"Back to Basics" (2015), Wyman's fourth solo album, remains a living document of some of Bill Wyman's rare visits to the recording studio singing and performing his own post-Stones original material.
As an album, it does exactly what it says on the tin. It is unashamedly stripped back. The lyrics are refreshingly audible and the instrumentation is clean, subtle and accomplished. As might be expected from one of the world's “50 greatest bass players of all time (Rolling Stone),” the album drives along with a rhythmic muscularity, and then slows the pace for more autobiographical lyric and melody. It wears its influences on its sleeve – Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, JJ Cale – and there’s more than a passing nod to Bill’s own English background. Terry Taylor, a Wyman accomplice for decades, Robbie McIntosh (Paul McCartney), Andy Wright (Eurythmics/Jeff Beck) and Guy Fletcher (Mark Knopfler) join him in the effort.
In a 2015 interview, Wyman says,
“…So I didn’t really have time to do another solo album, and it was one of the last things I thought about, but last year, songs started appearing and then I thought, ‘Oh, what the hell. I’ll do it.’ And then I thought, ‘Am I too old to get into this again?’ (Laughs) But then I thought, well, the Stones are still doing it; blues artists played ’til they dropped – so do classical musicians, poets, writers, sculptors and everybody, so what the hell….” ~ Bill Wyman, Clash Magazine Music interview, 2015.
At the time, Wyman’s fifth solo release after a 33-year hiatus had been long overdue—but he had been busy. Since his 31 years spent in the Rolling Stones, Wyman has authored many books, became a globally exhibited photographer, a metal detecting expert with his own brand of metal detector, a producer, a composer for film and TV, and founded and toured with the storied Rhythm Kings.
As he approaches 89, Wyman is still nothing if not prolific. In the last three years alone, he appeared on one of the last tracks recorded by Charlie Watts on the Grammy winning Rolling Stones “Hackney Diamonds” album, published his latest book, “Billy in The Wars,” an illustrated recollection of his childhood experiences growing up in England, and released a sixth solo album, “Drive My Car.”
This blue vinyl edition is limited to 1,000 copies worldwide. The album remains available on digital and CD formats.
Tracklisting:
1. What& How & If & When & Why
2. I Lost My Ring
3. Love, Love, Love
4. Stuff
5. Running Back To You
6. She's Wonderful
SIDE B
1. Seventeen
2. I'll Pull You Through
3. November
4. Just A Friend Of Mine
5. It's A Lovely Day
6. I Got Time
"Back to Basics" (2015), Wyman's fourth solo album, remains a living document of some of Bill Wyman's rare visits to the recording studio singing and performing his own post-Stones original material.
As an album, it does exactly what it says on the tin. It is unashamedly stripped back. The lyrics are refreshingly audible and the instrumentation is clean, subtle and accomplished. As might be expected from one of the world's “50 greatest bass players of all time (Rolling Stone),” the album drives along with a rhythmic muscularity, and then slows the pace for more autobiographical lyric and melody. It wears its influences on its sleeve – Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, JJ Cale – and there’s more than a passing nod to Bill’s own English background. Terry Taylor, a Wyman accomplice for decades, Robbie McIntosh (Paul McCartney), Andy Wright (Eurythmics/Jeff Beck) and Guy Fletcher (Mark Knopfler) join him in the effort.
In a 2015 interview, Wyman says,
“…So I didn’t really have time to do another solo album, and it was one of the last things I thought about, but last year, songs started appearing and then I thought, ‘Oh, what the hell. I’ll do it.’ And then I thought, ‘Am I too old to get into this again?’ (Laughs) But then I thought, well, the Stones are still doing it; blues artists played ’til they dropped – so do classical musicians, poets, writers, sculptors and everybody, so what the hell….” ~ Bill Wyman, Clash Magazine Music interview, 2015.
At the time, Wyman’s fifth solo release after a 33-year hiatus had been long overdue—but he had been busy. Since his 31 years spent in the Rolling Stones, Wyman has authored many books, became a globally exhibited photographer, a metal detecting expert with his own brand of metal detector, a producer, a composer for film and TV, and founded and toured with the storied Rhythm Kings.
As he approaches 89, Wyman is still nothing if not prolific. In the last three years alone, he appeared on one of the last tracks recorded by Charlie Watts on the Grammy winning Rolling Stones “Hackney Diamonds” album, published his latest book, “Billy in The Wars,” an illustrated recollection of his childhood experiences growing up in England, and released a sixth solo album, “Drive My Car.”
This blue vinyl edition is limited to 1,000 copies worldwide. The album remains available on digital and CD formats.
Tracklisting:
1. What& How & If & When & Why
2. I Lost My Ring
3. Love, Love, Love
4. Stuff
5. Running Back To You
6. She's Wonderful
SIDE B
1. Seventeen
2. I'll Pull You Through
3. November
4. Just A Friend Of Mine
5. It's A Lovely Day
6. I Got Time
Available in:
CD, Vinyl, and Digital Download
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