Bill Wyman - Drive My Car

by Nick Dent-Robinson

published: 29 / 10 / 2024

Label: Select Label
Format: CD

intro

Affectionate and distinctive but low-key covers collection and first solo album in nine years from former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman

Given all the connections with musical icons that Bill Wyman has made over the decades as a founding member of The Rolling Stones, he is able to use this first-hand knowledge as he covers songs by Bob Dylan, Taj Mahal and John Prine on his latest album, 'Drive My Car' - his first solo LP for nine years. The bass guitarist - who is now 88 – has known Bob Dylan since they met in Greenwich village in the 1960s and for many years he counted country singer John Prine (who died in 2020) as one of his good friends. He has also known American blues musician Taj Mahal for 56 years. “At our first encounter in 1968, he was the most fascinated by the fact that I was a member of the Royal Horticultural Society!”, recalls Wyman. “We bonded over botany!”. Wyman's versions of Dylan's 'Thunder On The Mountain'', Prine's 'Ain't Hurtin' Nobody' and Taj Mahal's 'Light Rain' are very affectionate. Though in Dylan's “Thunder On The Mountain”, Wyman does take the liberty of omitting Dylan's lines about Alicia Keys and replacing them with a tribute to rock and roll great Jerry Lee Lewis, who died two years ago. Wyman - who briefly returned to The Rolling Stones last year to play on their “Hackney Diamonds” album - also briefly covers Dutch blues musician Hans Theessink as well as adding some likeable original material to the new album. The title track is sung strongly and Wyman uses his trademark husky South London whisper in a beautifully laid-back version of 'Sweet Baby'. Bill Wyman has enjoyed an extensive solo career and 'Drive My Car' is his 15th studio album – including six with his own band, Rhythm Kings. At 88, he still has huge energy and is a wonderfully accomplished musician - always with his own very attractive, distinctive but low-key style.

Track Listing:-

1 Thunder on the Mountain
2 Drive My Car
3 Bad News
4 Storm Warning
5 Light Rain
6 Ain't Hurtin' Nobody
7 Rough Cut Diamond
8 Wings
9 Two Tone Car
10 Fool's Gold

Band Links:-

https://twitter.com/bill_wyman
http://billwyman.com/
https://www.facebook.com/BillWymanOfficial

Play in YouTube:-

Have a Listen:-

interviews

Interview (2016)

In this archival interview from 1990, Bill Wyman talks about his career with the Rolling Stones, his controversial marriage to Mandy Smith and his then biography, 'Stone Alone'

profiles

The Quiet One (2022)

Nick Dent-Robinson assesses Oliver Murray's nostalgic documentary, which now available on DVD, is a film biography of Rolling Stones founding member and bass player Bill Wyman