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Voodoo Lounge
Voodoo Lounge
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Voodoo Lounge
Studio album by
the Rolling Stones
Released11 July 1994
RecordedSeptember, 3 November – 11 December 1993
StudioRonnie Wood's house, Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin; mixed and overdubbed at A&M Studios, Los Angeles and Right Track Recording, NYC[1]
Genre
Length62:08
LabelVirgin
ProducerDon Was, the Glimmer Twins
The Rolling Stones chronology
Jump Back: The Best of The Rolling Stones
(1993) 		Voodoo Lounge
(1994) 		Stripped
(1995)
Singles from Voodoo Lounge
  1. "Love Is Strong"
    Released: 4 July 1994
  2. "You Got Me Rocking"
    Released: 26 September 1994
  3. "Out of Tears"
    Released: 28 November 1994
  4. "I Go Wild"
    Released: 3 April 1995

Voodoo Lounge is the twentieth studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 11 July 1994. The album was the band's first release under their new alliance with Virgin Records and their first studio album in five years, since Steel Wheels in 1989. Voodoo Lounge is also the band's first album without original bassist Bill Wyman, who left the band in early 1991, though the Stones did not announce his departure until two years later.[2] In 2009, the album was remastered and reissued by Universal Music. This album was released as a double LP on vinyl and as a single CD and cassette.

After the departure of Wyman, the Stones chose not to officially replace him as a band member and continued as a four-piece with Mick Jagger (vocals), Charlie Watts (drums), Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood (both guitars). Wyman was unofficially replaced by Darryl Jones, who performed with the Stones in the studio and on tour as a contracted player. Keyboards were provided by Chuck Leavell. Jones and Leavell, though not band members, would remain collaborators with the group from that point on. Don Was was brought in to produce the album alongside Jagger and Richards.

Voodoo Lounge sold well, reaching either Gold or Platinum status in several countries, but failed to produce a US top 40 hit. The songs "Love Is Strong" and "You Got Me Rocking" peaked at Nos. 14 and 23 in the UK, respectively, and "You Got Me Rocking" became a staple on most subsequent Stones tours. The album received several positive reviews and won the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 1995.

Sections of the Keith Richards song "Thru and Thru" from Voodoo Lounge are woven throughout the HBO television series The Sopranos' second-season finale "Funhouse" (episode no. ⁠26 overall), and plays in its entirety during the episode's closing sequence and end credits.

Background

[edit]

Following the release of Keith Richards' Main Offender and Mick Jagger's Wandering Spirit respectively in 1992 and 1993, both leaders of the Rolling Stones began composing new songs in April 1993, deciding upon Don Was as co-producer for the upcoming sessions. In November, after rehearsing and recording at Ronnie Wood's house in Ireland that September, the Stones shifted to Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin and began cutting Voodoo Lounge. Although not joining the band officially, Darryl Jones would be taking Bill Wyman's place as the group's regular bassist, at the suggestion of drummer Charlie Watts.

Don Was, noted for his retro rock production sensibilities, was reportedly responsible for pushing the band towards more conventional territory in an attempt to reproduce the archetypal "Rolling Stones" sound. Although this approach pleased critics and the Stones rock-oriented fan base, Jagger in particular expressed some dissatisfaction with Was's aesthetic, commenting in a 1995 interview with Rolling Stone:

... there were a lot of things that we wrote for Voodoo Lounge that Don steered us away from: groove songs, African influences and things like that. And he steered us very clear of all that. And I think it was a mistake.[3]

Was responded that he was not "anti-groove, just anti-groove without substance, in the context of this album. They had a number of great grooves. But it was like, 'OK, what goes on top of it? Where does it go?' I just felt that it's not what people were looking for from the Stones. I was looking for a sign that they can get real serious about this, still play better than anybody and write better than anybody."[4]

The result was an essentially classicist recording that drew on the blues, R&B, and country that had informed the Stones classic late 1960s/early 1970s recordings. Jagger would insist on a more diverse, contemporary production cast for the subsequent Bridges to Babylon (1997). After a period of recording in Los Angeles in the first few months of 1994, Voodoo Lounge was complete and the Rolling Stones moved onto the rehearsals for the Voodoo Lounge Tour, which would begin in August.

