Rolling Stones Shine on Steel Wheels 1989 Live Release

The new Rolling Stones Blu-Ray/2CD set "Steel Wheels Live Atlantic City New Jersey" is a great snapshot of the band on fire in 1989 on their first American tour in eight years as the Stones hold a rapt audience at the Atlantic City Convention Center in its energetic hands.

The set sees the Stones supporting their 1989 release, "Steel Wheels," heralded by many as a return to form and comeback album at the end of the decade, though its two predecessors, "Dirty Work" (1986) and "Undercover" (1983), are vastly underrated. The show includes a massive stage set and the band's wheels turning for an outstanding, no let down two-and-a-half set. The Stones' stamina, then and now, has never been in doubt yet continues to amaze.

In addition to the band's classics and hits, of which there are plenty on "Steel Wheels Live," the excellent performances of the new-at-the-time material is evidence of why the Stones are always vital. Rockers like hit single "Mixed Emotions," "Sad Sad Sad," "Terrifying," the insistent, riff-driven "Rock and a Hard Place" and the Keith Richards' crooned "Can't Be Seen" jump off the screen and out of the speakers with new energy. Popular Eighties tracks like the early set one-two punch of gritty funk-rocker "Undercover of the Night" and the smooth soul of "Harlem Shuffle" also hit high marks.

The show features several special guest spots. A young Axl Rose and Izzy Straddlin join the Stones for the first-ever live performance of "Salt of the Earth." It's an emotional and inspiring performance on which Jagger and Rose fit perfectly on the "Beggar's Banquet" gem. Eric Clapton contributes fiery blues leads to "Little Red Rooster" and blues legend John Lee Hooker does some "Boogie Chillen" with the band.

Then there are the powerful renditions of the classics, among them a spirited "Paint It Black" and "Tumbling Dice," the down-home strut of "Honky Tonk Women" and ascending "You Can't Always Get What You Want." The show wraps with a series of knockout punches including exuberant takes on "It's Only Rock "N' Roll (But I Like It)," "Brown Sugar" and the one that started it all, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," before ending with a frenzied "Jumpin' Jack Flash."

Mick Jagger commands the stage as always, strutting and preening, and giving an interpretive dance performance leading into "2000 Light Years from Home," all while delivering a strong and consistent vocal performance. Keith Richards and Ron Wood turn in at times tight and raggedy rhythms and slash and burn lead work. Richards also takes center stage for a series of tracks. He's both nonchalant and laid back but also animated on "Can't Be Seen" and "Happy." As always, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman lay the solid and rooted groundwork.

"Steel Wheels Live" overall, as well as the albums and tours that preceded it and would come in the future, including last year's tour dates, is a shining example that no matter the year, decade or even millennium, the Rolling Stones are and always will be The World's Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band.