Keith Richards Brings Solo Catalog To BMG

Guitarist and Rolling Stones co-founder Keith Richards has signed with BMG worldwide to consolidate his entire solo recording catalog.

The agreement includes Richards’ 1978 debut solo single ‘Run Rudolph Run’ and four solo albums from 1988-2010, alongside his publishing which BMG has represented since 2013.

Released in 1988, Richards’ debut solo album Talk Is Cheap, featured the Top 5 US rock hit ‘Take It So Hard’, Top 20 US rock hit ‘You Don’t Move Me’, and single ‘Struggle’. Co-writing every song on the album, Richards teamed up with Steve Jordan to co-produce the album featuring his side band the X-Pensive Winos which featured Waddy Wachtel on guitar, saxophonist Bobby Keys, keyboardist Ivan Neville, and Charley Drayton on bass.

During pre-production of his follow-up studio album in 1991, Richards released Live At The Hollywood Palladium, December 15, 1988, a live set recorded during the Talk Is Cheap Tour.

Featuring performances with his band the X-Pensive Winos, the album includes a collection of songs from Talk Is Cheap and several of his Rolling Stones vocal highlights, and the album shifted more than 100,000 units in the U.S.

Richards again partnered with producer Steve Jordan for the release of his third solo effort, Main Offender, in 1992. The album included two hits ‘Wicked As It Seems’ which cracked the top 5, and ‘Eileen’ which broke into the top 20.

Main Offender would be his last solo studio release for 23 years, following a nearly year-long tour in support.

In 2010, the Vintage Vinos compilation was released featuring a collection of solo and live tracks from Talk Is Cheap, Live at the Hollywood Palladium, December 15, 1988, and Main Offender, including the bonus song ‘Hurricane’, recorded during the Rolling Stones’ sessions for Forty Licks in 2002.

As part of the deal with BMG, the label plans to re-issue ‘Run Rudolph Run’ as a limited edition 45rpm 12” on red vinyl, remixed and remastered by longtime collaborator Steve Jordan. The 45 includes a cover of Jimmy Cliff’s ‘The Harder They Come’, a version of ‘Pressure Drop’ featuring Toots & The Maytals, and a “Santa Keith” holiday card featuring a greeting from Richards himself will be available as a Record Store Day exclusive available on Nov 23rd.