During the recording of the album, Richards adopted a stray cat in Barbados which he named Voodoo, because they were in Barbados, and the kitten had survived the odds. He dubbed the terrace of the house Voodoo's Lounge. "Sparks Will Fly" was written by Richards after a blow-up with Jerry Lee Lewis in Ireland. Richards invited Lewis to Wood's home to jam on a few songs. Lewis took it seriously and thought they were making an album, and upon playback of the session, he started to pick apart Richards' band, which outraged Richards.[5]

Release and reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Initial reviews (in 1994)
Review scores
SourceRating
Christgau's Consumer Guide(2-star Honorable Mention)(2-star Honorable Mention)[6]
Entertainment WeeklyC+; originally B[7]
Los Angeles TimesStarStarStar[8]
Music WeekStarStarStarStar[9]
QStarStarStar[10]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarStar[11]
SelectStar[12]
Vox8/10[13]
Professional ratings
Retrospective reviews (after 1994)
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star[14]
The Rolling Stone Album GuideStarStarStar[15]
Tom HullB+ (*)[16]

Released in July 1994, Voodoo Lounge received generally positive reviews and debuted at No. 1 in the UK (their first chart-topper there since 1980's Emotional Rescue) and No. 2 in the US (behind the soundtrack to The Lion King) where it went double platinum.

David Cavanagh of Q Magazine wrote that "musically, these 15 songs represent the Stones at their all-time least newsworthy," adding that "Voodoo Lounge is no classic, but nor is it the resounding hound it could have been." Though he was disappointed in the inconsistency of the album's second half, he called the trio of opening rockers "exuberant and on the warm side" despite their lyric shortcomings and hailed the next four songs as an extremely good stretch with "Out of Tears" in particular showing "tantalizing glimmers of genius".[10]

Writing for Vox magazine in August 1994, Steven Dalton thought that the album's strongest tracks were filled with "echoes of the band's halcyon days", most notably 1972's Exile on Main Street and 1978's Some Girls.[13] He went on to surmise that Voodoo Lounge "reminds us why we liked the Stones in the first place," and singled out "New Faces", "Out of Tears" and "Blinded by Rainbows" as the album's highlights, despite also stating that the record contained "too many sketchy, arsing-around-in-the-studio jobs" to be considered one of the group's overall best albums.[13]

Jon Pareles of The New York Times found Voodoo Lounge to be disappointing, arguing that the album "rings hollow, as if it were made not to shake things up but simply to fuel the machine." He harshly criticized the songwriting, arguing that "for much of the album, Jagger and Richards seem determined to write the most generic love songs possible... Flip over the sentimentality, and the Stones offer some of their least convincing leers."[17]

Robert Christgau didn't believe the album warranted a full review, consigning it to his column's list of "honorable mentions" and commenting only that the Stones had become the "world's greatest roots-rock band".[6] Tom Hull similarly listed it as an "honorable mention," conceding that the album "feels like they're just going through the motions".[16]

Alexis Petridis of The Guardian would later rank Voodoo Lounge as one of their weakest albums, writing that "this isn't a bad album, exactly, but it sounds as if hard work was involved, the product of craft rather inspiration: tough coming from a band that, at their best, made it all seem effortless." Petridis also felt that the 62-minute album was much too long, joking that "it goes on for about six weeks."[18] David Marchese of New York expressed a similar criticism, writing that Voodoo Lounge "would’ve killed at 45 minutes" while pointing out the weakest songs as he reviewed the album track-by-track.[19]

In early 1995, while the Voodoo Lounge Tour was still underway until August, Voodoo Lounge won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.

In 2009, Voodoo Lounge was remastered and reissued by Universal Music.

Singles

[edit]

"Love Is Strong", which was inspired by Richards' solo "Wicked as It Seems", was released as the first single, reaching No. 14 in the UK. However, although the track was a hit on US rock radio, it stalled on the singles chart at No. 91, and (at least in the US) became the Rolling Stones' worst performing lead single from an album up to that time. Two follow-up US singles also received strong rock radio airplay, but failed to cross over into top-40 hits: "Out of Tears" peaked at No. 60, and "You Got Me Rocking" fared even worse, peaking at No. 113. Consequently, Voodoo Lounge would be the first Rolling Stones album to not produce significant hits in the US, even with two million copies sold. In the UK, "Love Is Strong", "You Got Me Rocking", "Out of Tears", and "I Go Wild" were all top-40 chart hits.

