Charlie Watts never made a habit of appearing on other people’s records, but he did make an exception for Paul Jones…

Charlie Watts is the drummer on “Bad Penny Blues”, a track to be found on The Blues Band album “These Kind of Blues”. Released in 1986, it consists of recordings made between 1979 and 1982. How, where and why did Charlie join forces with Paul Jones & Co? Here’s the exclusive answer! Says Saul Arone of The Blues Band website: “Paul Jones and Tom McGuinness had the idea of doing a single of “Bad Penny Blues” which had been a hit for Humphrey Lyttleton in the 50s. They discussed the idea with long-time friend and sometime Blues Band piano player Ian Stewart, who suggested Charlie would be well up for playing the drums on it, and also bass player Dave Green who had himself played with Lyttleton. The track was recorded at Nova Studios in Marble Arch around 1981”.

Ian Stewart on piano

Saul continues the story: “Although originally destined to be a single in its own right and nothing directly to do with The Blues Band other than Paul’s performance and Tom’s production duties, it never actually saw the light of day in this form. When the “These Kind of Blues” album was being put together it was suggested that the track be included on the album. Thus, almost by default it became a Blues Band track”. Interestingly, the piano on this track is by sixth Stone Ian Stewart, to whom the album is dedicated. Charlie and Ian would later also team up for the Rocket 88 project. Anyone interested in putting together a list of Charlie’s other extra curricular work – excepting his own jazz band?

Eddy Bonte

NOTE
Written in 2001, this article was published in

International Stones fanzine “It’s Only Rock and Roll”, no. 41, april 2001, see www.iorr.org;

Spanish Stones fanzine “Stones Spain” no. 10, Summer 2001

The website of the The Blues Band www.thebluesband. co.uk.

CD Reference: The Blues Band: These Kind of Blues, Date Records, DACD 9.00160, Germany, 1986

Link: www.thebluesband.co.uk.

Picture: from left to right: Ian Stewart, Tom McGuinness, David Green, Charlie Watts & Paul Jones (kneeling). 
Courtesy of and © Tom McGuinness.