Back in 1989, it had been eight years since the mighty Rolling Stones had hit the road. They came back, those guitars a-blazing, with the well-received album Steel Wheels and a titanic tour that crossed the globe. I personally caught several dates on the tour and it still sits near the top of my “best concerts ever list.” Thankfully, an epic show on that tour was captured and never released until now—Steel Wheels Live features the Atlantic City show that has a setlist that is to die for and a few special guests that will literally rock your world.
Steel Wheels Live—Atlantic City, New Jersey is available in a multitude of formats for home video viewing and it is not to be missed. From the opening notes of Start Me Up through the closing number of Jumpin’ Jack Flash, this show is beyond blissful and one of those rare home video releases that will get you off your couch. Try sitting apathetically while one of the greatest bands of all-time rips through songs like Bitch, Undercover of the Night, It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It), and Brown Sugar.
Then, there are the special guests that elevate something that was already historic. Guns n’ Roses’ lead singer Axl Rose and guitarist Izzy Stradlin joined the London, England-based band for a roaring version of Salt of the Earth—the first time the band has performed the Beggars Banquet track… ever. Then, there’s the guitar God that is Eric Clapton, whose jam with the Stones on Little Red Rooster reminds you how both Clapton and the Stones were so heavily influenced by American blues and boy, do they do that iconic track justice. Lastly, a hero to the Rolling Stones—John Lee Hooker—took the stage with the group for Boogie Chillen. How’s that for epic?
The concert film has never seen the light of day and thanks to Eagle Rock Entertainment, it has been restored, remixed, and remastered—and is about as much of a must-own home video release as will arrive in stores this year.
Several things also standout about this tour in that it was the longest tour that the band had ever undertaken. Speaking of “long,” their stunning setlist was also the longest the group had ever compiled. Yes, those of us who attended loved every moment and was firmly a night you never wanted to end—even with its 2.5-hour running time. It’s the Stones! There is no such thing as too much!
The band’s first new album in years (at the time), Steel Wheels, wasn’t simply a group of songs thrown together as an excuse to hit the road and tour. Oh, no. That album is richly layered, rocks on full cylinders (pun intended) and features some stellar songs that performed live by the band absolutely belong amongst some of their greatest hits, such as Honky Tonk Women and Midnight Rambler. Fresh tracks, such as Sad Sad Sad, Mixed Emotions, and Rock and a Hard Place, are interlaid through the setlist and are as classic “Stones” as any other song on that setlist.
While concerts are a distant future option for audiences as a pandemic grips our planet, experiences such as Steel Wheel Live is something to treasure. With a band as legendary as The Rolling Stones performing at the top of their game, adding this release to your library is a no-brainer. Steel Wheels Live is out on a limited edition 4LP colored vinyl, a DVD + 2 CD package, as well as a Blu-Ray and 2 CD release—and of course, your favorite digital retailers will have this gem for you. There’s also a special limited six-disc version, which includes the Atlantic City performance on DVD, Blu-Ray, 2CD, a DVD of their Steel Wheels tour performance at the famed Tokyo Dome, as well as Steel Wheels Rare Reels—a CD featuring tracks which didn’t feature on the core tour setlist.
As if you needed more of a reason to purchase this stunner, here’s the full set-list from the AC show featured on the live release:
- Start Me Up
- Bitch
- Sad Sad Sad
- Undercover of the Night
- Harlem Shuffle
- Tumbling Dice
- Miss You
- Terrifying
- Ruby Tuesday
- Salt of the Earth — featuring Axl Rose & Izzy Stradlin
- Rock and a Hard Place
- Mixed Emotions
- Honky Tonk Women
- Midnight Rambler
- You Can’t Always Get What You Want
- Little Red Rooster — featuring Eric Clapton
- Boogie Chillen — featuring Eric Clapton & John Lee Hooker
- Can’t Be Seen
- Happy
- Paint It Black
- 2,000 Light Years from Home
- Sympathy for the Devil
- Gimme Shelter
- It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)
- Brown Sugar
- (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
- Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Grade: A