A Bigger Bang
Encyclopedia
A Bigger Bang is the 22nd British and 24th American studio album by The Rolling Stones
, released on Virgin Records
in September 2005. It is a follow-up to their previous full-length studio album Bridges to Babylon
from 1997, that gap of eight years the longest between studio albums of the band's recording career. Released as a double album
on vinyl
and a single compact disc
, it was produced by Don Was
and The Glimmer Twins
.
, but with a harder, more contemporary edge. Many of these songs were recorded with just the core band of Jagger, Richards and Watts. Ronnie Wood was absent from some of the sessions, playing on only ten of the 16 tracks, with only very occasional contributions from outside musicians comprising the recording of the album.
Although initial reports stated that the Stones had "returned to their roots" with the record, the minimal instrumentation, rough mix, and tough blues and "garage" rock hybrid bear certain similarities to the style of contemporary artists like The White Stripes
and The Black Keys
. The album is the first on which Jagger also plays bass guitar
on some tracks.
," which was critical of both President George W. Bush
and American politics in general, and caused minor controversy.
In August 2005 the Rolling Stones embarked on the A Bigger Bang Tour
in support of the album. The 90-show phenomenon is the largest tour in North American history and was met with sold-out tickets at every destination, usually within minutes of opening. The tour was extended into 2007 because Richards fell out of a tree in Fiji
. It concluded on August 2007 at the O2 Arena
in London.
Critical reaction was mostly positive. A Bigger Bang was touted as the best Rolling Stones album since 1981's Tattoo You
and found the band in a revitalized state. Nevertheless, all of the Stones albums since 1989's Steel Wheels
had been similarly lauded, and many critics and fans felt that the Stones had yet to record a late-period album truly up to their high standards, though the rock-oriented nature of the record certainly appeased the Stones' loyal fanbase. It was chosen as one of Amazon.com
's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005, and ranked the second-best album of the year by Rolling Stone
magazine, behind rapper Kanye West
's Late Registration
.
A Bigger Bang went platinum in the US and in Germany, and Gold in Japan. According to Nielsen SoundScan
it sold 546,000 copies in the US, and as of 31 March 2006, had sold 2.4 million copies worldwide according to EMI
.
In 2009, A Bigger Bang was reissued by Universal Music Group
. The US re-release was handled by Interscope Records, while Polydor Records handled all other territories.
Singles
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, released on Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
in September 2005. It is a follow-up to their previous full-length studio album Bridges to Babylon
Bridges to Babylon
Bridges to Babylon is a studio album by British rock band The Rolling Stones, released by Virgin Records on 29 September 1997. It would prove to be the band's final studio album of the 1990s and their last full-length release of new songs until 2005's A Bigger Bang...
from 1997, that gap of eight years the longest between studio albums of the band's recording career. Released as a double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
on vinyl
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
and a single compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
, it was produced by Don Was
Don Was
Don Was is an American musician, bassist and record producer.-Life and career:Was was born in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Oak Park High School in the Detroit suburb of Oak Park, then attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor but dropped out after the first year...
and The Glimmer Twins
Jagger/Richards
The songwriting partnership of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, known as Jagger/Richards , is a musical collaboration whose output has produced the majority of the catalogue of The Rolling Stones....
.
History
The album used a stripped-down style reminiscent of Some GirlsSome Girls
Some Girls is the 14th British and 16th American studio album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1978 on Rolling Stones Records, catalogue COC 39108...
, but with a harder, more contemporary edge. Many of these songs were recorded with just the core band of Jagger, Richards and Watts. Ronnie Wood was absent from some of the sessions, playing on only ten of the 16 tracks, with only very occasional contributions from outside musicians comprising the recording of the album.
Although initial reports stated that the Stones had "returned to their roots" with the record, the minimal instrumentation, rough mix, and tough blues and "garage" rock hybrid bear certain similarities to the style of contemporary artists like The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
and The Black Keys
The Black Keys
The Black Keys are an American rock duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney. The band was formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. As of October 2011, the band has sold over 2 million albums in the U.S....
. The album is the first on which Jagger also plays bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
on some tracks.
Content
The first single, "Streets of Love/Rough Justice", reached #15 in the UK singles chart, while A Bigger Bang entered the UK charts at #2, and #3 in the US and France. However, like all of The Rolling Stones' studio albums from Undercover onwards, its commercial performance was not enormous, as its singles failed to become major hits in the US. Even before the singles were released, A Bigger Bang was noted for the song "Sweet Neo ConNeoconservatism
Neoconservatism in the United States is a branch of American conservatism. Since 2001, neoconservatism has been associated with democracy promotion, that is with assisting movements for democracy, in some cases by economic sanctions or military action....
," which was critical of both President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and American politics in general, and caused minor controversy.
In August 2005 the Rolling Stones embarked on the A Bigger Bang Tour
A Bigger Bang Tour
A Bigger Bang Tour was a worldwide concert tour by The Rolling Stones which took place between August 2005 and August 2007, in support of their album A Bigger Bang...
in support of the album. The 90-show phenomenon is the largest tour in North American history and was met with sold-out tickets at every destination, usually within minutes of opening. The tour was extended into 2007 because Richards fell out of a tree in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. It concluded on August 2007 at the O2 Arena
The O2 arena (London)
The O2 Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in the centre of The O2, a large entertainment complex on the Greenwich peninsula in London, England.With a capacity of up to 20,000 depending on the event, it is second largest...
in London.
