# Mixed Emotions (Rolling Stones song)

"Mixed Emotions" is a song by English rock band the Rolling Stones from their 1989 album, Steel Wheels. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards while on vacation on Montserrat, "Mixed Emotions" was a collaborative effort between Jagger and Richards after a period of tension and estrangement. Richards brought his own music to the sessions along with most of the song's lyrics, the rest being filled in by Jagger in the studio. Released on 21 August 1989 in the United Kingdom, the song reached No. 1 in Canada and No. 5 in the United States while becoming a top-10 hit in Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway.

## Recording

The song is an upfront rocker, with Richards, Jagger and Ronnie Wood sharing guitar duties. Piano and organ were provided by Chuck Leavell, the Stones' touring keyboardist since the 1980s. Backing vocals are provided by Jagger, Richards, Sarah Dash, Lisa Fischer, and Bernard Fowler, the latter two longtime touring vocalists for the Stones. Brass was provided by the Kick Horns while Luis Jardim provided percussion. Charlie Watts handled drums while Bill Wyman played bass.

## Music video

To match the upbeat nature of the song, the music video featured the Stones, playful and smiling, performing the song as well as recording it. This stands in stark contrast to the band's previous video, 1986's "One Hit (To the Body)," filmed during a time when relations between Jagger and Richards were at an all-time low, and which featured uncomfortable physical sparring between the two.

## Release

Released as the album's first single on 21 August 1989, "Mixed Emotions" made it into the top 10 in the US, going to number five, and was also a number-one hit on the Album Rock Tracks chart for five weeks and in Canada for one week. The song was the Stones' last top-ten hit in the United States to date, although they would go on to have more chart hits on the Album Rock Tracks (now Mainstream Rock) chart. The single's B-side was "Fancy Man Blues", a non-album track recorded during the Steel Wheels sessions.
The song was regularly performed during the 1989–1990 Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour and is included on the live albums Live at The Tokyo Dome and Steel Wheels Live. "Mixed Emotions" appears on all compilation albums, including Jump Back, Forty Licks, and GRRR!. The 12-inch remix of "Mixed Emotions" by producer Chris Kimsey was rereleased on the Rarities 1971–2003 compilation, in 2005, along with "Fancy Man Blues."

## Track listing

* "Mixed Emotions" (7-inch version) – 4:00
* "Mixed Emotions" (Chris Kimsey's 12-inch) – 6:10
* "Fancy Man Blues" – 4:54

## Personnel

Adapted from Steel Wheels liner notes.
The Rolling Stones
* Mick Jagger – lead vocals, backing vocals, guitar, shakers
* Keith Richards – guitar, backing vocals
* Ronnie Wood – guitar
* Bill Wyman – bass guitar
* Charlie Watts – drums
Additional musicians
* Chuck Leavell – organ, piano
* Sarah Dash – backing vocals
* Lisa Fischer – backing vocals
* Bernard Fowler – backing vocals
* Luís Jardim – percussion
* The Kick Horns – brass

## Release history

| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) |
| United Kingdom | 21 August 1989 | 7-inch vinyl12-inch vinylCD | Rolling StonesCBS |
| United Kingdom | 28 August 1989 | Limited-edition CD1 | Rolling StonesCBS |
| United Kingdom | 4 September 1989 | Limited-edition CD2 | Rolling StonesCBS |
| Japan | 7 September 1989 | Mini-CD | CBS/Sony |
| United Kingdom | 18 September 1989 | Cassette | Rolling StonesCBS |