The Rolling Stones Announce Black and Blue Super Deluxe Reissue Packed With Unreleased Tracks and Extras
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A Classic Returns
Almost fifty years after its original release, the Rolling Stones are bringing back Black and Blue with a Super Deluxe reissue filled with rare and unreleased material. This new edition celebrates the album’s approaching 50-year anniversary and shines a light on an important period in the band’s history.
Arriving November 14 through Universal Music, the Black and Blue box set will be offered in both 5LP and 4CD formats. Each version includes a Blu-ray disc, a 100-page hardback book, and a replica tour poster. Collectors can also find a limited 5LP edition on black-and-blue marbled vinyl through select online stores. For those who prefer simpler options, there will be two-disc and single-disc vinyl and CD versions, plus a special one-disc zoetrope vinyl. All formats are open for pre-order.
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A Time of Change
When the Stones recorded Black and Blue, they were searching for a new guitarist. The sessions became an informal audition, drawing in Harvey Mandel, Wayne Perkins, Jeff Beck, and Robert A. Johnson. Out of these collaborations came the permanent addition of Ronnie Wood, formerly of Faces, who still plays with the band today.
The album also showed the group exploring fresh sounds. They blended reggae, funk, and soul into their music, expanding their style while keeping their rock foundation. The record produced the Billboard Top 10 single “Fool To Cry,” along with fan favorites “Hot Stuff” and “Memory Motel.”
Unreleased Studio Material
The 2025 reissue adds a six-track disc of previously unheard recordings. Highlights include the Jagger/Richards song “I Love Ladies” and a lively version of Shirley & Company’s “Shame, Shame, Shame,” which fans can already stream. Four instrumental jams from the 1975 sessions, featuring the guest guitarists, round out this part of the set, offering a glimpse into the creative energy of those studio days.
These tracks reveal how the Stones experimented with new grooves and guitar styles while shaping the final album. Listeners can hear the band testing ideas that would influence their sound for years to come.
Live Performances and Visual Extras
The box set also includes a complete concert recording from the band’s six-night run at London’s Earls Court Exhibition Centre. Special guests Ian Stewart, Billy Preston, and Ollie Brown—who all contributed to Black and Blue—appear during the performance.
On the Blu-ray disc, fans will find a previously unreleased TV broadcast of the Stones’ 1976 show at Les Abattoirs in Paris. The disc also contains Dolby Atmos surround mixes of both the original studio album and the Earls Court concert in high-resolution stereo. A 100-page hardback book with a new essay by Stones expert Paul Sexton, rare photos from the sessions and tour, and a replica of the 1976 Paris concert poster complete this extensive collection.
