arrangements alongside Richards, emphasizing loose grooves and live energy. Recording engineering was primarily handled by Don Smith, with additional engineering by Ed Cherney and Joe Blaney, who captured the performances across studios in , , New York, , and Memphis. Mixing duties fell to Joe Blaney, assisted by Ed Cherney and supported by Richards and Jordan, ensuring the final mixes retained the album's spontaneous feel. The tracks were mastered by at Sterling Sound in New York, providing polish to the rootsy production without over-refining its grit. Art direction for the album was overseen by Peter Corriston, who conceptualized the iconic cover image of Richards leaning into a red phone booth, evoking a sense of candid conversation that ties into the title. Cover and back photography was provided by Sante D'Orazio, while inner sleeve photos were shot by Alistair Thain. Released through , the project benefited from A&R involvement by Nancy Jeffries, vice president at , who helped navigate its rollout amid Richards' concurrent commitments.

Legacy and influence

Cultural impact

Talk Is Cheap played a pivotal role in establishing as a viable solo artist outside , showcasing his leadership and songwriting prowess through a raw, collaborative process with the X-Pensive Winos. The album's gold certification in the United States, with over 500,000 copies sold, affirmed commercial viability for his independent endeavors and directly paved the way for his follow-up solo release, , in 1992. The record's emphasis on blues authenticity and jam-style sessions broadened Richards' appeal, drawing in listeners beyond the Stones' core fanbase who valued organic rock 'n' roll over polished production. This expansion was evident in its enduring popularity, continuing to attract new admirers decades later for its hypnotic grooves and unpretentious energy. By highlighting Richards' creative independence, Talk Is Cheap prompted a reevaluation of ' internal dynamics, influencing perceptions of band member autonomy in and underscoring the album's significance in the genre's evolution toward more personal, band-led projects.

Reissues and later recognition

In 2018, BMG acquired ' solo catalog and digitally re-released Talk Is Cheap alongside his other solo works and the live album Live at the , marking the first time these titles were made available through major streaming platforms. To commemorate the album's 30th anniversary in 2019, BMG issued multiple expanded editions. The standard formats included a single remastered and 180-gram vinyl LP of the original 11 tracks, while the two- deluxe edition added six bonus tracks, four of which featured previously unreleased recordings with pianist Johnnie Johnson, such as covers of "" and "Big Town Playboy." The edition, comprising two s, two LPs, and two seven-inch singles, expanded further with over 50 tracks across remastered studio , full live recordings from the X-Pensive Winos' concert (previously issued separately in 1991), demos, outtakes, and a radio ; it also included an 80-page with an essay by Anthony DeCurtis, rare photos, and memorabilia like replica tour laminates and handwritten . Richards described the as rediscovering "forgotten" vault during archival sessions, emphasizing the album's spontaneous origins as jam sessions rather than a premeditated solo project. In 2022, for , BMG released a limited-edition double-cassette pack pairing Talk Is Cheap with Live at the , the first cassette format for either title and limited to 650 copies. The reissues spurred renewed critical acclaim, with reviewers hailing Talk Is Cheap as an "underrated gem" and a "masterpiece" that showcased Richards' raw, rootsy songwriting independent of . later assessments, including the 2019 editions, highlighted its enduring influence, with musicians like and Tom Petty's guitarist Mike Campbell citing it as a key inspiration for their own work. Richards himself reflected that leading the X-Pensive Winos deepened his appreciation for Jagger's role in the Stones, crediting the experience with strengthening their subsequent collaborations.

References

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