The Rolling Stones Release 'Tattoo You'

Tattoo You is the 16th studio album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1981.

The follow-up to Emotional Rescue, it proved to be a big critical and commercial success upon its release, and is considered by many to be one of The Rolling Stones' finest full-length releases, despite its prolonged recording history. A very popular album upon release, it is the last Rolling Stones album to reach the top position of the US charts, ending a string of number ones dating back to 1971's Sticky Fingers. In 1994, Tattoo You was remastered and reissued by Virgin Records, and again in 2009 by Universal Music.

There's no denying it, unfortunately--this is a damn good record, a great band showing off its mastery, like Muddy Waters (just as a for instance) getting it up one more once. But where Some Girls had impact as a Rolling Stones record, a major statement by artists with something to state, the satisfactions here are stylistic--harmonies, fills, momentum. And the lead singer isn't getting any less mean-spirited as he pushes forty.