10 Rock Albums That No One Was Asking For

Throughout most of the ‘80s, the bands that helped shape the golden age of rock and roll were practically on retirement mode. The likes of Pink Floyd were trying to soldier on without Roger Waters in the fold and George Harrison had already made everyone’s favorite dad band with the Traveling Wilburys, which felt like a bunch of guys jamming for the hell of it. When you’ve been known as one of the most dangerous bands in rock and roll though, it’s probably not the best idea to go into full glam territory.

As if the cover of the album wasn’t enough of a red flag with the band’s flashy outfits, Dirty Work is easily one of the most forgettable records in the Stones’ canon, having some of Keith Richards’ most uninspired guitar work and Mick Jagger sounding more like a lounge singer in a seedy club in Vegas. Since these guys were also well into their middle age at this point, songs about trying to make it with girls ends up feeling a bit more uncomfortable these days, especially when they try to act tough on One Hit to the Body.

Then again, one of the Stones might have the best explanation for where things went wrong, with Ronnie Wood saying that the album is trash because he had much more of a say in the writing process. When your ideas are being taken over Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, you know something isn’t working right.