The Rolling Stones have released a new song called "Who You Callin' Crazy", featuring saxophonist Courtney Pine, and the saxophone is probably the first thing I want to talk about.

I absolutely love it when a saxophone is used properly in rock or soul music. It can completely change the colour of a track, and that is exactly what happens here. Courtney Pine does not just turn up for a tiny solo at the end and disappear. His playing feels like a genuine part of the song's personality.

The track itself has a loose, upbeat blues-rock groove. Mick Jagger sounds playful, the guitars sit comfortably in that classic Stones pocket, and everything feels surprisingly relaxed. There is bass, drums, tambourine, piano, organ and Rhodes alongside the guitars, so there are quite a few instruments in the mix, but nothing feels cluttered.

That is probably one of the track's biggest strengths. Everybody seems to know exactly where they belong.

Steve Jordan's drumming keeps things moving without overpowering the groove, while Andrew Watt handles bass and production. Matt Clifford adds the keyboards, and I especially like the fact that there is Rhodes in there. I am almost always going to approve of a Rhodes piano being added to something.

The lyrics have a slightly paranoid, self-mocking feel, with Mick sounding like a man being accused of something and immediately trying to turn the question back on everybody else. It is funny without becoming a comedy song, which is probably exactly the right balance for the Stones.

Doing a bit of research, I found that the song comes from the sessions around their album Foreign Tongues and will appear on the upcoming deluxe edition, Foreign Tongues, Loose Lips. That release includes five additional recordings, among them another track featuring Steve Winwood on organ.

Courtney Pine's involvement is also a nice connection, as he actually played on Mick Jagger's solo album Wandering Spirit back in the 90s. So this collaboration did not exactly come out of nowhere.

What impresses me most is just how natural the track feels. The Rolling Stones obviously do not need to prove they know how to make a rock song at this point, and you can almost hear that confidence in the music. Nobody is desperately trying to sound young or modern. They simply lean into the groove and let the musicianship carry it.

"Who You Callin' Crazy" is bluesy, warm and full of character. The saxophone gives it that extra bit of life, and the whole thing feels like a group of musicians enjoying themselves rather than trying to manufacture some enormous statement. Put this on with the volume up a little and let Courtney Pine take care of the rest.

Author: Peter Källman

Peter Källman is a writer from Sweden who loves playing in bands, writing reviews and going to live shows!