Bill Wyman Back To Basics (LP)

BILLY WYMAN's 2015 solo album, “Back To Basics,” does exactly what the title implies: it returns to the basics in a completely unabashed way. The sharp lyrics are refreshingly easy to understand and the instrumentation is clean, subtle, and skillful.
WYMAN's first solo album in 33 years clearly reveals his influences—TOM WAITS, LEONARD COHEN, JJ CALE—and there is more than just a slight nod to WYMAN's British background. “Back To Basics” is a rare phenomenon; a compilation of styles and genres that actually fit together and are at once lively and positive, yet introspective in a bluesy, narrative way. In the 33 years since his last solo album in 1982, WYMAN has by no means been idle: 31 years with the ROLLING STONES, author of seven scholarly books, internationally exhibited photographer, expert on metal detectors, producer, composer for film and television, and founder of the successful RHYTHM KINGS, who regularly release albums and tour.
 
While archiving old demos last year, he realized he had around 60 songs he had never released. He selected three songs that needed a little work and did just that. He put them alongside brand new songs and went into the studio to record them. Of the twelve tracks on this album, eight are new songs. Musicians featured on the album include guitarist Terry Taylor, Guy Fletcher (MARK KNOPFLER), Graham Broad, and Robbie McIntosh, while Andy Wright (JEFF BECK, EURYTHMICS, SIMPLY RED) is credited as co-producer.