Monkey Grip (Bill Wyman album)

Monkey Grip is the debut album by Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman. It was released in 1974 by Rolling Stones Records.

Although Wyman sings on every track on the album, he had only sung lead on one song in the Rolling Stones, the 1967 song "In Another Land".

Critical reception
In a retrospective review, AllMusic rated the album four stars out of five. They noted "I Wanna Get Me a Gun", "White Lightnin" and "I'll Pull You Thro" as the best songs on the album and hinted approval of Wyman's vocals, describing them as "loose and joy-filled". They also praised the album for avoiding the usual egotism of solo albums: "Though these types of albums can be self-absorbed affairs, Monkey Grip is meant to be a relaxed, unpretentious outlet for the compositions that would never see the light of day in Wyman's main band – and, as a credit to the bassist, it comes off exactly that way."

Track listing
All tracks composed and arranged by Bill Wyman, except "What a Blow", co-written by Malcolm Rebenack.

Personnel

 * Bill Wyman – vocals, bass guitar (1-5, 8, 9), acoustic guitar (3, 4, 7, 8), Jew's harp (3), acoustic piano (4), backing vocals (4), electric guitar (6)
 * Dr. John – acoustic piano (1), organ (6), pedalboard (6)
 * Duane Smith – acoustic piano (2, 8)
 * Leon Russell – acoustic piano (4)
 * William "Smitty" Smith – acoustic piano (5)
 * Hubert Heard – organ (8, 9), acoustic piano (9)
 * Danny Kortchmar – electric guitar (1, 2, 4-6, 9), 12-string guitar (7, 8)
 * Joey Murcia – electric guitar (2)
 * George Terry – slide guitar (2), electric guitar (8)
 * Jackie Clark – electric guitar (3, 4, 8)
 * John McEuen – banjo (3), dobro (7), mandolin (7)
 * Lowell George – lead guitar (5)
 * Dallas Taylor – drums
 * Joe Lala – percussion (1-3, 5-9)
 * Byron Berline – fiddle (3, 6)
 * Peter Graves – trombone (3)
 * George McCrae – backing vocals (1, 2, 5, 8, 9)
 * Gwen McCrae – backing vocals (1, 2, 5, 8, 9)
 * Betty Wright – backing vocals (1, 2, 5, 8, 9)
 * Abigale Haness – backing vocals (4)

Boneroo Horns (Tracks 1, 2, 4-6 & 8)
 * Bill Wyman – horn arrangements
 * Neal Bonsanti – baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, English horn
 * Mark Colby – soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, clarinet
 * Peter Graves – trombone, euphonium, horn arrangements
 * Ken Faulk – trumpet, flugelhorn

Production

 * Bill Wyman – producer, arrangements
 * Howard Albert – assistant production, engineer, mixing
 * Ron Albert – assistant production, engineer, mixing
 * Karl Richardson – mastering at Criteria Studios (Miami, Florida)
 * Jimmy Wachtel – design, artwork
 * Amanda Finch – design assistant, artwork assistant
 * Bob Jenkins – photography

Release information

 * 🇺🇸 10 May 1974 LP Atlantic COC 79100 (Inner Sleeve)
 * 🇺🇸 10 May 1974 LP Atlantic COC 79100 0698 (Inner Sleeve) (Promo)
 * 🇺🇸 1974 LP (Quadra Disc) Atlantic QD 79100 (Inner Sleeve)
 * 🇺🇸 1974 MC Atlantic (Slide Box)
 * 🇺🇸 1974 8-Track Atlantic TP 79100
 * 🇺🇸 March 1997 CD One Way Records OW 34520 046633452021
 * 🇺🇸 21 November 2006 CD Castle 02182-36266-2 021823626628 (Expanded Edition)
 * 🇨🇦 May 1974 LP Atlantic COC 79100 (Inner Sleeve)
 * 15 May 1974 LP RSR COC 59102 (Inner Sleeve and Front Cover Labels)
 * 15 May 1974 LP RSR COC 59102 (Inner Sleeve) (Promo)
 * 24 June 1996 CD Sequel Rec. NEM CD 846
 * 🇦🇺 July 1974 LP RSR/WEA COC 79100
 * 🇦🇺 July 1974 MC RSR/WEA M5S 79100
 * 🇦🇷 1974 LP RSR/Music Hall Records 50-14.122 (Inner Sleeve) (Serie Super Lujo Especial)
 * 🇯🇵 25 November 1995 CD Trattoria PSCR-5413 4988023032245
 * 🇯🇵 25 November 1995 CD Trattoria PSCR-5413 / 381483 4988023032245 (Promo)
 * 🇯🇵 24 August 2005 CD Imperial TECI 24302 4988004097119 (Paper Sleeve)
 * 🇪🇺 21 November 2006 CD Castle CMRCD1362 5050749413628 (Expanded Edition)