If the process of recording blues classics with the Rolling Stones for their upcoming Blue & Lonesome LP felt familiar for Mick Jagger, it wasn’t just because he knew all the songs by heart — he’d also done this kind of thing before.
Jagger’s previous attempt with an album of blues standards took place in 1992, while he was working with producer Rick Rubin on a solo LP that ultimately morphed into Wandering Spirit the following year. Rubin was also working with a Los Angeles band called the Red Devils, who he’d signed to his Def American imprint .
Tipped off to the band, Jagger turned up at the King King in May 1992 and sat in for a performance that included Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love?” and Little Walter’s take on “Blues With a Feeling.”
For Jagger, who’d been toying with the idea of a blues record since the Stones had finished their Steel Wheels tour, the show was just the spark he needed to actually get down to work. Using Rick Rubin as a middleman, he bought the band to Hollywood’s Ocean Way Recording studios in June, A day of running through some of the singer’s favorite numbers. the Red Devils were paid a flat fee of $750 for the session, which Jagger called to order by plunking down a pile of records.
What they got was a 13-hour blues marathon that produced more than a dozen songs — most of which were tracked in a few takes. Rubin publicly predicted the Red Devils sessions would be released “someday” — though in the meantime, the Devils were left without any real assurances, or even a copy of the tapes.
Even though the Red Devils sessions remain officially unreleased with the exception of the track “Checkin’ Up on My Baby,” which worked its way onto 2007’s The Very Best of Mick Jagger compilation — tapes eventually found their way into circulation.
1) 00:00 Blues With A Feeling
2) 03:17 I Got My Eyes On You
3) 06:24 Still A Fool
4) 10:02 Checkin’ Up On My Baby
5) 13:22 One Way Out
6) 15:34 Talk To Me Baby
7) 18:12 Evil
8) 21:03 Ain’t Your Business
9) 23:14 Shake ‘m On Down
10) 28:46 Somebody Loves Me
11) 31:37 Dream Girl Blues
12) 37:18 40 Days, 40 Nights
Vocals: Mick Jagger
Harp: Lester Butler
Guitar: Paul Size
Bass: Jonny Ray Bartel
Drums: Bill Bateman
The Fat Angel Sings 