The Rolling Stones - Bridges To Babylon

Bridges To Babylon is the 21st studio album by British rock band The Rolling Stones, originally released in September 1997 via Rolling Stones Records and Virgin Records.

This was the second stones studio album recorded after the departure of bassist Bill Wyman, with various bass players used across the recording sessions for the album, including long-time contract bassist Darryl Jones.

The album was released as a double vinyl album and a single CD, comprising thirteen songs covering a wide range of genres from blues rock to sample laden rap and hip hop.

The lead single for the album “Has Anybody Seen My Baby?” has a distinctive R&B feel, driven by the bass lines played by Jamie Muhoberac, and sampling of hip hop artist Biz Markie. The song was given co-writing credits to k.d. lang and Ben Mink after Richard’s daughter Angela who pointed out melodic similarities to their song “Constant Craving”.

Three further singles were released from the album: “Flip The Switch”, “Saint Of Me” and “Out Of Control”.

Keith Richards contributed lead vocals to three songs on the album “You Don't Have to Mean It", "Thief in the Night" and "How Can I Stop".

The band brought in an eclectic mix of superstar producers to work alongside The Glimmer Twins (Jagger / Richards), including the Dust Brothers, Don Was, and Rob Fraboni among others.

The album was met with mixed reviews and reached #6 on the UK, #3 on the US Billboard 200 and #19 on the Australian albums charts.

The band embarked on a year long tour in support of the album playing over 100 shows North America, South America, Europe and Japan from September 1997 to September 1998.

This double album 2LP record set is a 2020 reissue on 180 gram black vinyl featuring half speed remastered audio, housed in a single sleeve with printed inner sleeves, pressed in Europe via Rolling Stones Records.