1990 - Steamy Windows 7 Inch Single

"Steamy Windows" is a single from Tina Turner's 1989 album ‘’Foreign Affair".
It’s written by Tony Joe White and produced by Dan Hartman. "Steamy Windows" was released as the album's second single in November 1989, and third single in the United Kingdom and Ireland in February 1990. Released as the album's third single, it became a top ten hit in Belgium and Ireland, while reaching the top forty on the majority of all charts it appeared on.

Twenty years after his solo hit "Polk Salad Annie," the Louisiana songwriter Tony Joe White charted again as a composer when Tina Turner recorded "Steamy Windows," which was one of four songs he demoed on a cassette, hoping Turner would record them for her album. Turner recorded three of them: "Steamy Windows," "Undercover Agent for the Blues," and "Foreign Affair," which became the title track of her album.

"Steamy Windows" is about getting intimate in the backseat of a car on a lonely stretch of road. When the windows steam up from the body heat, it creates some natural privacy and makes the setting even more sensual. Typically, it is the guy who sets up the "making out in a car" scenario, using any trick he can think of to make it happen ("We're out of gas..." "There's a great view up here..."). Turner could have sung the song from the perspective of the girl being courted, but instead, she simply transposed the gender and sang about trying to get the guy into the back seat ("there's something about a confrontation on a back road... breaks down the defense"). By flipping the traditional gender role, Turner was asserting her confidence, making it clear that she was the one in charge (and driving the car).

Tony Joe White released his own version of this song on his 1991 album Closer To The Truth. He recorded it in his folky, unaffected style - the same way he had been performing his whole life. Tony was asked if he was ever tempted to sing the song like Turner, he replied: "No, because I had recorded the songs pretty swampy, just my own style, and it stayed that way all through her sessions. She kept the same chord changes and everything. Nobody would be foolish enough to try to sing like Tina Turner."

 

 

The single was released in several versions with different B-Sides. There’s a version with a 7" remix of "The Best", a version with "Not Enough Romance" as B-side, which is also included as a track on the "Foreign Affair album" and a limited edition with "Bold And Reckless" as B-side.

"Steamy Windows" was also co-produced and remixed by Justin Strauss and Murray Elias, and it was also issued as a separate remix single in certain territories.

 

 

"Steamy Windows" has been covered two years later by country artist John Anderson for his album "Seminole Wind" as well as country artist Kenny Chesney.
Turner performed the song as the opening number during her 1990, 1993 and 2008/2009 concert tours and it was also included in her setlist during her tour in 1996 and 2000.

Track Listing
"Steamy Windows" - 4.03 min.
"Not Enough Romance" - Dan Hartman - 4:04

Released: 1989/1990
Genre: Blues/ Rock
Length: 4:02 min.
Label: Capitol
Writers: "Steamy Windows" - Tony Joe White
"Not Enough Romance" - Dan Hartman
"The Best" - H. Knight and M. Chapman
"Bold and Reckless" - J. Obstoj and R. Hine
Producers: Dan Hartman (Steamy Windows, Not Enough Romance and The Best) and Rupert Hine (Bold And Reckless)

Chart Positions
Australia (ARIA) - 34
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) - 18
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) - 5
Canada Top Singles (RPM) - 25
Canada Retail Singles (RPM) - 15
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) - 31
Germany (Official German Charts) - 29
Ireland (IRMA) - 7
Italy (Hit Parade Italia) - 11
Netherlands (Single Top 100) - 16
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) - 30
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) - 14
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) - 13
US Billboard ( Hot 100) - 39
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard) - 33

 

Source: Wikipedia and Discogs

1975 - Under my thumb
1975 - Whole lotta love
1976 - Acid Queen
1978 - Root Toot Undisputable Rock 'n Roller
1978 - Viva la money
1978 - Sometimes When We Touch
1979 - Fruits of the Night
1979 - Music keeps me dancin'
1979 - Backstabbers
1980 - Are you breaking my heart
1982 - Ball of confusion
1983 - Lets Stay Together
1984 - Help
1984 - What's love got to do with it?
1984 - Better be good to me
1984 - Private Dancer
1984 - I can't stand the rain
1985 - Show some respect
1985 - We don't need another hero - Mad Max
1985 - One of the living
1985 - It's only love - with Bryan Adams
1986 - Typical Male
1986 - Back where you started
1986 - Two People
1987 - Girls
1987 - What you get is what you see
1987 - Break every rule
1987 - Paradise is here - Special Edition
1987 - Tearing us apart - with Eric Clapton
1988 - Nutbush City Limits
1988 - Tonight Live - with David Bowie
1988 - Addicted to love
1988 - A change is gonna come
1989 - The Best
1989 - I don't wanna lose you
1989 - 6345789 - with Robert Cray
1990 - Steamy Windows
1990 - Foreign Affair
1990 - Look Me in the Heart
1990 - Be Tender With Me Baby
1990 - It takes Two - with Rod Stewart
1991 - Nutbush City Limits
1991 - Way of the world
1991 - I want you near me
1991 - Love Thing
1993 - I don't wanna fight
1993 - Disco Inferno
1993 - Why must we wait until tonight?
1993 - Proud Mary
1995 - Goldeneye
1996 - On silent wings
1996 - Whatever you want
1997 - Cose della vita - with Eros Ramazzotti