Legacy

[edit]

The song "Thru and Thru", which features Keith Richards on lead vocals, appears several times in "Funhouse", the second-season finale of The Sopranos, including over the end credits.

The Voodoo Lounge Tour was the setting for most of a 1994 episode of Beverly Hills, 90210.

In July 2014, Guitar World placed Voodoo Lounge at number 42 in their "Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994" list.[20]

Rolling Stones Voodoo Lounge CD ROM

[edit]

An interactive CD-ROM titled Rolling Stones Voodoo Lounge CD ROM was published by GTE Interactive Media in 1995, to mixed reception. It uses early QuickTime video technology for Windows 3.1 and Macintosh.[21]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

No.TitleLength
1."Love Is Strong"3:46
2."You Got Me Rocking"3:34
3."Sparks Will Fly"3:14
4."The Worst"2:24
5."New Faces"2:50
6."Moon Is Up"3:41
7."Out of Tears"5:25
8."I Go Wild"4:19
9."Brand New Car"4:13
10."Sweethearts Together"4:46
11."Suck on the Jugular"4:26
12."Blinded by Rainbows"4:33
13."Baby Break It Down"4:07
14."Thru and Thru"5:59
15."Mean Disposition"4:09

Note: "Mean Disposition" was included only on CD in 1994, but is also featured on the 2010 vinyl (2xLP) release. It was also included on 2024 30th anniversary 2 LP vinyl release.

Personnel

[edit]

The Rolling Stones

  • Mick Jagger – lead vocals (all except 4, 14), backing vocals (1–4, 8–11, 13–14), guitars (5, 7–12), harmonica (1, 6, 11), percussion (1–2, 6)
  • Keith Richards – guitars (all tracks), backing vocals (1–3, 5, 8–14), lead vocals (4, 14), tambourine (6), bass (9), piano (13–14)
  • Ronnie Wood – guitars (all except 4–6, 9–10, 13), pedal steel (4, 6, 10, 13), lap steel (10), backing vocals (11)
  • Charlie Watts – drums (all except 5, 6), percussion (5–6)

Additional personnel

Charts

[edit]

Certifications and sales

[edit]
Multi platinum award


Certifications and sales for Voodoo Lounge
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[51] 2× Platinum 120,000^
Australia (ARIA)[52] Gold 35,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[53] Gold 25,000*
Belgium (BRMA)[54] Gold 25,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[55] 3× Platinum 300,000^
France (SNEP)[56] 2× Gold 200,000*
Germany (BVMI)[57] Platinum 500,000^
Ireland (IRMA)[58] Silver 5,000[59]
Italy — 250,000[60]
Japan (RIAJ)[61] Gold 172,410[47]
Mexico (AMPROFON)[62] Platinum 250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[63] Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[64] Gold 7,500^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[65] Gold 25,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[66] Gold 50,000^
Sweden (GLF)[67] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[68] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[69] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[70] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[71] Platinum 1,000,000*
Worldwide — 6,000,000[72]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Voodoo Lounge

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Voodoo Lounge is the twentieth studio album by the English rock band , released on 11 July 1994. It marked the band's first studio release without founding bassist , who departed in 1993, with taking over bass duties, and was produced by . Recorded primarily at in , , and A&M Studios in , the album features a blend of , , and pop influences across its 15 tracks, including singles such as "," "," and "Out of Tears." The album achieved significant commercial success, peaking at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart and number one in the UK, while earning multi-platinum certifications in the United States and Canada, as well as platinum status in Europe for over one million units sold. Despite mixed critical reception regarding its production and songwriting, Voodoo Lounge revitalized the band's momentum post-Wyman, leading to the highly successful (1994–1995), which grossed over $320 million and became one of the highest-grossing tours of all time at that point. The record's enduring legacy includes its role in the Stones' transition to and contributions from guests like , as well as its 2024 30th anniversary reissue.

