Keno's ROLLING STONES Web Site


STEEL WHEELS
 

Released - August 28,1989 (U.S.) and 11 September 1989 (in the UK), on Rolling Stones Records. Produced by The Glimmer Twins and Chris Kimsey

Personnel:

Mick Jagger - Lead and Backing Vocals; Guitars; Harmonica; Percussion; Keyboard.
Keith Richards - Lead, Acoustic and Rhythm Guitars; Backing and Lead Vocals.
Ron Wood -  Lead, Rhythm, Bass and Dobro Guitar; Backing Vocal.
Charlie Watts - Drums
Bill Wyman - Bass Guitar.

Additional Personnel

Chuck Leavell, Bernard Fowler, Kick Horns, Luis Jardim, Sara Dash, Lisa Fisher, Matt Clifford, Roddy Corimer, Phil Beer, Master Musicians of Jajouka.

(Click on song for lyrics)

SONG

1998 RATING

2005 RATING

 2019 RATING*
     
SAD SAD SAD    6.3   6.7 7.0
MIXED EMOTIONS     7.2   7.8 9.0
TERRIFYING     5.7   6.0 5.9
HOLD ON TO YOUR HAT     5.7   6.1 6.2
HEARTS FOR SALE     5.2   5.6 5.6
BLINDED BY LOVE     5.6   5.9 6.0
ROCK AND A HARD PLACE     6.6   7.4 7.8
CAN'T BE SEEN     5.8   6.0 5.8
ALMOST HEAR YOU SIGH     5.6   5.9 6.0
CONTINENTAL DRIFT     6.1   6.5 6.3
BREAK THE SPELL     5.1   5.4 5.7
SLIPPING AWAY     6.0   6.1 6.0
Ave.    5.91 6.28 6.44

MINI REVIEW

To say I was disappointed when this came out is an understatement. I remember the big build up it got and all of the good reviews, but once I heard it, it wasn't what I was hoping for. I do like "Mix Emotions" and "Rock and a Hard Place", plus a few others. The band don't sound all that bad on this album, but something about the way Mick Jagger sings some of these songs just don't sound right to my ears.

Jagger must have been thinking about his late bandmate Brian Jones when he wrote "Continental Drift". This was also Bill Wyman's last Stones album, to bad. There are several weak songs on this album, but since they improved their sound since this came out, let me just end this on that good note.

- Keno, 1998

*Old Ratings vs. New Ratings

The oldest ratings that you see here are from back in 1998 when I first rated the album for this site. Since time does change one's point of view, I decided to listen to and rate the album again, doing so in late 2005. In January, 2019, 20 plus years after the first ratings were made, I rated all of the songs for a third time. Also note that I did not look at the old ratings from 1998 until after I placed my new ratings here in both 2005 and 2019.

To listen to some sound clips from STEEL WHEELS or to buy, it click on: Steel Wheels [Reissue]

To add your own review go here.

To read others reviews about this album, go here.

To see how songs from this album was voted on by fans, go here.

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