This song is really great and hard rocking. I just saw the video for the song on youtube and its great as well. Its probably one of their most overlooked songs because of the point of time in their carrear('86) and because it came off of what many think was their worst album ever, 'Dirty Work'.
However this song is certainly that album's high point. It has a wonderful intro with both an acoustic and then electric guitar sound which is really hard sounding, especially during that mid '80s era of waterdown 'hard rock songs'(which I really have no problem with at all, they were fun anyhow). It also has 2 main guitar solo spots provided by none other than Jimmy Page! However the video for the song is cutdown and shortened a bit so you don't get to hear both of Jimmy's solo spots.

A real overlooked and badass song by The Stones.

PurpleJam said:

Agreed to everything you said. Great production by Steve Lillywhite too.

Hmmmm ... One Hit was certainly a highlight on an album short on them. I wouldn't call Dirty Work their worst album. Bridges to Babylon and A Bigger Bang hit a lot more branches on their way down the crap tree. Winning Ugly, Sleep Tonight, Back to Zero and Harlem Shuffle are all great.

They actually recorded a lot of very promising material for Dirty Work (track down the outtakes), but, given the fractious state the band found itself in during the sessions (Jagger and Richards warring because Jagger wanted to go and make crap solo albums, Charlie Watts smacked out of his brain, Bill Wyman absent), they only worked on the songs that were easiest and quickest to do.

Shapeshifter said:

I'd say that you are correct about 'Back To Zero'. It's a really fun song with an undeniable '80s sound, which I think is why it has taken so much grief from many people who hate that type of style, particularly on a Stones record. The song may be dated but I think its got a great beat and vibe to it.
[Edited 12/29/06 7:20am]