Main Offender

Main Offender is the second studio album by Keith Richards, released in 1992 between the Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels and Voodoo Lounge projects.

For the song by the Hives, see Main Offender (song).

Main Offender
Studio album by Keith Richards
Released	19 October 1992
Recorded	18 March – 6 September 1992
Genre	Rock & roll hard rock boogie rock funk rock reggae
Length	49:53
Label	Virgin
Producer	Keith Richards Steve Jordan Waddy Wachtel
Keith Richards chronology
Talk Is Cheap (1988) Main Offender (1992) Crosseyed Heart (2015)

Richards teamed with Talk Is Cheap collaborator Steve Jordan and added Waddy Wachtel to the mix both in composing and producing Main Offender. Sessions with Richards' group of musician friends known as "The X-Pensive Winos" took place in California and New York City from March to September 1992, with touring in Europe's autumn and early 1993 in North America.

When Richards reunited with Mick Jagger (who recorded Wandering Spirit while Richards was making Main Offender) in mid-1993 to start work on Voodoo Lounge, Jagger complimented him on Main Offender, and used the single "Wicked as It Seems" as inspiration for The Rolling Stones' next single, "Love Is Strong".

Main Offender was released in October 1992 to generally positive reviews. However, it failed to match the commercial success of Talk Is Cheap, reaching No. 45 in the UK, and No. 99 in the US. After the Main Offender tour, Richards returned to recording exclusively with the Rolling Stones and put his solo career on hold for the next 23 years, when he would record Crosseyed Heart.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Chicago Tribune	[2]
Entertainment Weekly	B+[3]
Orlando Sentinel	[4]

Track listing

1. "999" (Keith Richards, Steve Jordan, Waddy Wachtel) – 5:50
2. "Wicked as It Seems" (Richards, Jordan, Charley Drayton) – 4:45
3. "Eileen" (Richards, Jordan) – 4:29
4. "Words of Wonder" (Richards, Jordan, Wachtel) – 6:35
5. "Yap Yap" (Richards, Jordan, Wachtel) – 4:43
6. "Bodytalks" (Richards, Jordan, Drayton, Sarah Dash) – 5:20
7. "Hate It When You Leave" (Richards, Jordan, Wachtel) – 4:59
8. "Runnin' Too Deep" (Richards, Jordan) – 3:20
9. "Will but You Won't" (Richards, Jordan) – 5:05
10. "Demon" (Richards, Jordan) – 4:45
11. "Key to the Highway" (Charlie Segar, Big Bill Broonzy) - 3:21 (Japanese issue bonus track)

Personnel

• Jack Bashkow – woodwind
• Crispin Cioe – woodwind
• Sarah Dash – vocals on "Bodytalks", backing vocals
• Charley Drayton – bass guitar, piano, organ, guitar, backing vocals
• Babi Floyd – backing vocals
• Bernard Fowler – backing vocals
• Arno Hecht – woodwind
• Steve Jordan – drums, conga, percussion, castanets, organ, backing vocals
• Ivan Neville – piano, organ, harpsichord, clavinet, vibes, bass guitar, backing vocals
• Keith Richards – vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, percussion
• Waddy Wachtel – guitar, piano, celesta, backing vocals

Charts

Weekly charts

Year	Chart	Position
1992	UK Top 75 Albums[5]	45
1992	The Billboard 200[6]	99
1993	The Billboard 200[6]	192

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1992	"Wicked as It Seems"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	3
1993	"Eileen"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	17

References

1. Koda, Cub. "Main Offender - Keith Richards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-07-08.
2. Kot, Greg (1992-10-22). "Keith Richards Main Offender (Virgin)/Izzy Stradlin Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds (Geffen)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2018-07-08.
3. Altman, Billy (1992-11-06). "Main Offender". Entertainment Weekly.
4. Gettelman, Parry (1992-11-06). "Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Izzy Stradlin". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2018-07-08.
5. "KEITH RICHARDS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
6. "Keith Richards - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 13 November 2016.