She's The Boss

Mick Jagger

Columbia Records, 1985

http://www.mickjagger.com/

REVIEW BY: Eric E5S16

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 06/13/2000

How it was ever determined that She's The Boss, Mick Jagger's first solo album, is considered a Mick Jagger album? In most cases, when individuals of a well-known group drift apart, and release solo albums, the music contained on these albums are different in sound and/or concept than their group's releases. But in Jagger's case with She's The Boss, it's not, and to most people, this album can be considered another Rolling Stones album.

At the time in 1985, Jagger and Keith Richards were feuding, and maybe the nine songs on She's The Boss were meant to be intended for a future Stones album. (There is only one song on this album in which both Jagger and Richards co-wrote: "Lonely At The Top"; the others were written by Jagger and or co-wrote with others.)

Take the case of the opening track "Lonely At The Top." It has everything a 1980s Rolling Stones song has. It's rocking, and has the Stones rock sound. "1/2 A Loaf" is another Stones sound-alike song that could have easily been used on their album future 1989 album my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250 Steel Wheels. And even "Running Out Of Luck" could have been another selection for Steel Wheels. They both blend in with the rest of the songs that would become Steel Wheels, and even though these songs are Mick Jagger solo tunes, they're more considered as Rolling Stones songs in sound.

"Turn The Girl Loose" is a song that could of been included on the Stones' albums Undercover and/or Dirty Work. This song brings out the best in Jagger, and since Undercover and Dirty Work were not considered all-time great Stones albums, "Turn The Girl Loose" would have given these two albums more spark. "Turn The Girl Loose" is a cool tune, and how it became a B-side to the song most remembered on She's The Boss is beyond me. (More on that well-remembered song soon-to-come.)

"Hard Woman" brings out the soft side of Jagger. This song is a good ballad, and could of been included as a good slowdown song for Tattoo You.

Which brings us to the most remembered song on the album, "Just Another Night." This song is classic Jagger. And again, this song can easily be seen being played with Jagger and the rest of the Stones. "Just Another Night" is one of my favorite songs, as this song is energetic, with the guitar and bass lines, likewise this song getting the repeat button never gets tiring.

"Lucky In Love" is a hard-driven pop/rock song, with some heavy rock-blues guitar riffs. This song could be on any Eighties Stones album. "Secrets" is another song in the style of Steel Wheels, especially one song from that album, "One Hit To The Body." The title track has a somewhat-James Brown vocal inspiration ("Living In America"), and an almost disco-inspired beat; yet this song could be on any Eighties Stones album (probably Emotional Rescue).

For the ultimate Stones fan, in listening to Jagger's She's The Boss, it is most definitely a Rolling Stones album - a good and decent album. The songs on this album are your typical Mick and the Boys rock and roll, 1980s style. Despite the fact that Jagger and Richards were feuding, they were able to patch things up, and remain recording with the rest of the Rolling Stones (even though bassist Bill Wyman left in 1992), and still record new albums throughout the rest of the 1990s.

She's The Boss asks the question "Is it the Rolling Stones or is it Mick Jagger?" The answer is "Yes...and Yes..." They're both. The Stones fan will not be disappointed by this album.

Rating: A

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