Background and Production

Background

Following the reconciliation of and after their respective solo projects, including those from the late and early —Jagger's (1987) and Wandering Spirit (1993), and Richards' (1988) and (1992)— regrouped for their 1989 album Steel Wheels and its extensive world tour, which marked a creative and commercial resurgence after years of internal strife. The band then entered a temporary hiatus from touring following the 1991 live album Flashpoint, allowing members to pursue individual interests while laying the groundwork for new material. A significant lineup change occurred with the departure of longtime bassist , who announced his exit in late 1992 after initially deciding to leave in 1991, citing exhaustion from three decades of touring and a desire for personal pursuits beyond the band. Wyman's refusal to sign the band's 1991 with further strained relations, leading to his permanent departure by early 1993 and prompting a search for a replacement. In his place, session bassist —previously a collaborator with and Sting—was auditioned in June 1993 and invited to contribute to early sessions, officially joining as an unofficial touring and recording bassist in March 1994 to fill the role without full membership status. Songwriting for Voodoo Lounge began in April 1993 at Blue Wave Studios in Barbados, where Jagger and Richards developed initial material, followed by pre-production and further composition from July to September at Ronnie Wood's Sandymount Studios in his home in St. Kildare, Ireland, where the band rehearsed and demoed tracks like an early version of "Sweethearts Together." These sessions fostered a closer creative partnership between Jagger and Richards, who co-wrote a large number of songs, drawing from blues and country influences to refine the album's core. To guide the project, the band selected producer Don Was—known for his work with Bonnie Raitt and the B-52's—for his ability to capture an organic, classic Rolling Stones sound while avoiding the overproduction of prior efforts, serving as an objective collaborator rather than imposing external concepts. Richards, initially skeptical of outside producers, later credited Was with helping the band "not just sound like the Stones but be them."

Recording Process

The Rolling Stones recorded the bulk of Voodoo Lounge at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin, Ireland, beginning in November 1993 and extending into early 1994, following initial rehearsals and preliminary tracking at Ronnie Wood's home in Ireland during September 1993. The sessions typically ran from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m., excluding weekends, utilizing a Studer A-27 analogue tape machine and a Neve mixing desk to capture the band's performances on 24-track with additional slave reels for overdubs. Producer Don Was guided the process with an emphasis on live band energy, positioning the musicians in a semi-circle in the live room—drummer Charlie Watts at the center, flanked by Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood on guitars, and new bassist Darryl Jones—to foster organic interplay reminiscent of the band's 1970s albums. Was deliberately minimized overdubs and excluded synthesizers, prioritizing a raw, Chess Records-inspired sound that highlighted the core rhythm section's groove without technological embellishments. One key challenge was integrating Darryl Jones, who joined as bassist in 1993 following Bill Wyman's departure and after an extensive audition process, requiring the band to adapt to his style while maintaining their established dynamic. Jones typically played through or B15 heads, often direct via a Palmer speaker simulator, and occasionally contributed on Wood's to add texture. contributed distinctive guitar tones using a 1957 Fender Twin Reverb (miked with an SM57 and AKG 451) for rhythm parts, alongside a , Marshall stacks, and a custom fiberglass —dubbed the "mystery guitar"—for experimental effects on tracks like "." Richards favored instruments such as a 1952 and 1959 , cranked for their gritty, Tweed-like overdrive to evoke the band's classic era. delivered his vocals live during basic tracking with a , followed by overdubs using a U47 tube mic, RCA ribbon, or 667 for high-energy rock sections, emphasizing dynamic phrasing and multiple takes to refine his expressive delivery. Additional mixing and overdubs took place at A&M Studios in and Right Track Recording in , where engineer Don Smith refined the tracks to preserve their live feel while incorporating subtle enhancements from guest musicians. In 2009, remastered Voodoo Lounge for , enhancing audio clarity and across , vinyl, and digital formats as part of a broader campaign to update the band's catalog. In 2024, Universal Music released 30th anniversary editions on colored vinyl and digital formats as of July 12, 2024.

