Keith Richards Announces 30th Anniversary Reissue of Stone Cold Classic ‘Talk Is Cheap’

Keith Richards’ debut solo album, ‘Talk Is Cheap’ celebrates its 30th anniversary and released as a Super Deluxe Box Set, Deluxe Box Set, CD, LP, and Digital Download, on March 29th. ‘Talk Is Cheap’ will be released via BMG.



Back in 1988 Keith Richards released his first ever solo album, ‘Talk Is Cheap’. The eleven track album, which is essentially a masterclass in all that is good in rock’n’roll, had its genesis in 1986, when Keith was restless during an inactive period with The Rolling Stones.

Keith had worked with drummer Steve Jordan, on the Chuck Berry film, ‘Hail Hail Rock ‘n Roll’, and was looking for a new challenge. A solo album was something he’d never before considered, and initially had to be “dragged kicking and screaming” into the studio.

Keith had always been a one-band man during his career with the Stones:

“My central focus had always been that one thing,” Keith says. “I felt like in the Stones I had the perfect vehicle for what I wanted to do. I couldn’t imagine putting something else together would be equally satisfying.”

Eventually coming around to the idea, Keith put together his band, X-Pensive Winos, which in addition to Jordan, included Waddy Watchel on guitar, Charley Drayton, who plays bass and drums, and singer and keyboardist, Ivan Neville, son of Aaron Neville, and nephew of the Neville Brothers. All of the band are multi-instrumentalists, and they joined forces at Le Studio, outside Quebec, where the music quickly started flowing.

Recording later moved to Montserrat, and Bermuda, and other places where artists such as Sarah Dash, Bootsy Collins, Maceo Parker, The Memphis Horns, Patti Sciafia, and Mick Taylor, all made guest appearances.

‘Talk Is Cheap’ sounds as fresh as it did thirty years ago – there’s a certain joyousness that inhabits each song. The reissue includes 6 bonus tracks – four of which feature pianist Johnnie Johnson: Eddie Taylor’s ‘Big Town Playboy’, ‘Blues Jam’, Slim’, and a cover of Jimmy Reed’s ‘My Babe’.

The Super Deluxe and Deluxe box set includes special, exclusive housing and folios, extensive sleeve notes by Anthony De Curtis telling the story of the album’s production, release and cultural impact, unseen photo’s and rare memorabilia.

“This album holds up,“ Keith Richards says. “I’ve been listening to it and not through the mists of nostalgia either because it doesn’t affect me that way. This is more than the sum of its parts. I really admire it. We were having fun and you can hear it.”

‘Talk Is Cheap’ is available to pre-order here. Find Keith Richards online on his official website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Keith Richards - My Babe (Official Lyrics Video)

About the author

Lisa has been writing for over 20 years, starting as the entertainment editor on her university newspaper. Since then she's written for Popwrapped, Maximum Pop, Celebmix, and ListenOnRepeat.

Lisa loves all good music, with particular fondness for Jedward and David Bowie. She's interviewed Edward Grimes (Jedward), Kevin Godley, Trevor Horn, Paul Young, Peter Cox (Go West), Brendan B Brown (Wheatus), Bruce Foxton (The Jam), among many many more. Lisa is also available for freelance writing - please email lisa@essentiallypop.com