Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings Get 10-CD ‘Ultimate Collection’ Boxed Set
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Bill Wyman, the Rolling Stones’ bassist during their heyday of 1962-93, kept himself quite busy in the years following his departure from the band, mainly with a group whose membership fluctuated as he saw fit, the Rhythm Kings. Now, the musician and Demon Music are releasing a 10-CD boxed set containing that group’s output, Bill Wyman‘s Rhythm Kings Ultimate Collection., to coincide with his 90th birthday. He’ll hit that landmark number on Oct. 24, 2026.
Due Oct. 9, Ultimate Collection is available for pre-order in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
Featuring 144 tracks, Ultimate Collection, according to an announcement, contains five studio albums (one a 24-song double set), two live albums, a collection of studio outtakes, plus Best of the Bootleg Kings, a new compendium of live performances, assembled by Wyman specifically for this release. Rounding it all off are non-album B-sides and additional live recordings, previously only available on video.
The Rhythm Kings’ modus operandi, says the announcement, “was established right from their ’97 debut album Struttin’ Our Stuff, where Bill and long-time collaborator Terry Taylor, were joined by an eye-watering array of talent that included Albert Lee, Eric Clapton, Gary Brooker, Georgie Fame, Paul Carrack and Peter Frampton. Into this mix came singers Beverley Skeete and Mike Sanchez, drummer Graham Broad, a brass section anchored by Frank Mead and Nick Payn, pianist Dave Hartley, and guitarist Martin Taylor, all of whom would become regular Kings and Queens.”
A year later, Anyway the Wind Blows introduced Andy Fairweather-Low as a frequent fellow traveler, while guest artists included Chris Rea, and Wyman’s former bandmate, guitarist Mick Taylor. The 2000 collection Groovin’ saw an appearance by percussionist Ray Cooper, who came back in 2001 for Double Bill, where the ensemble was joined by George Harrison. Just for a Thrill, in 2007, featured guitarist Mark Knopfler.
Related: Radio great Dennis Elsas’ interview with Bill Wyman
Continues the announcement: “Capturing the sheer joy of the Rhythm Kings’ stage performances, Live (2005) and Live Communication (2011) were recorded in Germany in ’04, and the U.K. in ’08, respectively. The 2018 collection Studio Time features 15 outtakes from eight different sessions, originally recorded between 1987 and 2003.”
Housed in deluxe 7-inch single-sized packaging, Ultimate Collection includes a 24-page booklet, featuring photos from Wyman’s own archive, and a new interview with Wyman and Beverley Skeete, conducted by broadcaster and journalist Paul Sexton.
A limited-edition special format will also be available, featuring an art print signed by Bill Wyman.
Ultimate Collection Track Listing
Disc 1: Struttin’ Our Stuff
1. Green River/ 2. Walking On My Own/ 3. Melody/ 4. Stuff (Can’t Get Enough)/ 5. Bad To Be Alone/ 6. I’m Mad/ 7. Down In The Bottom/ 8. Motorvatin’ Mama/ 9. Jitterbug Boogie/ 10. Going Crazy Overnight/ 11. Hole In My Soul/ 12. Tobacco Road
Disc 2: Anyway the Wind Blows
1. Anyway The Wind Blows/ 2. Spooky/ 3. Walking One And Only/ 4. Mojo Boogie/ 5. Too Late/ 6. Every Sixty Seconds/ 7. Ring My Bell/ 8. Days Like This/ 9. He’s A Real Gone Guy/ 10. A True Romance/ 11. Gee Baby Ain’t I Good To You/ 12. When Hollywood Goes Black And Tan/ 13. Crazy He Calls Me/ 14. Struttin’ Our Stuff/ 15. Sugar Babe/ 16. Gonna Find Me A New Love
Disc 3: Groovin’
1. Tell You A Secret/ 2. Groovin’/ 3. Rough Cut Diamond/ 4. Mood Swing/ 5. Hole In The Wall/ 6. Can’t Get My Rest At Night/ 7. I Put A Spell On You/ 8. Tomorrow Night/ 9. I Want To Be Evil/ 10. Rhythm King/ 11. Daydream/ 12. Oh! Baby/ 13. Streamline Woman/ 14. Yesterdays/15. Gambler’s Lament
Disc 4: Double Bill (Part One)