Musical Content

Style and Themes

Voodoo Lounge represents a return to the Rolling Stones' blues-rock roots, blending raw, organic instrumentation with a stripped-down production aesthetic that evokes the gritty energy of their 1970s classics such as Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St. Producer Don Was curated influences from American blues, R&B, and country traditions, emphasizing a stripped-down, live-band feel over the synthesizer-heavy sound of the band's 1980s output. The album's instrumentation highlights prominent guitars from Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood—often featuring Fender Twins and Bassmans for a wiry, bluesy tone—alongside piano and keyboards by Chuck Leavell, horns for added texture, and Charlie Watts' precise drumming, creating an intimate, unembellished rock 'n' roll vibe. Lyrically, the album explores predominant themes of and relationships, often with a sensual, flirtatious edge that underscores emotional and desire, as seen in Jagger's swaggering delivery of tales about romantic entanglements and longing. These motifs extend to darker undercurrents of and personal turmoil, such as in "Blinded by Rainbows," reflecting the band's maturity in their early 50s—Jagger and Richards both turned 51 during the album's creation. Aging emerges as a subtle thread, with introspective reflections on time's passage and enduring vitality amid life's struggles, marking the Stones as elder statesmen reclaiming their raw essence. At 62:08 in length, Voodoo Lounge adopts a double-album concept in spirit—packing 15 tracks with diverse moods and tempos—but releases as a single disc, allowing for an expansive yet cohesive exploration of the band's revitalized sound without the formality of a two-LP set. This structure prioritizes a flowing over rigid sides, culminating in a ragged, glorious celebration of quintessential rock 'n' roll that defies the era's trends.

Track Listing

Voodoo Lounge consists of 15 tracks, all written by and . The album opens with upbeat rock songs and gradually shifts to slower, more contemplative numbers toward the end.
No.TitleDuration
13:48
23:35
3Sparks Will Fly3:15
4The Worst2:24
52:50
6Moon Is Up3:41
7Out of Tears5:27
8I Go Wild4:23
9Brand New Car4:13
10Sweethearts Together4:46
11Suck on the Jugular4:26
12Blinded by Rainbows4:32
13Baby Break It Down4:07
14Thru and Thru6:00
15Mean Disposition4:22
Several non- tracks emerged from the Voodoo Lounge recording sessions as B-sides to singles, including "I'm Gonna Drive," "So Young," "Jump on Top of Me," and "." The 2024 30th anniversary limited edition vinyl release includes a bonus 10-inch single featuring these four B-sides. No significant regional variations in track order or inclusions exist for the standard .

Personnel

The Rolling Stones' Voodoo Lounge marked the debut of bassist as a full-time collaborator, replacing longtime member , who departed the band in 1993 and did not participate in the album. The core lineup consisted of on lead vocals, guitars, harmonica, and percussion; on guitars, backing vocals, and occasional lead vocals; on guitars, pedal steel, and backing vocals; on drums and percussion; and on bass guitar. Additional musicians contributed keyboards, percussion, horns, and other instruments across the tracks. Key contributors included on , organ, harmonium, harpsichord, , Hammond B3, and synthesizer; on and organ; and on organ and backing vocals. Percussion was handled by and Luis Jardim, while horns featured David McMurray on saxophone and on trumpet. Other guests included Frankie Gavin on and pennywhistle, Flaco Jimenez on , Max Baca on , Phil Jones on percussion, on backing vocals, and Pierre de Beauport on guitar. provided backing vocals throughout.
RolePersonnel
Lead Vocals, Guitars, Harmonica, Percussion
Guitars, Backing Vocals; Lead Vocals (select tracks)
Guitars, Pedal Steel, Backing Vocals
Drums, Percussion
Bass Guitar
Piano, Organ, Harmonium, Harpsichord, Keyboards
Piano, Organ
Organ, Backing Vocals
Backing Vocals,
Percussion, Luis Jardim, Phil Jones
Fiddle, PennywhistleFrankie Gavin
AccordionFlaco Jimenez
Bajo SextoMax Baca
SaxophoneDavid McMurray
Trumpet
GuitarPierre de Beauport
The album was produced by alongside The Glimmer Twins (Jagger and Richards as executive producers). Recording engineer and mixer Don Smith handled most duties, with mixing one track; assistant engineers included Dan Bosworth and Alistair McMillan, while assistant mixers were Mike Baumgartner, Greg Goldman, and Ed Korengo. David Campbell arranged strings for one track. coordination and were provided by Pierre de Beauport.

Release and Promotion

Album Release

Voodoo Lounge was released on July 11, 1994, by , marking the ' first studio album under their new alliance with the label after departing from /ABKCO and Columbia. The album was issued in multiple formats, including a double LP vinyl, standard , and , with initial pressings featuring packaging for the vinyl edition. The sleeve design, created by Mark Norton with photography by Sante D'Orazio and skeletal elements by Jac Remise, depicted a surreal figure in a lounge setting, evoking a mystical and retro aesthetic that tied into the album's thematic elements. Promotional efforts included interviews where band members highlighted the renewed creative synergy following their 1989 reunion and the transition to a core quartet lineup. While the core content remained consistent, international editions varied slightly in catalog numbering and pressing details, such as the UK vinyl release under V 2600 and the edition under 39782-1, reflecting regional distribution through Virgin subsidiaries. In 2009, Universal Music remastered and reissued the on CD, enhancing audio clarity while preserving the original track sequence. To commemorate its 30th anniversary, a limited-edition red and yellow colored double vinyl pressing was released on July 12, 2024, accompanied by a bonus 10-inch vinyl featuring four original B-sides: "I'm Gonna Drive," "So Young," "Jump on Top of Me," and "The Storm."

