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The Rolling Stones Steel Wheels Release Date: 1989 08 zz Running Time: 53:35 Label: Virgin The Stones, or more accurately the relationship between Mick and Keith, imploded shortly after Dirty Work, resulting in Mick delivering a nearly unbearably mannered, ambitious solo effort that stiffed and Keith knocking out the greatest Stones album since Tattoo You, something that satisfied the cult but wasn't a hit. Clearly, they were worth more together than they were apart, so it was time for the reunion, and that's what Steel Wheels is -- a self-styled reunion album. It often feels as if they sat down and decided exactly what their audience wanted from a Stones album, and they deliver a record that gives the people what they want, whether it's Tattoo You-styled rockers, ballads in the vein of "Fool to Cry," even a touch of old-fashioned experimentalism with "Continental Drift." Being professionals, in the business for over two and a half decades, and being a band that always favored calculation, they wear all this well, even if this lacks the vigor and menace that fuels the best singles; after all, the rocking singles ("Sad Sad Sad," "Rock and a Hard Place," "Mixed Emotions") wind up being smoked by such throwaways as "Hold on to Your Hat." Even though it's just 12 songs, the record feels a little long, largely due to its lack of surprises and unabashed calculation (the jams are slicked up so much they don't have the visceral power of the jam record, Black and Blue). Still, the Stones sound good, and Mick and Keith both get off a killer ballad apiece with "Almost Hear You Sigh" and "Slipping Away," respectively. It doesn't make for a great Stones album, but it's not bad, and it feels like a comeback -- which it was supposed to, after all. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Tracks: Title Composer Time 1 Sad Sad Sad Richards, Jagger 3:35 2 Mixed Emotions Jagger, Richards 4:38 3 Terrifying Richards, Jagger 4:53 4 Hold on to Your Hat Richards, Jagger 3:32 5 Hearts for Sale Richards, Jagger 4:40 6 Blinded by Love Jagger, Richards 4:36 7 Rock and a Hard Place Jagger, Richards 5:25 8 Can't Be Seen Jagger, Richards 4:10 9 Almost Hear You Sigh Richards, Jordan, Jordan, Jagger 4:37 10 Continental Drift Jagger, Richards 5:14 11 Break the Spell Jagger, Richards 3:07 12 Slipping Away Jagger, Richards 4:30 Releases: Year Type Label 1994 CS Virgin 2008 CD Universal Distribution 2009 CD Universal Distribution 1994 CD Virgin Records 2009 CD Ume 1994 CD Virgin Ben 2009 CD Universal Distribution

Group Members: Mick Avory Mick Taylor Brian Jones Mick Jagger Charlie Watts More >> Similar Artists: Little Feat The Yardbirds The Who John Mayall The Pretty Things More >>

Influenced By: Alexis Korner The Everly Brothers Jerry Lee Lewis The Flying Burrito Brothers Muddy Waters More >> Followers: Tom Petty Happy Mondays Elton John Mott the Hoople John Mellencamp More >>

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