The 1988 album by Keith Richards and the X-Pensive Winos is Talk Is Cheap.
Although often described simply as Richards’ first solo album, Talk Is Cheap is closely tied to the X-Pensive Winos, the band he assembled for recording and touring. The lineup included drummer Steve Jordan, guitarist Waddy Wachtel, bassist Charley Drayton, keyboardist Ivan Neville, and other guest musicians. Their relaxed, roots-oriented sound gave the record a distinct identity apart from the Rolling Stones’ main catalog.
Richards began the project during a period when his relationship with Mick Jagger was strained and the Stones were not working normally. The album allowed him to record songs shaped by blues, rock and roll, soul, and country influences. Jordan co-wrote the album’s songs with Richards, including “Big Enough,” “Take It So Hard,” and “You Don’t Move Me.”
Released in October 1988, Talk Is Cheap received strong reviews and later became regarded as one of the finest Rolling Stones-related solo albums. Main Offender is the easy title to confuse with it, but that is Richards’ 1992 follow-up.