British icons Rolling Stones will release an anniversary edition of their 1981 album Tattoo You, the special release will also include nine unreleased tracks.
To mark the 40th birthday of the group’s 16th studio album, the band will release an anniversary version on 22nd October 2021. The album includes one of the band’s best-known songs “Start Me Up“, the anniversary edition will include all 11 of the original release’s tracks. Also included is unreleased material reimagined and boosted by newly recorded vocals from the group.
The new edition features unreleased tracks which were made during the original album’s recording and producing process. The newly embellished and unreleased tracks will be included on a special disc, Lost & Found: Rarities. The special disc’s tracklist includes “Living In the Heart Of Love”, a reworked cover of the Jimmy Reed song “Shame, Shame, Shame”, “Drift Away” originally sung by soul singer Dobie Gray and a reggae-infused version of “Start Me Up”.
The group’s anniversary release will also include a live album featuring a track listing of 26 songs. The new release’s companion entitled Still Life: Wembley Stadium 1982 further celebrates the 40th birthday of the group’s release for Tattoo You and documents a London concert held in June in support of the band’s Tattoo You tour. The live album features a wide variety of material, live recordings of the album’s tracks include “Neighbours” and “Hand Fire” and various covers of celebrated songs. Included within the covers is “Just My Imagination” originally performed by The Temptations and the catchy Miracles song “Going To A Go-Go”.
The anniversary edition will be available to purchase in multiple formats, including the standard CD package which features the deluxe double CD and a booklet of 20 pages which includes an essay by author Kevin Howlett and Jeff Slade. Fans will also be able to purchase a 4CD Super Deluxe Boxset which comes with 4 CDs, the reworked album, unreleased tracks over two CDs, Wembley Stadium live album and a Picture Disc featuring the group’s legendary guitarist Keith Richards. Also included within this option is a book full of rare photographs taken at the recording sessions and tour plus interviews with the album’s associate producer Chris Kimsey and many more.
The special release will also be available on wax, the anniversary edition will be released on Black Vinyl, 2LP Deluxe Black Vinyl, 2LP Deluxe Clear Vinyl (Exclusive to the Rolling Stones Store) and as a 5LP Super Deluxe Boxset which features the remastered album, live album as well as a hardback book with over 124 pages with the album’s associate producer’s interview and over 200 photos as well as other special features.
The original album’s release was on 24th August 1981 via Rolling Stones Records, the record label founded and run by the band and was actively involved within the music and recording industry until 1992 when the band signed to Virgin Records. The album comprises mostly of outtakes and unused studio recordings, due to the personal issues and a hectic touring schedule in which the group were undertaking.
The internal turmoil led to difficulties in booking studio times to rehearse and record, thus much of the album’s material is somewhat fragmented. Despite the hurdles faced when recording and producing the album, Tattoo Me received both commercial and critical success and remains one of the group’s underrated albums and reached number two within the UK Album charts and number one within the US Billboard 200.
The legendary group are set to hit the road this year on their ‘No Filer’ tour, the band will be performing in the US over 13 venue dates.
Click here to pre-order the anniversary release.
