The Rolling Stones have been in New York where they are reportedly working on a promotional video and photos for their forthcoming album.
The still untitled release will be their first album of original material since 2005's A Bigger Bang, and first studio album since their covers collection, Blue & Lonesome, in 2016.
The album will include a few tracks with their late drummer Charlie Watts, and their former bassist Bill Wyman plays on a track that's a tribute to Watts.
But, despite reports, he says he didn't fly to Los Angeles to join them in the studio.
"When Mick [Jagger] asked if I would play on one of the tracks in tribute to Charlie, of course I immediately said yes. But I haven’t flown in decades, so I just went over to Metropolis Studios here in London and recorded my part. Mick indicated he’s delighted with the track, so that’s a bonus, but that’s the extent of my ‘return.’"
Wyman retired from the Stones in 1993 and last played with them on a few shows during their 50th anniversary tour in 2012.
The album will also include contributions from Paul McCartney and Elton John.
No word on when the album will be released, but it's believed that it will be in the fall.
Word out of London is that original Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman will play on a track on the band's new album in tribute to their late drummer Charlie Watts.
British newspaper The Sun quotes a source who says, "Bill hasn’t seen the band together for years but always loved Charlie. This record’s really a tribute to Charlie, so he couldn’t say no...
“After several sessions in Los Angeles done about six months ago, Bill’s playing is going to feature on the record."
While Steve Jordan, who took over for Watts after his death in 2021 from cancer at the age of 80, plays on the album, it will also include tracks Watts laid down during early sessions for the album.
A spokeswoman for the Stones has not responded to our request for a comment.
The album, when done, will also include appearances by Paul McCartney and Elton John. It's being produced by Andrew Watt, who produced tracks on Elton's last album, 2021's The Lockdown Sessions, and is working with McCartney on new songs.
It will be the Stones first album of original material since 2005's A Bigger Bang, and first studio album since their covers collection, Blue & Lonesome, in 2016.
Wyman retired from the Stones in 1993 and last played with them on a few shows during their 50th anniversary tour in 2012.
ABKCO Records, which owns the rights to all recordings by The Rolling Stones prior to 1971's Sticky Fingers, is reissuing 16 titles on 180-gram vinyl, some of which have been out-of-print for almost four decades.
The campaign officially got underway at the end of March with the U.S. version of their 1966 album, Aftermath, followed in April by 1967's U.S. version of Between the Buttons.
Friday saw the release of the U.K. version of their first hits compilation, Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass), followed by the U.S. version next Friday, June 16th.
Also out on the 16th is the U.S.-only release of 1967's Flowers, which partially served to give the American market songs that were omitted from the London Records-issued Aftermath and Between the Buttons, but also contained three previously unreleased tracks -- “My Girl,” “Ride on, Baby,” and “Sittin’ on a Fence.”
On July 14th, the Stones' first official rarities collection, 1975's Metamorphosis, will be released. It contains outtakes and demos that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote for other artists recorded between 1964 and 1970. Many of the tracks feature guest musicians, including Jimmy Page on “Heart of Stone” and John McLaughlin on “I’d Much Rather Be With the Boys.”
On September 15th, both the U.S. and U.K. versions of 1965's Out of Our Heads will be reissued. It was their first number one U.S. album, containing “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”
October 6th -- their debut U.S. album, England’s Newest Hit Makers.
October 20th will see the reissue of their second hits collection, 1969's U.K. version of Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2), notable for its octagonal sleeve and epitaph for the then recently departed guitarist Brian Jones. The U.S. version follows on November 10th.
The U.K. version contains “You Better Move On,” “Sittin’ on a Fence” and “We Love You,” while the U.S. version gives us “Paint It, Black” and “Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow?”
They'll close out the year on December 1st with the U.K. version of 1965's The Rolling Stones No. 2; the U.S. release of December’s Children (and Everybody’s); and 1966's Got Live if You Want It!
And looking ahead to next year, we'll see the U.K. version of their self-titled debut album, and their third U.S. album, 1965's The Rolling Stones, Now!
In other Stones news, last Friday was the 45th anniversary of the release of their 1978 album, Some Girls.