Matching the chart-topping debut of their last studio project, 2023's Hackney Diamonds, the legendary British band has officially drawn level with their 1960s contemporaries The Beatles on 15 chart-topping albums apiece. In the history books of British music, only Robbie Williams holds more, with 16 top spots.
The Stones claimed the coveted position during the Official Albums Chart’s 70th anniversary month, marking a truly rock ’n’ roll way to celebrate seven decades of chart history. Right behind them, My Chemical Romance stormed to number two with a remastered deluxe edition of their final studio album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, securing a new UK chart peak for the 2010 record.
Meanwhile, Bring Me The Horizon entered at number six with Count Your Blessings | Repented, a complete 20th-anniversary re-recording of the Sheffield band's 2006 debut, earning them their sixth UK Top 10 album. Further down the chart, Atlanta rapper-producer Future landed at number 27 with his 10th studio album, The Real Me, while Jack White’s seventh studio project, Frozen Charlotte, debuted at number 29. Ska icons The Specials also claimed their ninth UK Top 40 album overall with Live from the Cathedral, a poignant tribute to their late frontman Terry Hall, entering at number 39.
‘Divine Intervention’ is a rollicking, high-tempo rock tune, with Smith on electric guitar, and Steve Winwood on piano and organ. The cut is one of two songs to feature Smith on ‘Foreign Tongues’.
Foreign Tongues is the Stones’ first full-length release since 2023’s Hackney Diamonds, which marked their return to original material after 18 years.
The record was also their first full album since the death of drummer Charlie Watts in 2021.
In the lead-up to the release of their latest LP ‘Foreign Tongues‘ on July 10, the band will launch ‘Speaking In Tongues’, a new podcast featuring interviews with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, narrated by Norah Jones.
The podcast will feature behind-the-scenes insight into the making of ‘Foreign Tongues’ over six episodes, with the band sharing studio techniques, creative influences and their songwriting process.
As well as studio outtakes and never-before-heard new songs, the podcast will also feature contributions from producer Andrew Watt and The Cure‘s Robert Smith and Steve Winwood – who both appear on the new album – and the record’s cover artist, Nathaniel Mary Quinn.
The first episode goes live on June 25. You can check out the trailer below.
‘Foreign Tongues’ is the follow-up to 2024’s ‘Hackney Diamonds’. The full tracklist for the record was revealed last month, with the song titles appearing on streaming devices, but in actual foreign tongues.
