Fans of the legendary rock group The Rolling Stones believe a deluxe album filled with “trash” has “some of the best rock and roll” music ever released.
While the Mick Jagger-fronted group would land themselves in a heap of controversy around the release of Black and Blue, fans have reappraised the album, or at least some of the demo recordings, as some of the group’s best work. A fan took to the r/RollingStones subreddit to share their thoughts on the deluxe album, which was released in Summer 2025. The fan asked whether this version of the album could be considered superior to the original, with one song in particular, Shame Shame Shame, standing out to listeners.
They wrote: “Haven’t heard a ton of people talking about this, but man, the extra tracks I think are fabulous. (I already think highly of the original album). Not normally a jam band kinda guy, but I could listen to this band jam all day long. Chuck Berry and Rotterdam are total fire.
“The new tracks sort of complete the whole ‘trying out new guitarists’” thing that this album is known for. Shame Shame Shame is also super fun. As always, much like the deluxe of Some Girls, their trash heap stuff is some of the best rock and roll music on the planet.”
Other fans agreed with the appraisal of Black and Blue, with one suggesting it is a “great collection” of some of the band’s very best work. They wrote: “Yeah, it’s really quite a great collection, with some delightful jams. But more than anything, I think the sound quality has been VASTLY improved in the main album. Steven Wilson did an excellent job! It sounds incredible, so lifelike. It’s like listening to a new album. I can never go back to the original after hearing this remix.”
Another added: “Agreed, I just gave the new mix another listen last night and there were so many extra layers and textures of guitar and piano/keys that you can’t really hear properly on the original mix. It’s less muddled, and everything comes through clear as a bell.”
A third shared: “Not an instrumental jam guy myself, but love the album. Some Girls deluxe is still the best rerelease by a mile, where you get an entire second album of songs, longer than the original album.”
Not everyone has been thrilled by the Black and Blue deluxe set, however, as some suggest it falls well short of other deluxe releases. One fan wrote: “I was actually a bit disappointed by the Black and Blue super deluxe. It’s nowhere near as good as the Goats Head Soup and Tattoo You Super Deluxe Editions.”
Another added: “Agreed, compared to other songs they’ve released since 2010 or so, like Scarlett, Criss Cross, Plundered My Soul, and Doom and Gloom. I thought Shame Shame Shame and I Love the Ladies weren’t as strong, though they’re still pretty good.”
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