I don’t know why Keith Richards called his first solo album, Talk Is Cheap and his band the X-Pensive Winos, but I am guessing he had threatened a solo album before and might have encountered such a response from some of his band mates. This CD should have quietened any doubters about his ability to pull it off.

A Rolling Stones type riff is laid down alongside a funky bassline from Bootsy Collins and Big Enough kicks off the album. In fact it is a totally funk based band that Richards pulled together for this album and his subsequent solo efforts. Bootsy Collins was just a guest as is another ‘Parliamentarian’, Maceo Parker on alto sax, but keyboardist Bernie Worrell and drummer/producer Steve Jordan were ongoing members of The X-Pensive Winos. It’s a catchy enough riff, but not quite as full on rock and roll as you might have expected.

And speaking of Rolling Stones riffs; Take It So Hard has a very Stones’ sound to it and is more like what one might have expected to find here. Even the bvs sound like the Stones, which isn’t that surprising as Keith contributed a lot to those. This track has the basic ‘Winos’ line-up with Waddy Wachtel on guitar and regular bass player Charlie Drayton.

Struggle is another of those sorts of rockers you associate with Keith, but what I like about this one is the sound Jordan has managed to get on his drums. He has managed to get a spacey sort of sound and it’s almost as if he has found a dead room where they sound is not reverberating. It is a crisp clattering sound that works so well with the guitars.

The only other Rolling Stone (or ex one) to appear here is Mick Taylor, who whips out some great guitar locks on I Could Have Stood You Up. This song is a tribute to Keith Richards’ hero, Chuck Berry, in terms of its style. It is done in that classic rock and roll style of the fifties and features some cool piano playing from Johnny Johnson and hot tenor sax from Bobby Keys. I especially enjoy those Jordanaires type harmonies from Keith and Steve Jordan.

Things are taken down a notch or two on Make No Mistake where Keith sings a duet with his regular back-up singer, Sarah Dash. It is a cute little love song that manages to avoid any saccharine excesses by the gruff voice of our hero. Richards’ fondness for Motown and funk is evident here also, with the Memphis Horns fattening out the already funky groove.

Richards plays a mix of acoustic and electric guitars on You Don’t Move Me, while Waddy Wachtel contributes the slide. It is a good blend of rock, funk, a little hint of Cajun with Stanley ‘Buckwheat’ Dural on accordion and some of the best guitar playing so far on the album.

How I Wish is another that would not have been out of place on a Stones album. This is a big guitar sound with Keith and Waddy playing several each. Former Springsteen back-up singer, Patti Scialfa adds the bvs.

My favourite track on this album though is Rockawhile. Keith is often described as having a somewhat marginal voice, but he is actually a good singer, albeit his vocal chords are a little rough around the edges. I love the guitar sound and Steve Jordan’s drums here, but most of all I think this song is possibly Keith’s best vocal performance on the album.

Whip It Up is straight out dirty rock ‘n’ roll played the way it always should be. Patti Scialfa is back on bvs and Bobby Keys is blowing the baritone and alto saxes. It’s great stuff. 

A violin is the last instrument you would expect to find on an album by Keith Richards, but there is one that takes a prominent part in laying down the tune for Locked Away. I should point out that it is a single violin and it is played pizzicato style to start with and bluegrass style thereafter and there ain’t a hint of any over-produced lush strings. There is also some lovely piano work from Ivan Neville, ‘Buckwheat’ Dural is back on his trusty accordion and Keith plays some beautifully toned guitar licks.

This first Keith Richards solo album concludes with It Means A Lot. This is a riff-heavy slow cranker. Charley Drayton’s bass is cool, and there is some great guitar interplay but it is more like a jam than a regular song.

Recommended: Yes