" Steamy Windows" is a song by American-Swiss singer Tina Turner. It was included on Turner's seventh studio album, Foreign Affair (1989), and released as the album's second single in November 1989. In the United Kingdom, it was instead issued as the third single on February 5, 1990. It was written by Tony Joe White and produced by Dan Hartman. It became a top ten hit in Belgium, Ireland and Italy, while reaching the top forty on the majority of all charts it appeared on.
Turner performed the song as the opening number during her , 1993 and concert tours.
Critical reception
Greg Kot from
Chicago Tribune noted that "Steamy Windows" begins with some of Tony Joe White's trademark "Polk Salad Annie" guitar, "a funky, gut-bucket sound that is further enhanced by some back-porch harmonica fills. It's the perfect atmosphere for Turner, a rural
Tennessee native, to dig deep into her back-roads Southern past and sing about back-seat affairs."
[Greg Kot (September 17, 1989). "'Foreign Affair' lets Turner head home". Chicago Tribune.] Pan-European magazine
Music & Media said it "recalls the Ike & Tina sound of the late 60s. A massive hit."
David Giles from Music Week wrote, "Delightfully risqué number that finds Turner's trad blues vocal neatly complemented by a spruced-up country music-style rhythm with plenty of harmonica and mischievous guitar runs." He added further, "I was thinking 'bout parking the other night", "runs the lyric. The thought doesn't last long, though, as the windows are soon moist with "body heat". What can they be up to in there?"["The Listening Room". USA Today. October 19, 1989.] John Mackie from The Vancouver Sun called it "a sultry little ditty about back seat hijinks".[Mackie, John (October 7, 1989). "Recordings". The Vancouver Sun.]
Retrospective review
In a 2019 retrospective review, Matthew Hocter from Albumism stated that "Steamy Windows" is the "epitome" of adult contemporary, adding that it "in true Turner style", incorporates elements of the
blues and a whole lot of
rock music.
Bil Carpenter from
AllMusic also noted that here, the singer "tackled" rock.
The Daily Vault's Mark Millan called it "one of Turner's sexiest moments ever recorded", describing it as "a great swampy blues/rock song that finds Turner lamenting those wild nights of teenage lust".
In a 2015 review, Pop Rescue found that the singer's voice is "hard, confident, and perfectly suited to this
pop-rock sound, which she delivers an effortless growl."
Music video
The official
music video for the song was directed by British commercial, film and music video director
Andy Morahan.
It was later published on Turner's official
YouTube channel in March 2009. The video has amassed more than 4,4 million views as of September 2021.
Other versions
A dance version of the track co-produced and remixed by Justin Strauss and Murray Elias was also issued as a separate remix single in certain territories. Tony Joe White later recorded his own version of the song (alongside "Undercover Agent for the Blues", another track he wrote for
Foreign Affair) on his album
Closer to the Truth (1991). The song has also been covered by John Anderson,
Kenny Chesney and Shemekia Copeland.
Track listings
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European 7-inch and CD single
-
"Steamy Windows" – 4:02
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"Not Enough Romance" – 4:03
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Australian 7-inch single
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"Steamy Windows" – 4:02
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"Bold and Reckless" – 3:48
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US 7-inch and cassette single
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"Steamy Windows" – 4:03
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"The Best" (edit) – 4:08
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UK 7-inch and cassette single
-
"Steamy Windows" – 4:03
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"The Best" (Single Muscle mix) – 4:15
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European CD and 12-inch single
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"Steamy Windows" – 4:02
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"Stronger Than the Wind" – 3:59
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"Not Enough Romance" – 4:03
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UK CD single
-
"Steamy Windows" – 4:03
-
"The Best" (extended Muscle mix) – 5:30
-
"Steamy Windows" (vocal mix) – 6:22
-
European CD and 12-inch single (Remixes)
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"Steamy Windows" (12-inch vocal mix) – 6:20
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"Steamy Windows" (7-inch mix) – 4:19
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"Steamy Windows" (12-inch dub mix) – 6:36
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European CD and 12-inch single (Remixes)
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"Steamy Windows" (12-inch house mix) – 7:08
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"Steamy Windows" (7-inch house mix) – 4:09
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"Steamy Windows" (12-inch house dub mix) – 6:50
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Australian 12-inch single
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"Steamy Windows" (12-inch vocal mix) – 6:20
-
"Steamy Windows" (12-inch dub mix) – 6:35
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"Steamy Windows" (12-inch house dub mix) – 6:48
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"Bold and Reckless" – 3:48
-
US 12-inch single
-
"Steamy Windows" (12-inch vocal mix) – 6:20
-
"Steamy Windows" (12-inch house mix) – 7:08
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"Steamy Windows" (12-inch dub mix) – 6:35
-
"Steamy Windows" (12-inch house dub mix) – 6:48
-
UK 12-inch single
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"Steamy Windows" (vocal mix) – 6:20
-
"The Best" (Muscle mix) – 4:15
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"Steamy Windows" (house mix) – 7:08
Personnel
Charts
Release history
