For his seventh solo recording I Feel Like Playing, Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood has assembled a fine cast of musicians to help him get the job done. Along for the ride here on this bluesy, poppy, and at times hard rockin' excursion are Slash, Flea, Billy Gibbons, Bobby Womack, Kris Kristofferson, Ian McLagen, Ivan Neville, and others.
Ronnie might not be the worlds best singer, but his laid back drawl on these otherwise very memorable songs does the trick just fine. Bluesy opener "Why You Wanna Go and Do a Thing Like That For" sees Wood & Slash dueling it out on lead & slide guitars while Flea's bass rumbles underneath and Neville's keyboards smolder. The reggae-ish "Sweetness My Weakness" is a charming little piece that again features Slash along with fellow Stones member Darryl Jones on bass. The single on this CD is "Lucky Man", an addicting pop rocker with some stinging lead guitar from Wood and Bob Rock and raging organ courtesy of Wood's former bandmate in The Faces, Ian McLagan. Neville returns again on the gospel blues of "I Gotta See", a tune that also features a fiery guitar solo from ZZ Top legend Billy Gibbons. The guitarist also lays down some mean & chunky riffs alongside Wood on the heavy rocker "Thing About You", and his unmistakable lead work simply sizzles here. Wood's penchant for writing R&B flavored pop can be heard on "Catch You", and he gets down into a tight, funky groove with Slash, Flea, Neville, and vocalist Bernard Fowler on a fun remake of "Spoonful".
"I Don't Think So" and "100%" are two fiery hard rockers, which include some hot lead guitar work from acclaimed session man Waddy Wachtel, and the blistering heavy blues of "Fancy Pants" recalls vintage Faces, with Wood, Slash, and McLagen delivering some molten lead guitar, slide, and organ solos. "Tell Me Something" is a rootsy, catchy, Stones-ish rocker with a fun vocal from Wood, and album closer "Forever" is a passionate number with powerful backing vocals from Fowler & Womack, as well as tasty Hammond riffs from Neville and stinging blues solos from Slash.
Though he's been doing it for many years, Ronnie Wood proves here on I Feel Like Playing that he has a lot to offer besides being second wheel to the Mick & Keith show in The Rolling Stones, and has many strengths as a solo artist. With a top notch assortment of guest musicians & vocalists, plus Ronnie's trademark musical & vocal skills, not to mention some really fun & catchy songs, I Feel Like Playing is one hell of a good time.
Track Listing
- Why You Wanna Go and Do a Thing Like That For
- Sweetness My Weakness
- Lucky Man
- I Gotta See
- Thing About You
- Catch You
- Spoonful
- I Don't Think So
- 100%
- Fancy Pants
- Tell Me Something
- Forever
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