Rolling Stones/Steel Wheels Sessions 1989

The 1989 recording session footage from Montserrat was a major unearthed video of the Rolling Stones in early 2024. When this precious footage was released as the DVD “IN THE AIR: STEEL WHEELS SESSIONS”, the audio from this video was proven to be usable as a session sound source, and naturally, enthusiasts also expressed their desire for a record release. So this time, we will release an album that compiles the audio from the session footage that is causing a big sensation. It is true that even if you just extract the audio as it is, it can be used as a session documentary, but there is no art in just putting the audio on CD. In addition, at the beginning of the video, the pattern of the “dinner party” is recorded for a long time, and it is true that it is not interesting if you listen to it only as audio. So, when releasing it, we reorganized the contents to make it easier to listen to as an album. As for the audio of the “dinner party”, only the scenes where Mick and Keith are talking are recorded. Rather, it was recorded as an introduction-like scene before the session began. As for the essential session scenes, even listening to just the audio is very interesting, and the production process of the album “STEEL WHEELS” is finally revealed, which is surprising. The audio of the video is mono but clear enough, making it a very worthwhile session documentary. The song “Rock and a Hard Place” was already completed when the camera started rolling, and sufficient rehearsals were done before that. Therefore, the session was full of enthusiasm from the beginning, and Mick was in the lead and energetically refining the performance. In addition, with regard to “STEEL WHEELS”, a certain deadline was set due to the start of the tour after a long time, and the session scene of this song suggests that there was also an aim to complete it quickly by avoiding unnecessary repetition of takes and long sessions like the Stones’ past recordings. Thus, the takes are worth listening to from the beginning, but when it comes to “Rock and a Hard Place #2”, Mick’s tension suddenly rises, and his singing is heard everywhere, almost as intense as the released version. This series of sessions is the revival of the Stones, and you can even feel his excitement that his new songs have come together nicely, which is exactly what a session documentary sound source should be. In that respect, Keith’s “Mixed Emotion” is even more valuable because it captures the song being created from scratch based on Keith’s rough ideas. It is also interesting to hear Matt Clifford, who participated in this session on organ, give his opinion here and there. When the DVD “IN THE AIR: STEEL WHEELS SESSIONS” was released, it was stated that “the part where Mick and Keith discuss the song, which was seen in the official “25×5″, was not included,” but this was clearly included in the scene “Work In Progress 1: Keith Richards Showing His Ideas To Mick Jagger”, so we will correct this in this release. In “25×5,” the editing jumped from the early stages to the finished version in one go, but here, Keith and Mick are captured discussing and shaping the song, which is a level that gives you goosebumps even when you listen to it just like this, and it can only be said that it is groundbreaking that the Glimmer Twins’ work scene has been revealed in this way. Especially when it comes to “Mixed Emotions,” a symbol of the Stones’ revival. And the scene where Mick and Keith play Robert Johnson’s “Hellhound On My Trail,” which was not included in the leaked video this time, was added after being equalized using modern technology from the nostalgic OBR version. Also, while this video is very valuable, the take that was close to the completion of “Rock And A Hard Place” was recorded in pieces. Therefore, a pseudo-long version that combines not only the recording scene but also the version played when it was played back in the control room is included as a bonus track. This makes it even more enjoyable as an album, even though it is already a session sound source that is full of listening pleasure. The Stones were on the brink of breaking up at one point, but after many twists and turns, Mick and Keith reunited to form the Glimmer Twins. This is the “STEEL WHEELS” session album that will delight fans, documenting the Stones’ studio work. Enjoy this authentic documentary. Writing Sessions For Rock And A Hard Place & Mixed Emotions Montserrat Air Studio 25th – 27th April 1989 Disc:1 (63:18) Part I: Dinner At Montserrat 01. Banter 02. Banter “After The Dinner” Part II: Warm Up And First Rock And A Hard Place Try-Outs 03. Banter “Welcome To Another Fabulous Session” 04. From Malaguena To Rock And A Hard Place 05 Rock And A Hard Place Riff 06. Banter 07. Rock And A Hard Place #1 Part III: In The Studio 08. Banter & Warm-Up 09. Banter & Spanish Flavored Warm-Up 10. Rock And A Hard Place #2 Part 1 11. Rock And A Hard Place #2 Part 2 12. Banter 13. Rock And A Hard Place #3 Part IV: Check In The Control Room 14. Banter & Mick Jagger Clapping Hands Over Rock And A Hard Place #3 15. Banter “Rushes” Part V: Other Checking And Try-Outs In The Studio And The Control Room 16. Banter In The Studio With Some Rock And A Hard Place Parts 17. Rock And A Hard Place #4 Part 1 18. Rock And A Hard Place #4 Part 2 19. Banter 20. Checking 21. Banter 22. Checking A Last Short Rock And A Hard Place Extract 23. Banter Mick Jagger with Charlie 24. We Gonna Get His Movie Part VI: First Mixed Emotions Ideas 25. Warm-Up Keith Richards Blues Improvisation 26. Mixed Emotions Riff & Banter Part VII: Keith Richards Showing Mixed Emotions Riff And Idea To Mick Jagger 27. Work In Progress 1: Keith Richards Showing His Ideas To Mick Jagger 28. Banter 29. Work In Progress 2 30. Banter 31. Work In Progress 3 32. Work In Progress 4 33. Work In Progress 5 34. Banter 35. Work In Progress 6 36. Work In Progress 7: Keith Richards Improvisation Part VIII: Keith Richards & Mick Jagger Searching Ideas Around Mixed Emotions Riff 37. Work In Progress 8 Disc:2 (61:12) Part IX: Joining By The Band 1. Work In Progress 9 2. Work In Progress 10 3. Work In Progress 11 with Chorus 4. Work In Progress 12 Part X: New Work In Progress Extracts Of Mixed Emotions 5. A Short Work In Progress 6. Short Extract & Banter Part Chorus Part XII: More Reworkings In The Studio 10. Banter 11. New Try-Out For Mixed Emotions 12. Short Banter Shown From The Control Room 13. More Banter Shown From The Control Room Part 8. Banter & Warm-Up You’re Not The Only One 19. Approximative Lyrics Mixed Emotions #2 20. Final Studio Banters Part Banter From The Control Room 26. Short Vocal Overdub Extract #2 27. Short Control Room Comment 28. Short Vocal Overdub Extract #3 29. Be