Wandering Spirit is the third solo album by Mick Jagger. Released in 1993, it was his only solo album release of the 1990s.
Background
Following The Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels (1989), Jagger began writing new material for what would become Wandering Spirit. In January 1992, after landing Rick Rubin as co-producer, Jagger recorded the album in Los Angeles over seven months until September 1992, recording simultaneously as Keith Richards was making Main Offender.
Jagger kept the celebrity guests to a minimum on Wandering Spirit, only having Lenny Kravitz as a vocalist on his cover of Bill Withers' "Use Me" and bassist Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers on three tracks.
Following the end of The Rolling Stones' Sony Music contract and their signing to Virgin Records, Jagger elected to sign with Atlantic Records (which had signed the Stones in the 1970s) to distribute what would be his only album with the label.
Critical reception
Released in February 1993, Wandering Spirit was commercially successful, reaching No. 12 in the UK and No. 11 in the US, going gold there. The track "Sweet Thing" was the lead single, although it was the second single, "Don't Tear Me Up", which found moderate success, topping Billboards Album Rock Tracks chart for one week. Critical reaction was very strong, noting Jagger's abandonment of slick synthesizers in favour of an incisive and lean guitar sound.
Track listing
Personnel
Mick Jagger – vocals, guitar, clavinet, harmonica, percussion
David Bianco – synthesizer
Curt Bisquera – drums
Lenny Castro – percussion
Matt Clifford – virginal, harpsichord, string arrangements, conductor
Flea – bass guitar on "Out of Focus", "Use Me" and "I've Been Lonely for So Long" Lynn Davis – backing vocals Jim Keltner – drums on "Evening Gown" Lenny Kravitz – vocals on "Use Me" Jay Dee Maness – pedal steel guitar Jean McClain – backing vocals Pamela Quinlan - piano, backing vocals Robin McKidd – fiddle Brendan O'Brien – guitar Jeff Pescetto – backing vocals John Pierce – bass guitar (tracks: 1, 4, 5, 7 to 11, 13, 14) Courtney Pine – saxophone Billy Preston – piano, Hammond organ, clavinet Jimmy Rip – lead guitar, percussion Frank Simes – guitar Benmont Tench – piano, Hammond organ Doug Wimbish – bass guitar on "Sweet Thing" Technical David Bianco - engineer Jim Champagne, Peter Lewis, Steve Holroyd, Steve Musters - assistant engineer Melanie Nissen - art direction Richard Bates - design Annie Leibovitz – photography