Trouble (Keith Richards song)

"Trouble" is a song by English musician and guitarist of the rock band The Rolling Stones, Keith Richards. The song was written and produced by Richards and American musician Steve Jordan for Richards' third studio album, Crosseyed Heart (2015). It is a revision of an unreleased demo called Just Because from Rolling Stones recording sessions at Studio Guillaume Tell, Suresnes, France, May 13-June 7 2002. "Trouble" was released by Mindless, Richards' own record label as a digital single on 17 July 2015 through iHeartRadio.[1] "Trouble" became the first major single released by Richards since "Eileen", launched in 1993 from the album Main Offender (1992). It reached #20 on Billboard's Adult Alternative Songs and #64 on UK's Top 100 Airplay Chart.

"Trouble"
Single by Keith Richards
from the album Crosseyed Heart
Released17 July 2015
GenreRock and roll
Length4:18
LabelMindless
Songwriter(s)Keith Richards, Steve Jordan
Producer(s)Keith Richards, Steve Jordan
Keith Richards singles chronology
"Eileen"
(1993)
"Trouble"
(2015)
"Heartstopper"
(2015)

Background and composition edit

I had a ball making this new record and working with Steve Jordan and Waddy Wachtel again. There's nothing like walking into a studio and having absolutely no idea what you’re going to come out with on the other end. If you’re looking for 'Trouble', you've come to the right place.

Richards in a press release.[2][3]

Keith Richards, member of the English rock band The Rolling Stones, released his third solo studio album Crosseyed Heart on 18 September 2015, through Mindless Records,[4] his first since Main Offender, released in 1992.[5][6] Crosseyed Heart counts with the collaboration of American musician Steve Jordan as Richards' co-writer and co-producer.[7] The X-Pensive Winos,[8] Richards' supporting band, provided other instruments to the song:[9] Jordan on drums, Waddy Wachtel on the guitar, and Bernard Fowler as Richards' background vocals.[10]

To promote Crosseyed Heart, the song "Trouble" premiered on 17 July 2015 on BBC Radio 2, and later was released through iHeartRadio, as the lead digital single.[11][12] Upon its release, music critics noted it was a rock and roll song,[13] that includes elements of blues.[5][14][15] According to Jon Blistein from Rolling Stone, the "Trouble" lyrics "[seem] to be channeling [Richards'] inner Lou Reed".[7] Marc Seliger said the lyrics "[appear] to be about a female friend who has landed behind bars."[16]

Critical reception edit

Rachel Brodsky from Spin said, "['Trouble'] sounds as solid and agreeable as it gets: edgy enough to make youngins do a brief double-take and classic rock enough to add it to your dad’s repertoire."[17] Nick DeRiso wrote that Richards "moves with a loose-elbowed sense of fun" in the song and it "doesn't betray [his] ruined darkness". DeRiso concluded that Richards possibly is "at his very best when he's not."[18] Jeff Giles described it as a "stripped-down, uptempo rocker that sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday or 30 years ago".[2] Giles considered "Trouble" has "no unnecessary parts" and that "fans" will hum the refrain and its bridge.[2] Marc Seliger called it a "ragged-yet-melodic song".[16]

Personnel edit

Charts edit

Chart performance for "Trouble"
Chart (2015) Peak
position
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[19] 49
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[20] 20

References edit

  1. ^ "Stream This | Keith Richards New Single - Trouble". JamBase. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Giles, Jeff (16 July 2015). "Keith Richards Debuts 'Trouble,' First Single From New 'Crosseyed Heart' Album". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  3. ^ a b Palmer, Jim. "Listen to Dartford rocker Keith Richards' new single Trouble". News Shopper. Gannett Company.
  4. ^ "Crosseyed Heart – Keith Richards". iTunes Store (United States). Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  5. ^ a b Payne, Chris (17 July 2015). "Keith Richards Drops Catchy, Blues-Rockin' 'Trouble' From New Solo Album". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  6. ^ Renshaw, David (16 July 2015). "Keith Richards releases new song 'Trouble' ahead of new solo album release". NME. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Hear Keith Richards Ward Off 'Trouble' on Ragged New Single". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  8. ^ "Keith Richards lanza una nueva canción de 'Crosseyed heart'". El Mundo (in Spanish). Unidad Editorial. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  9. ^ "Escucha el nuevo sencillo de Keith Richards: "Trouble"" (in Spanish). Sopitas.com. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d Goodman, Jessica (9 July 2015). "Keith Richards to release Crosseyed Heart, first solo album in 20 years". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  11. ^ Ruby, Jennifer (16 July 2015). "Keith Richards releases first solo single for 20 years". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  12. ^ Daley, Megan (16 July 2015). "Listen to Keith Richards' single 'Trouble' off his upcoming solo album Crosseyed Heart". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  13. ^ Young, Alex (16 July 2015). "Keith Richards premieres "Trouble", his first new solo song in 20 years — listen". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  14. ^ Fanelli, Damian (20 July 2015). "Keith Richards Premieres New Song, "Trouble"". Guitar World. NewBay Media, LLC. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  15. ^ "Keith Richards Wards Off 'Trouble' on Ragged New Single". MSN. Microsoft. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  16. ^ a b Seliger, Marc. "Keith Richards Debuts New Solo Song, "Trouble," as Rolling Stones Wrap Up Latest Tour". 99.3 The Drive. Jim Pattison Group. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  17. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (16 July 2015). "Keith Richards Looks for 'Trouble' on First Solo Song in 20 Years". Spin. SpinMedia. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  18. ^ DeRiso, Nick (17 July 2015). "Keith Richards, "Trouble" from Crosseyed Heart (2015): One Track Mind". Something Else!. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  19. ^ "Trouble Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Trouble Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 7 May 2020.

External links edit