Critical reaction was mostly positive. A Bigger Bang was touted as the best Rolling Stones album since 1981's Tattoo You
Tattoo You
Tattoo You is the 16th British and 18th American 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...
and found the band in a revitalized state. Nevertheless, all of the Stones albums since 1989's Steel Wheels
Steel Wheels
Steel Wheels is the 19th British and 21st American studio album by The Rolling Stones and was released in 1989. Heralded as a major comeback upon its release, the project is notable for the patching up of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards' relationship, a reversion to a more classic style of music and...
had been similarly lauded, and many critics and fans felt that the Stones had yet to record a late-period album truly up to their high standards, though the rock-oriented nature of the record certainly appeased the Stones' loyal fanbase. It was chosen as one of Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005, and ranked the second-best album of the year by Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine, behind rapper Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
's Late Registration
Late Registration
Late Registration is the second studio album by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released August 30, 2005, on Roc-A-Fella Records. Recording sessions for the album took place over the course of a year at various recording studios located in New York City and Hollywood...
.
A Bigger Bang went platinum in the US and in Germany, and Gold in Japan. According to Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan is an information and sales tracking system created by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett. Soundscan is the official method of tracking sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada...
it sold 546,000 copies in the US, and as of 31 March 2006, had sold 2.4 million copies worldwide according to EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
.
In 2009, A Bigger Bang was reissued by Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
. The US re-release was handled by Interscope Records, while Polydor Records handled all other territories.
Track listing
Personnel
- Mick JaggerMick JaggerSir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
– lead vocals, backing vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Keith RichardsKeith RichardsKeith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, backing vocals, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, lead vocals on "This Place is Empty" and "Infamy" - Ronnie Wood – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s - Charlie WattsCharlie WattsCharles Robert "Charlie" Watts is an English drummer, best known as a member of The Rolling Stones. He is also the leader of a jazz band, a record producer, commercial artist, and horse breeder.-Early life:...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Additional personnel
- Darryl JonesDarryl JonesDarryl Jones , also known as "The Munch", is an American bass guitarist. Jones began his notable career as a session musician, where he gained the experience and confidence to play with some of the most highly regarded recording artists, in jazz, blues, and rock music...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Chuck LeavellChuck LeavellChuck Leavell is an American pianist and keyboardist, who was a member of The Allman Brothers Band throughout the height of their popularity, a founding member of the jazz-rock combo Sea Level, a frequently-employed session musician, and later, the keyboardist for Eric Clapton and The Rolling...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
on "Rough Justice", "It Won't Take Long", "Streets of Love", "Biggest Mistake", and "Driving Too Fast" - Blondie ChaplinBlondie ChaplinTerence William 'Blondie' Chaplin is a musician from Durban, South Africa who first became known to international audiences through his brief stint in the early 1970s as a singer and guitarist for The Beach Boys...
– backing vocals on "She Saw Me Coming" and "Infamy" - Matt Clifford – keyboards, arrangements and programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
, vibraphoneVibraphoneThe vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
on "Rain Fall Down" and "Streets of Love" - Lenny CastroLenny CastroLenny Castro is an American freelancing percussionist in the studio recording industry in the Los Angeles area.-Early life:Castro is a percussionist of Puerto Rican descent and was born and raised in New York City. His father, Hector Castro, played the keyboard in a Latin style and gave his son...
– percussion on "Look What the Cat Dragged In" - Don WasDon WasDon Was is an American musician, bassist and record producer.-Life and career:Was was born in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Oak Park High School in the Detroit suburb of Oak Park, then attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor but dropped out after the first year...
- piano on "This Place is Empty"
Chart positions
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | UK Top 75 Albums | 2 |
| 2005 | The Billboard 200 | 3 |
| 2006 | The Billboard 200 | 128 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Rough Justice" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 25 |
| 2005 | "Streets of Love"/"Rough Justice" | UK Top 75 Singles | 15 |
| 2005 | "Oh No, Not You Again" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 34 |
| 2005 | "Rain Fall Down" | UK Top 75 Singles | 33 |
| 2006 | "Rain Fall Down" | Hot Dance Singles/Club Play | 21 |
| 2006 | "Biggest Mistake" | UK Top 75 Singles | 51 |
Worldwide Sales charts
| Country | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Worldwide | 1 |
| Europe | 1 |
| Italy | 1 |
| Argentina | 1 |
| Netherlands | 1 |
| Germany | 1 |
| Swiss | 1 |
| Sweden | 1 |
| Denmark | 1 |
| Canada | 1 |
| Austria | 1 |
| U.K | 2 |
| Spain | 2 |
| Czech Republic | 2 |
| New Zealand | 2 |
| Poland | 2 |
| Norway | 2 |
| France | 3 |
| U.S | 3 |
| Greece | 3 |
| Belgium | 3 |
| Australia | 4 |
| Finland | 4 |
| Japan | 5 |
| Portugal | 5 |
| Hungary | 10 |
| Brazil | 14 |
| Ireland | 18 |
Certifications
| Country | Provider | Certification Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales thresholds) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | RIAA Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... |
Platinum |
| France | SNEP Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
Gold |
| United Kingdom | BPI British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... |
Gold |
| Germany | IFPI | Platinum |