Wandering Spirit (album)
Wandering Spirit is the third solo album by Mick Jagger. Released in 1993, it was his only solo album release of the 1990s.
Following The Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels (1989), Jagger began writing new material for what would become Wandering Spirit. In January 1992, after landing Rick Rubin as co-producer, Jagger recorded the album in Los Angeles over seven months until September 1992, recording simultaneously as Keith Richards was making Main Offender.
Jagger kept the celebrity guests to a minimum on Wandering Spirit, only having Lenny Kravitz as a vocalist on his cover of Bill Withers' "Use Me" and bassist Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers on three tracks.
Following the end of The Rolling Stones' Sony Music contract and their signing to Virgin Records, Jagger elected to sign with Atlantic Records (which had signed the Stones in the 1970s) to distribute what would be his only album with the label.
Critical reception
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| Source | Rating |
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| Allmusic |   [1] |
Released in February 1993, Wandering Spirit was commercially successful, reaching #12 in the UK and #11 in the US, going gold there. The track "Sweet Thing" was the lead single, although it was the second single, "Don't Tear Me Up", which found moderate success, topping Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart for one week. Critical reaction was very strong, noting Jagger's abandonment of slick synthesizers in favour of an incisive and lean guitar sound.
Track listing
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| 1. | "Wired All Night" | Mick Jagger | 4:05 |
| 2. | "Sweet Thing" | Jagger | 4:19 |
| 3. | "Out of Focus" | Jagger | 4:36 |
| 4. | "Don't Tear Me Up" | Jagger | 4:11 |
| 5. | "Put Me in the Trash" | Jagger, Jimmy Rip | 3:35 |
| 6. | "Use Me" | Bill Withers | 4:28 |
| 7. | "Evening Gown" | Jagger | 3:33 |
| 8. | "Mother of a Man" | Jagger | 4:18 |
| 9. | "Think" | Lowman Pauling | 2:59 |
| 10. | "Wandering Spirit" | Jagger, Rip | 4:18 |
| 11. | "Hang On to Me Tonight" | Jagger | 4:37 |
| 12. | "I've Been Lonely for So Long" | Posie Knight, Jerry Weaver | 3:29 |
| 13. | "Angel in My Heart" | Jagger | 3:24 |
| 14. | "Handsome Molly" | Traditional | 2:06 |
| Total length: | 53:58 |
Personnel
- Mick Jagger – lead vocals, guitar, clavinet, harmonica, and percussion
- David Bianco – Moog synthesizer
- Curt Bisquera – drums
- Lenny Castro – percussion
- Matt Clifford – virginal, harpsichord, conductor, and string arrangement
- Flea – bass guitar on "Out of Focus", "Use Me" and "I've Been Lonely for So Long"
- Lynn Davis – backing vocals
- Jim Keltner – drums on "Evening Gown"
- Lenny Kravitz – vocals on "Use Me"
- Jay Dee Maness – pedal steel guitar
- Jean McClain – backing vocals
- Pamela Quinlan – backing vocals
- Robin McKidd – fiddle
- Brendan O'Brien – guitar
- Jeff Pescetto – backing vocals
- John Pierce – bass guitar (tracks: 1, 4, 5, 7 to 11, 13, 14)
- Courtney Pine – saxophone
- Billy Preston – piano, organ, and clavinet
- Jimmy Rip – guitar and percussion
- Frank Simes – guitar
- Benmont Tench – piano and organ
- Doug Wimbish – bass guitar on "Sweet Thing"
- Annie Leibovitz - photography
- Album
- Singles
| Year |
Single |
Chart |
Position |
|---|
| 1993 |
"Sweet Thing" |
UK Top 100 Singles |
24[4] |
| 1993 |
"Sweet Thing" |
Mainstream Rock Tracks |
34[5] |
| 1993 |
"Sweet Thing" |
Billboard Hot 100 |
84[6] |
| 1993 |
"Don't Tear Me Up" |
UK Top 100 Singles |
86 |
| 1993 |
"Don't Tear Me Up" |
Mainstream Rock Tracks |
1[7] |
| 1993 |
"Wired All Night" |
Mainstream Rock Tracks |
3[8] |
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Notes
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