Rolling Stones Will Release a Blues Album in December

Over fifty years into their career, the Rolling Stones are taking it all back to the beginning.

The band announced it will release “Blue & Lonesome” – a blues covers album – on Dec. 2. The album will feature 12 tracks, all covers of bluesmen who influenced the Stones over the years, including Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, and Jimmy Reed. Their first album since 2005’s “A Bigger Bang,” “Blue & Lonesome” harkens back to the band’s formative years, when they released albums featuring mainly blues and R&B covers.

The Stones cut all 12 tracks over the course of three days. They were also joined by Eric Clapton and percussionist Jim Keltner on a couple tracks. “The record sounds very crude, very authentic,” producer Don Was said. “It captures the essence of what they are.”

The band has been teasing the release on social media for a few weeks, with Mick Jagger Tweeting a photo of a harmonica case with the hashtag “#PlayingTheBlues.” The announcement comes ahead of the Stones’ Oct. 8 appearance at the Desert Trip festival, which also features Paul McCartney, Neil Young, The Who, Roger Waters, and Bob Dylan.

Check out the track listing for “Blue & Lonesome” below:

1. “Just Your Fool” (Originally written and recorded in 1960 by Little Walter)2. “Commit a Crime” (Originally written and recorded in 1966 by Howlin’ Wolf – Chester Burnett)3. “Blue and Lonesome” (Originally written and recorded in 1959 by Little Walter)4. “All of Your Love” (Originally written and recorded in 1967 by Magic Sam – Samuel Maghett)5. “I Gotta Go” (Originally written and recorded in 1955 by Little Walter)6. “Everybody Knows About My Good Thing” (Originally recorded in 1971 by Little Johnny Taylor, composed by Miles Grayson & Lermon Horton)7. “Ride ‘Em On Down” (Originally written and recorded in 1955 by Eddie Taylor)8. “Hate To See You Go” (Originally written and recorded in 1955 by Little Walter)9. “Hoo Doo Blues” (Originally recorded in 1958 by Lightnin’ Slim, composed by Otis Hicks & Jerry West)10. “Little Rain” (Originally recorded in 1957 by Jimmy Reed, composed by Ewart.G.Abner Jr. and Jimmy Reed)11. “Just Like I Treat You” (Originally written by Willie Dixon and recorded by Howlin’ Wolf in December 1961)12. “I Can’t Quit You Baby” (Originally written by Willie Dixon and recorded by Otis Rush in 1956)