Maps of Music

Flashpoint (1991)

Where the lyrics of Flashpoint take you, and where it was really made.

The album was built from concerts the band had already played, yet it was the first Rolling Stones release of the 1990s to include new studio tracks, and it was the last one with bassist Bill Wyman.

Key places

Clemson, November 1989 (1989)

Live show Memorial Stadium (Clemson) — The album includes a track recorded at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, on 26 November 1989. The point is set at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Atlantic City, December 1989 (1989)

Live show Atlantic City Convention Center — Sad Sad Sad was recorded at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on 19 December 1989, one of the live sources for the album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Jacksonville, November 1989 (1989)

Live show Gator Bowl — Miss You was recorded at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida, on 25 November 1989. The same show supplied several other tracks on the album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Tokyo, February 1990 (1990)

Live show Tokyo Dome — Ruby Tuesday was recorded at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, on 25 February 1990. Tokyo shows also supplied other tracks on the album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Wembley, July 1990 (1990)

Live show Wembley Stadium (1923, demolished) — Factory Girl was recorded at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on 6 July 1990, one of the London concerts used for the album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: Jubilee or Metropolitan line to Wembley Park station, then a short walk to the new stadium on the old site.

Barcelona, June 1990 (1990)

Live show Olympic Stadium (Barcelona) — Paint It Black was recorded at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on 13 June 1990. The point is set at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Flashpoint: live album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones
• The band's first live album since 1982's Still Life
• Compiled from performances on the Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour
• Compiled by Chris Kimsey with the assistance of Chris Potter
• Released in late March 1991
• First Rolling Stones release of the 1990s
• Unlike earlier live sets, includes two new studio tracks
• Steel Wheels Live (2020) later added a complete 1989 concert along with live rarities

Background

• The tour and the two studio tracks were the last for bassist Bill Wyman as a Rolling Stone
• Flashpoint was the band's final release under its contract with Sony Music
• The band signed a new long-term worldwide deal with Virgin Records in 1991, excluding Wyman
• Wyman had spent 30 years with the band and was 55 when he decided to leave
• He had talked about leaving for at least ten years
• Wyman officially announced his departure in January 1993, though the band repeatedly asked him to reconsider
• After Wyman left, Ronnie Wood was taken off salary and made a full member of the partnership, 18 years after joining

Recording

• Recorded across North America, Europe and Japan
• Recorded using binaural recording, which gives the effect of the audience behind the listener on headphones
• Live selections are mostly familiar hits mixed with new tracks from Steel Wheels
• Lesser-known songs include Factory Girl from 1968's Beggars Banquet
• Little Red Rooster, originally a No. 1 UK hit single in 1964, features special guest Eric Clapton on guitar
• According to Chris Jagger, some backing vocals were re-recorded and Ron Wood added guitar to three tracks afterwards

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Formed in London in 1962 as an English rock band; their first stable line-up was Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts.
• Jones named the band after a Muddy Waters song; they were rooted in blues and rock and roll.
• Manager Andrew Loog Oldham encouraged them to write their own songs, and the Jagger–Richards partnership became their main creative force.

Members

• Current: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood (joined 1975).
• Former: Brian Jones (died 1969), Mick Taylor (1969–1974), Bill Wyman (1962–1993), Charlie Watts (1963–2021, died 2021).
• Steve Jordan became their drummer after Watts' death.

Career

• Hits included "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (1965), "Paint It Black" (1966) and "Start Me Up" (1981).
• Their 1969 Hyde Park show and Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St. are key points of their career.
• Formed Rolling Stones Records in 1970, whose tongue-and-lips logo became their band logo.
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989; the band has sold more than 250 million albums.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Flashpoint was released in late March 1991 and was generally well-received
• Highwire became a rock radio hit
• The album reached No. 6 in the UK
• It reached No. 16 in the US

Records

• UK: No. 6
• US: No. 16, where it went gold
• Highwire was released as a single earlier in 1991 and was a comment on the Gulf War
• Sex Drive was released in July 1991 as the third and last single from the album
• The album was remastered and reissued by Virgin Records in 1998
• It was reissued again in 2010 by Universal Music

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Chris Jagger, Mick's brother, described Sex Drive as basically a dance-track
• A snippet from the 1970 live album Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! is audible between Ruby Tuesday and You Can't Always Get What You Want
• The album includes Little Red Rooster with special guest Eric Clapton on guitar
• Some backing vocals were re-recorded, and Ron Wood added guitar to three tracks afterwards, according to Chris Jagger
• Highwire was released as a single earlier in 1991 and was a comment on the Gulf War

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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