Singles

The lead single from Voodoo Lounge, "", was released on July 4, 1994, in multiple formats including CD maxi-singles, 7-inch vinyl, cassettes, and 12-inch promos. Common B-sides featured non-album tracks such as "The Storm" and "So Young", with some editions including remixes like the version. The single's artwork incorporated voodoo-inspired motifs consistent with the album's thematic packaging, often presented in simple cardboard sleeves for European releases. It peaked at No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 91 on the Hot 100. "You Got Me Rocking" followed in September 1994 as the second single, available in CD singles, 7-inch vinyl, cassettes, and 12-inch formats, with several promo editions. B-sides included "Jump On Top Of Me" and live performances from the band's repertoire, alongside remixes such as the Perfecto Mix. Packaging varied by region, featuring digipaks in the UK and cardboard sleeves in Europe, echoing the album's mystical aesthetic through bold, graphic designs. The track reached No. 23 on the UK Singles Chart but did not chart highly on the US Billboard Hot 100, though it topped out at No. 2 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Released in October 1994, "Out of Tears" appeared in maxi-singles, 7-inch vinyl, cassettes, and limited promo 12-inches, with several remix-focused editions. Key B-sides comprised "I'm Gonna Drive" and edited remixes by and . Its packaging stood out with a teardrop-shaped digipak and numbered limited editions, tying into the album's voodoo lounge imagery through evocative, tear-drop visuals. The single achieved No. 36 on the UK Singles Chart, entering the top 40, and peaked at No. 60 on the Hot 100. The fourth single, "I Go Wild", saw a limited release in 1995 primarily in CD singles, 7-inch picture discs, and cassettes, with fewer international variants. B-sides highlighted remixes like the version and a live recording, alongside the Luis Resto Straight Vocal Mix. Packaging included numbered limited-edition picture discs in the UK and cardboard sleeves elsewhere, maintaining the album's thematic consistency with wild, ritualistic artwork elements. It reached No. 29 on the UK Singles Chart, securing another top-40 entry, but had minimal US chart impact.
SingleUK PeakUS Hot 100 Peak
Love Is Strong1491
You Got Me Rocking23-
Out of Tears3660
I Go Wild29-

Promotional Materials

The Rolling Stones promoted Voodoo Lounge through a variety of visual and interactive media, including music videos for its singles that emphasized the album's raw, energetic aesthetic. The video for "Love Is Strong," the album's lead single, was directed by David Fincher and featured the band performing in surreal, dimly lit urban environments, including underground settings that evoked a gritty, subterranean vibe. For "You Got Me Rocking," the second single, director Jim Gable helmed a performance-based clip that showcased the band's high-energy rock style in a straightforward, live-like format. A key multimedia promotional tool was the Rolling Stones Voodoo Lounge CD-ROM, released in 1995 by Interactive Media for Windows and Macintosh platforms. This interactive product utilized early video technology to deliver an immersive experience, including 16 navigable 3D environments such as the Baron's Lounge and VIP Room, where users could explore a virtual voodoo-themed mansion tied to the album's concept. It featured exclusive content like new , band interviews, mini-games, cursor-sensitive animations with VoodooRaver elements, and digital with and photos, functioning as both a promotional sampler and a point-and-click where players solved mysteries and encountered virtual versions of the band. The received mixed reception as an early example of music-based , praised for its innovative use of technology but critiqued for technical limitations in video playback and navigation. Traditional promotional materials included comprehensive press kits distributed to media outlets, such as the 1994 U.S. promo pack featuring a 46-page illustrated book by artist that incorporated alongside and band history. In-store displays supported retail launches, with producing posters and standups for the July 12, 1994, CD release, often highlighting the 's return to blues-influenced rock roots after the more experimental . Radio promotions targeted stations with an 8-track sampler cassette exclusively for U.S. broadcasters, emphasizing tracks that showcased the 's gritty, bluesy sound and urging airplay to build anticipation for the accompanying tour. Promotions tied into the (1994–1995) by incorporating live footage, such as the special filmed on November 25, 1994, at Joe Robbie Stadium in , which was edited into the 1995 Voodoo Lounge Live and used to cross-promote the through excerpts of performances like "." In the post-2000 era, digital and streaming promotions revived interest in Voodoo Lounge, including the 2018 release of Voodoo Lounge Uncut, a restored and remastered edition of the 1994 concert available in , audio, and HD formats, featuring previously omitted live versions of tracks. The 2020 "Extra Licks!" series from the band's official channel premiered rare 1994 tour performances digitally for the first time, such as alternate takes from Voodoo Lounge shows. For the 's 30th anniversary in 2024, reissues on vinyl and digital platforms debuted four previously unreleased tracks on streaming services, accompanied by merchandise promotions featuring vintage tour-inspired designs.

