You Should’t Take It So Hard - A look back at Keith Richards and Talk Is Cheap

February 07, 2023 3 min read

You Should’t Take It So Hard - A look back at Keith Richards and Talk Is Cheap

The 1980s were a tumultuous time for the Rolling Stones, particularly the songwriting pairing Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. There was a lot of animosity between the pair, disagreeing on where to take the Stones’ music (Mick wanted to stay current, and Keith wanted to stay with their tried-and-true rock and roll sound). This feud was felt in the studio during the recording of 1986’s Dirty Work with the band barely in the same room at any time (Jagger did his vocals away from the main sessions), and no tour behind that record (Mick opted to work on and promote his 1987 album Primitive Cool). 

Listening to Dirty Work (and its predecessor, 1983’s Undercover) is a bit of a challenge, with many conflicting styles going on from track to track. If Mick was modern, and Keith was classic, you know which person won the argument on which song.

So, what does Keith do? He teams up with Steve Jordan (drummer and multi-instrumentalist with an impressive resumé) to write some songs and enlists him to produce an album. Keith is backed up by a band dubbed the X-Pensive Winos featuring Jordan, Sarah Dash, Charley Drayton, Ivan Neville and Waddy Wachtel (as well as several guest musicians), all of whom bring their A-game to the studio. If Keith wanted to preserve the Stones’ rock and roll sound, he had the right band to do it with.

You can also really hear all the things that made Richards a special and integral part of the Stones and their sound. Songs have that swagger that’s indicative of Richards’ writing style. His trademark rhythm guitar is also on full display, taking center stage with support from the other Winos. You have open-G tuned telecaster riffs to your heart’s content; there’s no mistaking that this was a huge part of the Stones but it’s refreshing to hear them in this context as well. You would not be judged harshly if you actually thought this was a Rolling Stones record because of it (some critics have even called this album the best Stones album they never made).

Songs like “Take It So Hard”, “Struggle” and “You Don’t Move Me” could have easily fit right in on any of the Stones’ 1970s offerings. You also have some more jammy offerings, such as the album’s opening track “Big Enough” (which features Maceo Parker and Bootsy Collins), “Rockawhile”. Keith also delivers some amazing vocal performances on the album, particularly the ballads “Locked Away” and “Make No Mistake”. Not bad for someone who played behind one of the world’s most revered frontmen.

The whole album has that “band-playing-in-a-room” sound, with musicians playing off each other and listening to each other, which contributes to a sound that breathes. Many tracks sound like you’re walking into a jam session. Like the open-G riffs, this element was a crucial part of the Stones’ classic albums, especially with some of the offerings of the 1980s. Even the more “produced” songs still fit perfectly with the album’s main aesthetic and never stick out in the wrong way.

Musicians should give the album a spin; the songs are clinics in great writing and how to play well with others. While the band is there to support Keith, no one is lost in the shuffle as they all make space for each other. Guitar players should also really take note of Keith’s rhythm playing; there’s a reason he’s a guitar hero, though he doesn’t play a million notes.

Richards would make two more studio records with the X-Pensive Winos, 1992’s Main Offender and 2015’s Cross-Eyed Heart (both to critical acclaim), as well as 1991’s Live at the Hollywood Palladium. The Rolling Stones would arguably find their footing again with 1989’s Steel Wheels and 1994’s Voodoo Lounge. For us, we are just left with great rock n’ roll to listen to.

By Kevin Daoust - instagram.com/kevindaoust.gtr



Also in Fingerboard Stories

When Twelve Is Better Than Six
When Twelve Is Better Than Six

October 04, 2024 3 min read

I’m not sure what the origin of this particular instrument was (though we may find out later), but maybe it was a crafty guitarist who thought: “You know what’s better than six strings? Double! Twelve strings!”

This story likely isn’t true, but the 12-string guitar is valuable in any guitarist's arsenal. With its thick, bright, and lush sound, the instrument has been a staple in most styles of music since its inception.

Picking Through History
Picking Through History

September 06, 2024 4 min read

From being found in the wash to being left on counters and desks to being counted with change out of a guitarist’s pocket, guitar picks are the definitive proof that the holder undoubtedly plays the instrument.


But as omnipresent as they are, how many guitarists have pondered the history of the pick itself? Who are they? What were they doing?

How Jazz and Banjos Gave Us Heavy Metal
How Jazz and Banjos Gave Us Heavy Metal

August 16, 2024 3 min read

The origins of Heavy Metal can be traced back to a couple of bands. The most average ones that get name-dropped include Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Blue Cheer and many other contemporaries. 

Dear reader, in this writer’s opinion, the only band that can be defined as ground zero for Heavy Metal, as far as sound and style are concerned, was Black Sabbath, a band from Birmingham, England.