Wandering Spirit

Personnel: Mick Jagger (vocals, guitar, Clavinet, harmonica, percussion); Lenny Kravitz (vocals); Jimmy Ripp (guitar, percussion); Frank Simes, Brendan O'Brian (guitar); Jaydee Maness (pedal steel guitar); Robin McKidd (fiddle); Courtney Pine (saxophone); Matt Clifford (virginal, harpsichord); Billy Preston, Benmont Tench (piano, organ); David Bianco (Moog synthesizer); Flea, Doug Wimbish, John Pierce (bass); Curt Bisquera, Jim Keltner (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion); Lynn Davis, Jean McClain, Sweet Singing Cava-Leers, Jeff Pescetto (background vocals).
Engineers: Manu Guiot, John Brough, David Bianco.
Jagger doesn't show any signs of wear on his third -- and by far best -- solo album. If anything, his voice seems to have developed a deeper bottom end without sacrificing any of the highs. This is not always an advantage -- the forced falsetto and rhythmic pulse of "Sweet Thing" causes a nightmarish flashback to the Stones' disco flirtations in the mid-'70s. But more times than not, this disc works. A lot of the credit goes to Jagger's backing band and producer Rick Rubin who keep things lean, mean, and simple. The economy of performance allows Jagger to remain credible on a wide variety of styles -- he delivers a groovin', sultry version of Bill Withers' soul classic "Use Me," a passionate country ballad on "Evening Gown," and even pulls off an Irish traditional folk piece with "Handsome Molly." ~ Roch Parisien