She's the Boss

Personnel includes: Mick Jagger (vocals); G.E. Smith (guitar); Chuck Levall (keyboards); Bernard Edwards (bass); Steve Ferrone (drums); Robbie Shakespear, Sly Dunbar, Jeff Beck, Jan Hammer, Pete Townshend, Herbie Hancock.
Producers: Mick Jagger, Nile Rodgers, Bill Laswell.
On 1985's SHE'S THE BOSS, Mick Jagger leaves behind the classic blues- and R&B-influenced Rolling Stones sound and, instead, moves forward in a more contemporary vein. Jeff Beck (one of the many guests on the album) provides virtuosic guitar work, but here his approach has more in common with the transitional sounds of the mid-'80s than it does with old-school rock & roll. Further, Sly Dunbar's electronic drum kit adds a synthetic feel to many of these tracks.
Despite the lack of a strong Stones vibe, these songs still play to Jagger's strengths. For instance, "Running Out of Luck" is a simple tune that focuses on bad luck and demoralization (favorite Jagger subjects) to create a perfect combination of orthodox rock and mid-'80s pop. Likewise, the opening cut, "Lonely at the Top" is a straight-up rocker, gilded by heavy use of synthesizers. The highlight of SHE'S THE BOSS is "Hard Woman," a tender ballad about love gone wrong. On this selection, Jagger croons over a lush string section, while Pete Townshend fills up the spaces with gentle acoustic guitar strumming.