Commercial Performance

Chart Positions

Voodoo Lounge debuted strongly upon its release in July 1994, reaching number 1 on the for one week and number 2 on the for two weeks. The album also topped charts in several other markets, including , , , the , , , and , while achieving top 10 placements in countries such as , , , , , , and . The album's weekly chart trajectory varied by region. In the UK, it entered at number 1 on 23 1994 and remained on the chart for a total of 34 weeks across multiple runs, including an initial 18-week stint ending in November 1994, a brief holiday period return, and a 1995 re-entry of 11 weeks. In the , Voodoo Lounge debuted at number 2 on the dated 30 1994, held that position for two weeks, then gradually declined, spending 38 weeks on the chart overall. In , it entered at number 1 on 18 1994, stayed at the top for six weeks, and charted for 49 weeks total. Australia's Albums Chart saw it debut at number 1 for one week starting 31 1994, with a 26-week run. In , it peaked at number 2 on the and endured for 61 weeks. France's chart positioned it at number 2, with a 24-week presence.
Country/RegionPeak PositionWeeks at PeakTotal Weeks on ChartEntry Date
(ARIA)112631 July 1994
(RPM)15N/AJuly 1994
(SNEP)2N/A24July 1994
(ODK)164918 July 1994
(Oricon)2N/A61July 1994
(RMNZ)1115July 1994
(Official)113423 July 1994
(Billboard 200)223830 July 1994
On year-end charts for 1994, Voodoo Lounge ranked number 3 in the , number 62 on the , number 13 in , number 18 in and , and number 29 in the . In 2024, a vinyl prompted minor re-entries, including number 26 on the Official Vinyl Albums Chart and number 56 on the Official Albums Sales Chart for one week each, alongside a number 1 peak on the Official Physical Albums Chart driven by physical formats.

Sales and Certifications

Voodoo Lounge achieved strong commercial success, selling an estimated 6.4 million copies worldwide as of the latest available data. In the United States, the album has sold 2.4 million copies, contributing significantly to its global performance. These figures reflect steady sales across multiple regions, with notable strength in and . Sales were bolstered by the extensive (1994–1995), which grossed $320 million from over 6.4 million tickets sold across 130 shows, driving additional album purchases during and after the tour. Regionally, the album performed well in (2.46 million units, including 750,000 in and 320,000 in the UK) and (350,000 units), while also seeing solid numbers in (300,000) and other markets like (220,000) and (90,000). Initial sales peaked in 1994–1995, with sustained purchases through the late 1990s and occasional reissues maintaining momentum. The album received numerous certifications reflecting its commercial reach. In the US, it was certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA in 1994 for 2 million units shipped. Canada awarded 3× Platinum status (300,000 units) from Music Canada, while the UK granted Gold certification (100,000 units) from the BPI. Other notable accolades include Platinum in (500,000 units) from the BVMI, 2× Gold in (200,000 units) from the , and Gold certifications in , , , , , , , , , , and .
Country/TerritoryCertificationCertified UnitsCertifying Body
2× Platinum2,000,000RIAA
3× Platinum300,000
Gold100,000BPI
Platinum500,000BVMI
France2× Gold200,000
Gold35,000
Gold100,000RIAJ
Compared to the band's prior album (1989), which sold 5.6 million copies worldwide, Voodoo Lounge demonstrated continued commercial recovery following the group's late-1980s hiatus and solo projects, maintaining similar scale despite shifting dynamics. In July 2024, a 30th limited-edition vinyl reissue was released on red and yellow discs, along with a B-sides EP, sparking renewed collector interest but without reported significant additions to overall sales figures by late 2025.

