"Almost Hear You Sigh" is a song by English rock band the Rolling Stones from their 1989 album, Steel Wheels, written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Steve Jordan. The song was originally a contender for inclusion on Richards' first solo album, Talk Is Cheap, but he decided to play it for Jagger and Chris Kimsey the next year during recording sessions in Montserrat for the Steel Wheels album. With the exception of some lyrical alteration by Jagger, the composition was left in its original form. Released in January 1990 as the third single from Steel Wheels, the song reached 50 on the US Billboard Hot 100, No. 1 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, and No. 31 on the UK Singles Chart.
Release and reception Released as the album's third single in January 1990, "Almost Hear You Sigh" made it to No. 50 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 for one week on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. Given that the Rolling Stones' comeback 1989 North American tour had finished in December, the song got limited radio airplay. A music video was shot in black and white during the band's 1989 visit to Toronto, for two shows at the Skydome."Stones rattle the Dome". The Toronto Star: p. A1. 4 December 1989.
USA Today music critic Edna Gundersen noted that Jagger's vocals and Richards' guitar playing sounded best on slower Steel Wheels tracks such as "Almost Hear You Sigh".Gundersen, Edna (28 August 1989). "New Stones LP: Paint it pretty good". USA Today: p. 1D. SF Weekly marks it as one of the Stones' best ballads recorded after 1971.Keresman, Mark (20 August 2003). "Joe Ely: Streets of Sin". SF Weekly. However, Parry Gettelman of the Orlando Sentinel marked the track's Grammy nomination as that of a relatively uninspiring song.
Live performances The song has been performed only on the Urban Jungle Tour leg of the Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour. Since its release, the song has been performed seven times on the 1989 tour, and on all shows of the 1990 tour.
Personnel Personnel are adapted from the Steel Wheels liner notes.
The Rolling Stones Mick Jagger – lead vocals, backing vocals Keith Richards – guitar, backing vocals, classical guitar Ronnie Wood – guitar, backing vocals Bill Wyman – bass guitar Charlie Watts – drums
Additional musicians Chuck Leavell – keyboards Matt Clifford – keyboards Sarah Dash – backing vocals Lisa Fischer – backing vocals Bernard Fowler – backing vocals Luís Jardim – percussion Chris Jagger – literary editor
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1990) Peakposition Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 66 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 13
Year-end charts Chart (1990) Position US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard) 35
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United States31 January 19907-inch vinylRolling StonesJapan21 February 1990Mini-CDCBS/SonyAustralia19 March 1990Rolling Stones
References