A Hackney Diamond at 80

I remember reading the 20th-anniversary edition of Rolling Stone magazine in 1987. There were numerous interviews with some of the greats of rock and roll who had been performing for most, if not all, of those 20 years. The one common theme I picked up was that when they started playing music and getting paid for it, they never thought it would last. There was no road map, ecosystem, or infrastructure to allow one to think that a long and successful career could be made playing rock and roll music. And to think that someone could play music into one’s later years, which at that time was probably thought to be in your mid-30s, was not even a consideration.

This ethos was made famous by the line in the Who’s song Magic Bus: “I hope I die before I get old.”

Fast forward 26 years, and here we are with remnants of the Who still performing, the Eagles about to start their farewell tour, Paul McCartney on the road again, Bob Dylan continuing to embark upon his never-ending tour, Neil Young still going strong, Ringo Starr touring with his All-Star Band, the remnants of the Grateful Dead incredibly active, and Willie Nelson continuing to perform at 90. And let’s not forget Van Morrison, John Fogerty, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, and Eric Clapton. These are not just nostalgia acts.  They all continue to play at very high levels and attract large followings.

If you are any kind of follower of classic rock, then there is one band that is an obvious omission from those mentioned above. That would be the Rolling Stones. No band has been around longer than the Stones. Mick Jagger turned 80 in July, while Keith Richards will be following shortly on December 18th. Sadly, they lost drummer Charlie Watts in 2021, who was an understated but brilliant drummer. And while I have always liked the Stones, I wouldn’t say I was a rabinous fan. I have only seen them once in Dallas a number of years ago, and I have been hesitant to see them play the huge stadiums because I didn’t really want to deal with the hassles that come with such big crowds.

A lot changed, however, when one of the people I follow on Twitter, E Street Band guitar player, among many other talents Stevie Van Zandt, made me aware that the Stones just released a new album to the streaming services called Hackney Diamonds.

The fact that Stevie’s Sirius channel, The Underground Garage, was going to play the album eight times per day sparked some intrigue. Stevie has great taste in music, so I had to give him the benefit of the doubt that he was doing this beyond just trying to gather publicity. It must be an album worthy of such an amount of air time, or at least that was going through my mind to inspire me to check it out. 

This is the first new Stones album of original material since 2005, so its release was a big deal. I was curious to know if they still had it. Admittedly, and I don’t think I’m unique in this point of view, in believing that their best days were behind them. And even if they come up with a new album, there is no way it would come anywhere close to equaling or exceeding any of the classic albums they produced between 1968 and 1974 in what is considered one of the most prolific productionss of extraordinary music by any band/artist in history as evidenced by the following. 

Beggars Banquet – 1968

Let it Bleed – 1969

Sticky Fingers – 1971

Exile on Main Street – 1972

Goats Head Soup – 1973

It’s Only Rock and Roll – 1974

To my total shock and great pleasure, however, the release of Hackney Diamonds may require us to add another one to the list of their greats. The album has 11 songs of original material and one cover. They brought in outside musicians to accompany them on some of their songs. These include Paul McCartney, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Lady Gaga. Two of the songs were recorded before Charlie Watts passed away, and one of those also included original Stones bass player Bill Wyman, allowing for the return of the band’s original rhythm section.

The album rocks from the very beginning. There is only one slower-tempo song, which is also a great addition. Every song is excellent, with one of them, Sweet Sounds of Heaven, featuring Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder, not only being the best song on the album but could be one of the best the Stones have ever recorded. It is a gospel-inspired, bluesy rocker with some hints of Gimme Shelter with the interplay of Mick’s voice with a powerful female singer (Lady Gaga in this case). It is such a powerful song and leads the listener on an intense and moving journey into the heart of what music is intended to do, which is to stir souls, catalyze a strong emotional response, and awaken possibilities.

Although Mick Jagger is clearly the voice and frontman of the Stones, Keith Richards also has a powerful aura. He tends to have a presence with a song or two on most albums, many of which are excellent. He also makes a contribution to Hackney Diamonds with a song that has grown on me. I will always give Keith the benefit of the doubt and take the time to absorb his songs; this one is no different.

We had a pre-Thanksgiving get-together with some friends and family, and I asked people if they had heard the new Stones album. Not only had they not listened to it, but they didn’t even know one was released. I felt compelled to play it, and everyone was blown away and transfixed by the quality and power of the music. They were stunned at how good they sounded and how the album rocked. Their reaction confirmed to me that my visceral response to the album was not unique.

The band has announced a U.S. tour of big stadiums for the spring and summer of 2024, and I am seriously considering going. I can’t stop listening to the album. It has inspired me in so many ways. I absolutely love seeing people living their best lives and still being creative as they get into their 80s, like the Stones have just done (specifically Mick and Keith). It’s a fascinating contrast between President Biden (81) and Mick Jagger (80). The latter is so fit and vibrant, while the former clearly lacks the same vitality and energy for which he was so well known. My goal is to be more like Mick, although I have great admiration for someone at Biden’s age having become President and taking on all that entails. And since I also had heart surgery, I love seeing Mick Jagger making such a fast and complete recovery so soon after his major surgery.

I recently wrote about the tennis court I’m building at my home. It also happens to be insanely over-budget, but that ship has sailed, and there’s no turning back. I’m justifying the cost because it’s an investment in health and well-being, hopefully leading to a much longer quality lifespan. 

The keys to longevity, from multiple studies, are strong relationships, being physically active, especially when doing something you love, nutrition, consistent sleep, and keeping your mind very active and challenged. As I previously have written, tennis adds the most number of years of life expectancy of every sport or athletic endeavor (estimated nine years). When I can combine playing this sport at my home with being able to bring many people together to interact socially and competitively, I truly believe this will not only deepen my fulfillment and meaning but also increase the probability that it can extend such quality living well into my 80s and hopefully beyond. Equally important, I hope it helps do this for so many others who come into my tennis orbit. And if I can have Hackney Diamonds blasting in the background while playing tennis, then even better!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.