Reception and Legacy

Critical Reception

Upon its release in July 1994, Voodoo Lounge garnered mixed reviews from contemporary critics, who praised its raw energy and nod to the band's classic sound while critiquing some songs as formulaic and uninspired. Anthony DeCurtis of Rolling Stone awarded the album four out of five stars, describing it as "ragged and glorious" and lauding its revelry in the "quintessential rock & roll the Stones marked as their own some 30 years ago," highlighting tracks like "Love Is Strong" and "You Got Me Rocking" for their vigorous, back-to-basics drive. In contrast, David Cavanagh of the UK-based Q magazine dismissed it as the band's "all-time least newsworthy" collection musically, arguing that the 15 tracks offered little innovation and amounted to a "very average record" reliant on familiar riffs and structures. The album's reception showed regional nuances, with stronger acclaim in the UK where it debuted at number one and was seen as a solid return to form after the band's internal strife, compared to the where reviewers like those in emphasized the Stones' advancing age—Jagger was 50, Richards 50—and questioned if their bluesy swagger still resonated amid grunge's dominance, though sales still peaked at number two. Aggregate scores from the era, based on a limited set of reviews, reflected this divide between appreciation for its and skepticism over its relevance post-1980s efforts like . Despite the critiques, the album's merits were affirmed by its win for Best Rock Album at the in 1995, the category's inaugural honor, beating nominees including Green Day's and ' The Downward Spiral.

Long-term Impact

Over time, Voodoo Lounge has undergone significant reappraisal, with critics and fans increasingly viewing it as a strong entry in the ' catalog that marked their creative resurgence in the . Initially receiving mixed reviews upon release, the album has climbed in retrospective rankings; for instance, placed it at No. 21 in their 2023 ordering of every studio album, praising its return to raw, blues-infused rock after the band's more experimental output. Similarly, ranked it 21st in their 2018 assessment, noting its straightforward energy as a dignified effort for a veteran act, though acknowledging it lacks the innovation of the band's 1970s peak. 's original 1994 review by awarded it 3 out of 5 stars, critiquing its occasional bloat, but user ratings have since averaged higher at 3.5 out of 5, reflecting a warmer long-term reception. The album's cultural footprint extends beyond rock, embedding itself in popular media and other genres. The track "Thru and Thru," sung by , served as the closing credits theme for the HBO series throughout its run from 1999 to 2007, amplifying the song's moody introspection and associating the Stones with the show's gritty portrayal of ; Richards himself credited the series with reviving the track's prominence in interviews. While direct samples from Voodoo Lounge in hip-hop are sparse, elements like the album's groove-oriented rhythms echoed in broader fusions, contributing to its subtle influence on genre-blending acts. In rock circles, Voodoo Lounge is often cited as a blueprint for veteran bands reclaiming their roots amid grunge's dominance, with contemporaries like drawing parallels in their own blues-rock revival on albums such as (1992), as noted in period analyses of guitar-driven music. Marking its 30th anniversary in 2024, Voodoo Lounge prompted renewed media discussions on the Stones' output, including a limited-edition vinyl reissue with bonus B-sides like "I'm Gonna Drive" and "So Young," highlighting its role in the band's commercial and artistic rebound post-. Outlets like uDiscover Music emphasized how the album's sales—over 3 million copies worldwide—and tour grossed over $320 million, underscoring its endurance as a high-water mark for aging rock icons adapting to modern tastes without compromising their core sound. In 2025, the band released Voodoo Lounge Uncut, a live album and video capturing the full November 25, 1994, concert from the at Stadium in . However, scholarly and cultural critiques of the album remain limited, particularly regarding its themes, such as the portrayal of relationships in tracks like "" and "Out of Tears," which blend vulnerability with traditional rock machismo but lack deeper analysis in academic discourse. Likewise, the album's voodoo imagery—evident in the , cover art, and thematic motifs—has not ignited widespread debates on cultural appropriation, though it fits into broader conversations about the Stones' historical borrowing from African American blues traditions, as explored in critiques of the band's oeuvre.

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