THE ROLLING STONES Share 'Sweet Sounds Of Heaven' Single Featuring LADY GAGA And STEVIE WONDER
by BLABBERMOUTH
THE ROLLING STONES. Photo credit: Mark Seliger
THE ROLLING STONES have released the second single, "Sweet Sounds Of Heaven", from their upcoming album "Hackney Diamonds", due on October 20. The track features a bravura vocal performance by Lady Gaga, alongside Stevie Wonder on Fender Rhodes, Moog and piano.
A gospel-infused STONES epic in the lineage of "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Shine A Light", "Sweet Sounds Of Heaven" came about in a spontaneous fashion. STONES frontman Mick Jagger was at his home in London one sunny afternoon, the leaves were rustling as the wind blew through the trees around outside, and he started playing a chord pattern of C, F and B Flat on his piano.
The track was recorded at Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles; Metropolis Studios, London; Sanctuary Studios, Nassau, Bahamas and written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. During sessions in Los Angeles, THE ROLLING STONES invited Stevie Wonder and Lady Gaga to work on "Heaven".
Both Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder have previously performed with THE ROLLING STONES. Lady Gaga joined THE STONES onstage as part of the "50 & Counting" tour in 2012. Their performance of "Gimme Shelter" was eventually released on "GRRR Live" album. Stevie Wonder toured with THE STONES on their American tour in 1972 regularly performing a medley of "Satisfaction" and "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" together.
"Hackney Diamonds" album opener, the recently released single "Angry", is followed by a further 11 tracks. Late drummer Charlie Watts features on two tracks, "Mess It Up" and "Live By The Sword". "Live By The Sword" additionally features bass from former STONES bassist Bill Wyman. "Bite My Head Off" has bass from Paul McCartney, and "Get Close" and "Live By The Sword" feature piano from Elton John.
"Hackney Diamonds" track listing:
01. Angry 02. Get Close 03. Depending On You 04. Bite My Head Off 05. Whole Wide World 06. Dreamy Skies 07. Mess It Up 08. Live By The Sword 09. Driving Me Too Hard 10. Tell Me Straight 11. Sweet Sounds Of Heaven 12. Rolling Stone Blues
The 12-track album, was recorded in various locations around the world, including Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles; Metropolis Studios, London; Sanctuary Studios, Nassau, Bahamas; Electric Lady Studios, New York; and The Hit Factory/Germano Studios, also in New York.
Earlier this month, THE STONES launched the album at a globally livestreamed event from Hackney Empire in East London. The livestream was followed by the premiere of the video for "Angry" starring Emmy-nominated actress Sydney Sweeney ("The White Lotus", "Euphoria", "The Handmaid's Tale"),which to date has had over 17 million views.
"Hackney Diamonds" is THE STONES' first studio set of new material since 2005's "A Bigger Bang". Since then, THE STONES have continued to smash box office records for fun on a series of global sellout tours and released 2016's Grammy Award-winning "Blue & Lonesome", which featured their brilliant versions of many of the blues tracks that helped shape their sound, and topped album charts around the world. Last year, they thrilled European audiences totaling nearly a quarter of a million on the anniversary "Sixty" tour.
"Hackney Diamonds" marks THE ROLLING STONES' first collaboration with New York-born producer and musician Andrew Watt, who was named "Producer Of The Year" at the 2021 Grammy Awards and has worked with Post Malone, Iggy Pop and Elton John.
The "Angry" music video was directed by Francois Rousselet, whose credits include work with Nike, Diesel, Pharrell Williams, and on THE STONES' "Ride 'Em On Down", from "Blue & Lonesome".
The bespoke artwork for "Hackney Diamonds" is by digital animator Paulina Almira.
"Hackney Diamonds" will be released across a number of formats including a special limited RS No. 9 Carnaby Red vinyl, available exclusively to pre-order direct from the flagship store. An exclusive "Hackney Diamonds" merch line is also available from the London store.
THE ROLLING STONES' upcoming LP will be the first since Watts died in 2021.
THE ROLLING STONES released a new track, "Living In A Ghost Town", in 2020.
In 2016, the band released "Blue & Lonesome", a covers collection paying tribute to old-school blues.
Two years ago, Richards told the Los Angeles Times the pandemic delayed work on the new album, while Jagger added, "We have a lot of tracks done, so when the tour's finished, we'll assess where we are with that and continue."