1. Long Walk To D.C./ 2. Hot Foot Blues/ 3. Hit That Jive Jack/ 4. Love Letters/ 5. Love’s Down The Drain/ 6. I Can’t Dance/ 7. Medley: Snap You Fingers/What A Friend We Have In Jesus/ 8. Get In The Kitchen/ 9. Boogie Woogie All Night Long/ 10. Medley: Do You Or Don’t You/I Wanna Know/ 11. Trust In Me/ 12. Turn On Your Lovelight
Disc 5: Double Bill (Part Two)
1. The Joint Is Jumping/ 2. Brownskin Girl/ 3. Tired And Sleepy/ 4. Lonely Blue Boy/ 5. Bye Bye Blues/ 6. Where’s The Money/ 7. Jellyroll Fool/ 8. Jealous Girl/ 9. My Handy Man/ 10. Rollin’ And Stumblin’/ 11. Keep On Truckin’/ 12. Breakin’ Up The House
Disc 6: Just for a Thrill
1. Disappearing Nightly/ 2. Roll ‘Em Pete/ 3. Down Home Girl/ 4. Mississippi Flyer/ 5. That’s How Heartaches Are Made/ 6. Booty Ooty/ 7. Cadillac Woman/ 8. Town Living/ 9. This Ain’t United Nations/ 10. Memphis Woman/ 11. Taxman/ 12. Just For A Thrill/ 13. Cry Baby/ 14. You Don’t Know What You Mean To Me/ 15. I Know (You Don’t Love Me No More)/ 16. Kiddio (Live in Salford 2004)/ 17. Down In The Bottom (Live in Salford, January 2004)/ 18. Comin’ Home Baby (Live in Salford, January 2004)/ 19. Lights Out (Live in Salford, January 2004)/20. Tear It Up (Live in Salford, January 2004)
Disc 7: Live
1. I Got A Woman (Live in Berlin, June 2004)/ 2. Jump, Jive And Wall (Live in Berlin, June 2004)/ 3. Baby Workout (Live in Berlin, June 2004)/ 4. If I Can’t Have You (Live in Berlin, June 2004)/ 5. Jitterbug Boogie (Live in Berlin, June 2004)/ 6. Bright Lights, Big City (Live in Berlin, June 2004)/ 7. Muleskinner Blues (Live in Berlin, June 2004)/ 8. You Never Can Tell (Live in Berlin, June 2004)/ 9. Taxman (Live in Berlin, June 2004)/ 10. Race With The Devil (Live in Berlin, June 2004)/ 11. I Shall Not Be Moved (Live in Berlin, June 2004)/ 12. Disappearing Nightly (Live in Berlin, June 2004)/ 13. Flatfoot Sam (Live in Berlin, June 2004)/ 14. I Will Be Satisfied (Live in Berlin, June 2004)/ 15. Let’s Talk It Over (Live in Berlin, June 2004)/ 16. Wild One (Real Wild Child) (Live in Berlin, June 2004)/ 17. Roll ‘Em Pete (Live in Berlin, June 2004)
Disc 8: Live Communications
1. She’s Looking Good (Live in Dorking, March 2008)/ 2. Unchain My Heart (Live in Dorking, March 2008)/ 3. All Night Long (Live in Dorking, March 2008)/ 4. Drown In My Own Tears (Live in Dorking, March 2008)/ 5. That’s Better For Me (Live in Dorking, March 2008)/ 6. Harlem Shuffle (Live in Dorking, March 2008)/ 7. Louisiana 1927 (Live in Dorking, March 2008)/ 8. Show Me (Live in Dorking, March 2008)/ 9. Too Late (Live in Dorking, March 2008)/ 10. I Don’t Need No Doctor (Live in Dorking, March 2008)/ 11. Johnny B Goode (Live in Dorking, March 2008)/ 12. That Is Rock & Roll (Live in Dorking, March 2008)/ 13. Crying In The Rain (Live in Dorking, March 2008)
Disc 9: Studio Time
1. Beds Are Burning/ 2. Open The Door/ 3. You’re The One/ 4. Going Up The Country/ 5. Long Comma Viper/ 6. My Wife Can’t Cook/ 7. I’m Shorty/ 8. Got Love If You Want It/ 9. Shoes/ 10. Dr Watson Mr Holmes/ 11. These Kind of Blues/ 12. Blue Light Boogie/ 13. Skiing Blues/ 14. Santa Baby/ 15. Jazz Walk
Disc 10: Best Of The Bootleg Kings
1. Let The Good Times Roll (Live at The Vega Club, Copenhagen October 1998)/ 2. Mystery Train (Live at The Corn Exchange, Cambridge June 2000)/ 3. Melody (Live at The Stables, Milton Keynes June 2001)/ 4. Jitterbug Boogie (Live at The Mayflower, Southampton June 2001)/ 5. Drown In My Own Tears (Live)/ 6. This Little Girl’s Gone Rocking (Live at Colston Hall, Bristol July 2001)/ 7. Kiddio (Live at The Music Hall, Aberdeen July 2002)/ 8. Walking One and Only (Live at The Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple June 2001)/ 9. Love Letters (Live at The Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple June 2001)/ 10. Chantilly Lace (Live at The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester May 2002)/ 11. I Put A Spell On You (Live at Colston Hall, Bristol July 2001)/ 12. Tear It Up (Live)
Watch Bill Wyman and the Rhythm Kings perform live in 1997
Ultimate Collection is available for pre-order in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.


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