The Rolling Stones ‘Dirty Work’ … How Bad is This Album? Can it be saved?

I've always liked Dirty Work for it's angry violent feel. Too Rude is a great tune that nobody mentions but you're right about Back to Zero it sucks. All in all I'd say Dirty Work is vastly superior to She's the Boss.

I think you’re spot on that this album deserves a remix. The harsh 80s production was kind of detrimental, but that being said it was a prime example of the guitar weave between Keith and Ron Wood, and that is the highlight the album to me as a guitar interplay. I always thought it was better than the public let on. There are bootlegs of the sessions for dirty work, crushed pearl comes to mind so perhaps a re-release to this album with a companion disc would be in order. I also think that just another night was at one point demote as a stone song so perhaps if the band finished that. One thing that album also was known for was how Steve Lily White brought Charlie‘s drums out front. we need more of that.

undercover was my summer album of 1983,love the whole album.

I love this record. Listen on vinyl for full effect.

I always thought this album was difficult but highly rewarding – with conflicted lyrics and deep chewy grooves it captures the fractious state of the Stones and pushes against the cultural/political zeitgeist, but is laden with excessive synths and backing vocals by guests that are distractions rather than enhancements.
But it honestly captures, as you said, the internal dynamics of the band at what was then seen as likely the bitter end of their great career, as well as the dark Reagan/Thatcher era of realpolitik and nationalism as a justification for greed and other bad behaviour around the world. The songs nudge listeners away from violent escapism and "the spectacle" of corporatism and TV wars. The history-inspired 'Hold Back' is as didactic and furious as any Stones song, with a churning funk groove and an amazing jam at the end. The title song likewise advocates against the kind of corrupt leaders we have only grown more comfortable with, driven by a punky yet jazz-like rave up near the fade. Several songs carry a nuclear anxiety that was in the air at that time. And the closing 'Sleep' is a beautiful, calming ballad that offers deep respite after all the backstabbing and doom that precedes it
So, despite some production lapses, I'll take it over the relatively bland Steel Wheels any day! A unique record in the Stones' ouevre, that carries a lot of seriousness and passion with the ennui.

I listened to the entire Stones discography a few years ago and I thought Dirty Work is not as bad as what others have said about it. I certainly like it more than Steel Wheels and Undercover.

If you combine the best songs from the Jagger solo album and dirty work album into one single album it would have been a classic album.

I think it is a decent album and its improved over time

I'd pull any synths, take a close look at the drum miking and turn them down. Obviously the 80's was rough for 60's generation rock legends

Just another forgettable Rolling Stones album. I must admit a liking to "I've had it with you", though.

I love this album, I think it's better than Undercover. There are some gems on there

I bought this on cassette when it came out and I loved it. It's a huge and angry sounding record. It kind of lacks the ramshackle charm of the 70s stuff but it's really good in an OTT way.

I just listed to the album early this week. If I'm honest I like this album more than some of their more popular one. I won't tell you which one!

No. It’s basically crap albeit a couple of moments actually the 1980s. Wasnt their decade. Even tattoo you I agree with you is mainly retakes

Dirty Work was a huge step up from their previous couple of records – a serious improvement. Reviewed it three years ago and wrote this:

From the first few seconds of One Hit (To the Body) it's clear that this is a different proposition from the last few Stones albums. It's much better recorded. The guitars sound really good, the bass is powerful and full, bass and drums are tightly locked together, it sounds slick and well-produced.

Clearly, someone identified a problem and it was fixed on this record. Steve Lillywhite was brought in to produce it, so I have to assume that's where the credit lies.

Only one tune sounds a bit slapdash – Sleep Tonight, which Keith sings. There's an obvious Dire Straits influence on this one; it was clearly a highly infectious sound – I recall that even Jethro Tull added a Knopfler-sounding tune to their repertoire around this time.

Bill Wyman is credited as playing bass throughout, except for Winning Ugly on which John Regan (in Frehley's Comet at the time) is credited with four string duties. However, unless Bill took bass lessons and possibly some amphetamines before recording this album, I simply don't believe it. The bass sounds right in the pocket through the whole album and there's at least one tune with some very nice funk bass that he simply wasn't capable of.

Wouldn't be the first time that a producer brought in a session man (or several) to cover the inadequacies of one (or more) of the band.

Jimmy Page plays on One Shot (To the Body).

Good record! I especially liked the dub reggae tune, a cover of Half Pint's Too Rude (with Ronnie Wood on drums!) and the cover of Harlem Shuffle, which swings beautifully. But it's all good, even if there are no classics.

I don't think anyone actually likes Dirty Works (except for a few kooks perhaps).

It's just that with legacy bands like this to people first love the band because they love their music, and once they pass their peak or jump to the shark, they're committed to "liking' their stinkers not my because they actually like them but because they love the band. It's like supporting your favorite sports team even when they're losing.

The Stones did turn it around later at least but they went to through a long period of suck.