Interesting notes include:
.....the megahit Start Me Up was recorded during the same sessions that produced Miss You in New York in 1978....the Stones had abandoned the track but Chris Kimsey salvaged the single take, had Mick add new lyrics, and remixed it to create the version on the album
.....the original title of the album was Tattoo....the "You" was added by Mick during last minute rushes
.....Mick did last minute overdubs by himself without involving the rest of the Band, so he was the only person who knew what the new album would sound like before release
.....Sonny Rollins got the inspiration for the sax in Waiting On A Friend by asking Mick to dance for him while he played
.....when Mick Taylor heard the new album he realized he was playing guitar on Tops and had to sue his old band to get his royalties

There were 9 years worth of sessions that contributed to Tattoo You. They started in Jamaica in 1972 finished with mixing at Atlantic in NYC during April - June, 1981.
Nov 25-30, and Dec 6-21, 1972 at Dynamic Sound in Kingston, Jamaica (Goats Head Soup sessions)
.....Tops
.....Waiting On A Friend
Nov 13-24, 1973 and Jan 14-28, 1974 at Musicland in Munich (It's Only Rock `n' Roll sessions)
.....Black Limousine
Dec 7-15, 1974 at Musicland in Munich (Black & Blue sessions)
.....Slave
Jan 23 - Feb 9, 1975 on the Rolling Stones Mobile in Rotterdam (Black & Blue sessions)
.....Worried About You
Mar 15-31, 1978 at Atlantic Sound in New York
.....Start Me Up
Jan 18 - Feb 12, 1979 at Compass Point Studios in Nassau (Emotional Rescue sessions)
.....Little T & A
Jun 10 - Aug 25 & Sep 12 - Oct 19, 1979 at Pathe Marconi/EMI Studios in Paris (Emotional Rescue sessions)
.....Hang Fire
.....Black Limousine
.....No Use In Crying
Nov-Dec, 1979 at Electric Lady in New York
.....Start Me Up (final mix)
Oct 11 - Nov 12, 1980 at Pathe Marconi/EMI Studios in Paris (the only Tattoo You sessions)
.....Slave
.....Neighbours
.....Heaven

This information comes from "It's Only Rock And Roll: The Ultimate Guide To The Rolling Stones" by Karnbach and Bernson and from my own collection.


A real triumph for the Stones, and a MUST for rock fans.   June 10, 1999
 17 out of 18 found this review helpful

This is as good as the Stones get in the eighties, and the bad boys really proved that their fire was burning hotter than ever with Tattoo You, a great companion to Some Girls. This album can almost be considered their swan song, because this is their last GREAT studio effort. Ironically, every song on this 1981 album was recorded in the 70s. Start Me Up was reportedly pinned the same day as Miss You in '78. Waiting on a Friend dates back to '73. You really can't go wrong with the first half of the album. Start Me Up rocks out, Hangfire and Little T&A have swagger, Slave grooves, Black Limosine jams, and Neighbors certainly ranks as a punky, contemporary classic. Some fans are skeptical about the second half, but really, it is a thing of rare beauty. Worried About You has a great feel, Tops is catchy, Heaven is enchanting (and euphoric), Ain't No Use In Crying is a terrific ballad, and Waiting On A Friend is considered by many as a masterpiece. Ignore all the overcriticism by the devoted 70s fans. If you like rock and roll, get Tattoo You. You WON'T regret it.


The Stones last great album   August 8, 2000
 13 out of 16 found this review helpful

Can this album really be 20 years old? It still stands up quite well and boasts the lead-in song, "Start me Up," which is arguably in the top five of all the Stones rockers. The opening guitar riff by Keith is nearly as memorable as the riff which begins "Satisfaction." This album also contains one of the Stones greatest ballads, "Waiting on a Friend," a sweet, almost un-Rolling Stone-ish sounding song; wistful, bluesy and sweet, which is a word not usually associated with this group. (The video for this song is also the best-ever Stones video).

As with most Stones albums, there are unfortunately some throw-away filler songs here. Keith even manages to croak out a rare singing stint on "Little T and A," which is the best of the filler songs. This is an exuberant and fun album, certainly not the last Hurrah for the Stones, but their last really fine album.


One of the best post-Exile Stones' albums   April 20, 2008
 9 out of 11 found this review helpful

The Rolling Stones had a string of stunning albums, up to "Exile on Main Street." Then, after a number of albums that had some strengths and some weaknesses, "Some Girls," one of their best came out. Then a disappointing "Emotional Rescue." But the Stones bounced back with a pretty good work, "Tattoo You." Many of the albums after "Exile" would have a few great songs--but also a number that did not measure up (and some were little more than filler). There is very little filler on "Tattoo You."

The CD starts out, fittingly enough, with "Start Me Up," an absolutely classic Stones' rocker. The guitar riff is top notch, reminiscent of the best of the group's songs.

"You start me up
. . .
You make a grown man cry."

A real rocker. The band is in fine form here; this song has even been used (ugh) to signal the start of sporting events over the past decade or so.

"Hang Fire." Just 2 minutes and 20 seconds, but what is packed into that brief time frame! The guitars growl nicely and the steady drumming of Charlie Watts provides a firm foundation for this song.

"Black Limousine": Starts with some nice harmonica. This is one of the Stones'' home grown blues songs, a genre at which they have done well (recall the wonderful little classic, "Down in the Hole").

"We used to ride baby,
Ride around in a limousine.
You looked so fine, baby,
You in white and me in red."

Sinuous guitar work is displayed and the Stones' rhythm section lives up to its reputation.

"Waiting on a Friend": A softer sound, and effectively done! This is more intimate and contemplative than other pieces on this album. Nice piano work at the outset.

"I'm just standing in a doorway,
I'm just trying to make some sense.
. . .
I'm not waiting on a lady,
I'm waiting on a friend."

This represents an interesting change of pace.

And these aren't the only songs of interest. As earlier noted, there is not much filler here. Other strong works: "Slave," "Neighbours," "No Use in Cryin'," and so on. Keith's obligatory song on this album is one of his better efforts.

Rolling Stones' fans will appreciate this CD greatly. One of their best between "Exile on Main Street" and the present, along with "Some Girls" and "Bigger Bang."



shoulda quit while they were ahead   March 17, 2002
 8 out of 10 found this review helpful

Mick once said that, to paraphrase, "If I'm still singing 'Satisfaction' when I'm 40 I'm gonna kill myself". Maybe he wouldn't have needed to go that far, but they certainly needed to quit releasing albums and touring. Can anyone (other than a hardcore Stones fan) really remember anything they released after this album? All mediocre at best. But this one wasn't.