Keith Richards Covers Jimmy Reed for GTA 6 Soundtrack

Keith Richards has added his signature grit to a blues standard, contributing a brand-new cover of Jimmy Reed’s 1961 classic “Bright Lights, Big City” to the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album. The track arrived via Atlantic Records as one of six early single releases from the forthcoming video game soundtrack.

Richards drives his version with a powerful guitar and drum arrangement, adopting a Mississippi-via-Dartford vocal drawl that lets his weathered, wise delivery shine. Unlike the original recording, which featured Reed’s searing harmonica solo, Richards plays it straight all the way into the fade. The track is part of a 34-song tracklist designed to capture the electric energy of Vice City and Leonida when the game and its accompanying album drop on November 19.

A Lifelong Admiration for Jimmy Reed

Keith Richards performing live (Eden, Janine and Jim from New York City, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

For Richards, tackling a Jimmy Reed song is a chance to pay homage to a foundational influence. The Rolling Stones guitarist has long praised the late bluesman, previously calling him a unique genius among Chicago blues icons. “He was totally unique amongst even all of the other 1950s and ’60s bluesmen out of Chicago,” Richards noted, praising Reed’s ability to make complex playing feel effortless. It is not the first time the Stones have tackled the track either; the band previously recorded a version of the song back in 1963, which later appeared on their 2012 compilation GRRR!

Star-Studded Soundtrack and Rolling Stones’ Live Plans

Richards shares space on the eclectic Grand Theft Auto VI soundtrack alongside an assortment of artists spanning various genres, including Morgan Wallen, Rauw Alejandro, Yung Lean, Travis Scott, and the Argentine duo CA7RIEL and Paco Amoroso. The full 34-song tracklist is being kept under wraps ahead of the November release.

The new single follows closely on the heels of the Rolling Stones’ recent album Foreign Tongues. While new recorded material continues to arrive, the band’s live schedule remains a subject of discussion. Although a rumored European summer tour was axed due to reportedly being turned down by Richards, Mick Jagger expressed hope in July to take the new music on the road next year. Richards himself has also expressed openness to alternative live formats down the line, telling Uncut that residencies in cities like London, New York, Paris, or Rome could offer a welcome alternative to the traditional grueling tour schedule.