14. Black And Blue (1976)

It’s fair to say that the Stones were a bit unmoored during the post-Mick Taylor interregnum, and Black And Blue is a testament to that assertion. The record bobs and weaves between genre and personnel and the results are actually fairly serviceable. “Melody” makes nice use of pianist/organist Billy Preston’s not insubstantial gifts and is a fantastic jazz offering, while lead track “Hot Stuff” is a fine funk opener with all hands on deck. But the album’s highlights are actually the quieter, more stripped down ballads, “Fool To Cry” and “Memory Motel,” the latter featuring stunning performances by both Mick and Keith on lead vocal.