Sweet Sounds of Heaven

"Sweet Sounds of Heaven" was teased by the band via an Instagram post on 25 September 2023, which played a short snippet of the track and revealed its release date.^[6] A lyric video for the radio edit of the track was uploaded to the Rolling Stones' official YouTube channel on the day of its release, and an interview with the band's frontman Mick Jagger was uploaded to the Apple Music YouTube channel as well.^[7][8] On 8 December, a live version of the song was released, recorded at the Racket in New York.^[9]

The Daily Telegraph rated "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" five out of five stars, stating that the band is in "exultant form" and calling the track "a thrilling, uplifting proto-gospel song that belongs in the very highest echelons of the Stones' starry catalogue".^[10] Consequence described the "anthemic, surprisingly emotional cut" as "one of the best late-stage songs the Stones have to offer", with the vocal interplay between Jagger and Gaga "[making] the extended track feel like it breezes by in an instant".^[11] American Songwriter praised the "truly epic" track as "[proof] that rock and roll and soul music can live harmoniously", while Rolling Stone further described it as a "free-flowing soul journey" with a "gospel vibe".^[12][5]

RTÉ deemed the track the highlight of the album, stating "this is the Stones in excelsis, a cosmic mountain range of a gospel song featuring perhaps Lady Gaga's finest-ever vocals and astounding keys and piano playing from the band's old touring partner Stevie Wonder".^[13] Kristen S. Hé of Vulture found it "one of the Stones' most ambitious songs in decades", and praised the chemistry between the group and Gaga, saying "the magic is palpable."^[14] The New York Times listed "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" as the fifth best song released in 2023, stating that "the song climbs to a big, gospelly finish, with Jagger and Gaga goading each other to belt more."^[15]

The Stones performed the song live with Gaga for the first time as part of their set at the Racket club in New York on 19 October 2023. Gaga joined the band on stage wearing a shimmering black and red bodysuit before engaging in a "heavenly screaming match" with Jagger during the song.^[16] The audio of the performance was later released on digital and streaming services on 8 December.^[17]

Personnel adapted from Sweet Sounds of Heaven liner notes.^[18]

The Rolling Stones

• Mick Jagger – vocals, percussion
• Keith Richards – guitar
• Ronnie Wood – guitar

Additional musicians

• Lady Gaga – vocals
• Stevie Wonder – piano, Rhodes, Moog
• Steve Jordan – drums
• Matt Clifford – B3 organ
• Andrew Watt – bass, backing vocals
• James King – saxophone
• Ron Blake – trumpet

Technical personnel

• Andrew Watt – producer
• Serban Ghenea – mixer
• Bryce Bordone – mix assistant
• Matt Colton – mastering
• Paul LaMalfa – recording engineer
• Marco Sonzini – recording engineer
• Joe Dougherty – recording assistant
• Joe Brice – recording assistant
• Barnabas Poffley – recording assistant
• Kelsey Porter – recording assistant
• Tommy Turner – recording assistant
• Rich Evatt – recording assistant
• Pierre Beauport – studio assistant
• Marc Van Gool – studio assistant
• Brendan Morawski – studio assistant