The Rolling Stones have released the second single, “Sweet Sounds Of Heaven”, from their upcoming album “Hackney Diamonds”, due on October 20. The track features a bravura vocal performance by Lady Gaga, alongside Stevie Wonder on Fender Rhodes, Moog and piano. Listen to the song below.
A gospel-infused Stones epic in the lineage of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and “Shine A Light”, “Sweet Sounds Of Heaven” came about in a spontaneous fashion. Stones frontman Mick Jagger was at his home in London one sunny afternoon, the leaves were rustling as the wind blew through the trees around outside, and he started playing a chord pattern of C, F and B Flat on his piano.
The track was recorded at Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles; Metropolis Studios, London; Sanctuary Studios, Nassau, Bahamas and written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. During sessions in Los Angeles, The Rolling Stones invited Stevie Wonder and Lady Gaga to work on “Heaven”.
Both Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder have previously performed with The Rolling Stones. Lady Gaga joined The Stones onstage as part of the “50 & Counting” tour in 2012. Their performance of “Gimme Shelter” was eventually released on “GRRR Live” album. Stevie Wonder toured with The Rolling Stones on their American tour in 1972 regularly performing a medley of “Satisfaction” and “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” together.
Pre-Order “Hackney Diamonds” HERE.
The album is their first studio set of new material since 2005’s “A Bigger Bang“, coincidently released on September 6th eighteen years ago. Since then, The Stones have continued to smash box office records for fun on a series of global sellout tours and released 2016’s GRAMMY® Award winning “Blue & Lonesome”, which featured their brilliant versions of many of the blues tracks that helped shape their sound, and topped album charts around the world. Last year, they thrilled European audiences totalling nearly a quarter of a million on their 60th anniversary tour.
“Hackney Diamonds” marks The Stones (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood) first collaboration with New York-born producer and musician Andrew Watt, who was named Producer of the Year at the 2021 GRAMMY® Awards and has worked with Post Malone, Iggy Pop and Elton John.
The bespoke artwork for Hackney Diamonds is by digital animator Paulina Almira.
