Tattoo You, Rolling Stones

2 in stock
$100.00
Artist - Rolling Stones
Format - 12" Album
Genre - Rock, Rock & roll, and Blues
Year - 1981
Country - Australia
Grading (record) - Mint
Grading (sleeve) - Very Good Plus

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Description

Please note this has fold out Poster of a shoe. Also has Inner with Lyrics and Pics

The Rolling Stones – Tattoo You

Artist: The Rolling Stones

Title: Tattoo You

Album Type: 16th British / 18th American Studio Album

Original Release Date: August 24, 1981

Label: Rolling Stones Records

Genre: Rock & Roll / Hard Rock / Blues Rock

Background & Production Tattoo You is often hailed as the last "great" Rolling Stones album. Interestingly, it was primarily composed of outtakes and unfinished tracks from recording sessions throughout the 1970s (including Goats Head Soup, Black and Blue, and Some Girls). Facing the pressure of a massive 1981 world tour without new material, associate producer Chris Kimsey scoured the vaults to find tracks with "great vibes" that hadn't been finished. The band then re-recorded vocals and added fresh guitar overdubs at EMI Studios in Paris and Atlantic Studios in New York. The result was a surprisingly cohesive record that hit #1 on the Billboard 200 for nine consecutive weeks.

Musical Composition & Style The album is famously split into two distinct moods: Side One focuses on hard-rocking, up-tempo numbers, while Side Two is dedicated to soulful ballads and atmospheric tracks.

  • The Lead Anthem: "Start Me Up" remains one of the most recognizable riffs in rock history. Originally recorded as a reggae-infused track during the Black and Blue sessions, it was reworked into a definitive rock anthem that became a permanent fixture of their live sets.

  • The Jazz Influence: One of the album's highlights is the inclusion of jazz legend Sonny Rollins, who provided the soaring saxophone solos on "Waiting on a Friend" and "Slave."

  • Technical Highlights: The track "Little T&A" features Keith Richards on lead vocals, delivering a classic Chuck Berry-style rocker, while the production throughout is noted for its "dry," punchy 80s rock sound that still retained the band's signature grit.

Legacy & Collector Notes The album is equally famous for its cover art—a close-up of Mick Jagger’s face covered in tribal tattoos (designed by Peter Corriston and photographed by Christian Piper), which won a Grammy for Best Album Package. For collectors, original pressings are highly valued for their dynamic range and the inclusion of the printed inner sleeve featuring the Keith Richards "tattoo" counterpart. It remains an essential title for any shopify store catering to classic rock enthusiasts, representing the band's successful transition into the 1980s.

  • Keywords: The Rolling Stones, Tattoo You, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Start Me Up, Rolling Stones Records, 1981 Vinyl, Classic Rock, Sonny Rollins.

  • Collection Ideas: 80s Rock Blockbusters, Essential Rolling Stones, Billboard #1 Albums, Vault & Outtake Collections.

  • Related Artists: The Faces, Aerosmith, Muddy Waters, The Who, Rod Stewart.
Click for Grading Scale

MINT - sealed

NM - likely never played - almost perfect

VG+ - light scuffs, light scratches wont effect play

VG -  signs of wear, light scratches you can feel

GOOD -  surface noise, visible groove wear

POOR / FAIR- some damage, causing issues like skipping & distorted audio

OIS - original inner sleeve
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