Can’t get no satisfaction waiting for Mick, Keith and the boys to drop Some Girls on November 21? Well, whether you’re a Stones completist who simply must own every reissue or a casual fan looking for some quick slam-bang classics, you might want to take a drive over to your local Wal-Mart. The retailer is exclusively offering a new compilation from ABKCO spanning the 1964-1971 period which found the band transition from blues to pop to psychedelia to gritty rock. The Very Best of the Rolling Stones 1964-1971 collects 17 tracks, 15 from the band’s Decca (U.K.)/London (U.S.) catalogue and two from 1971’s Sticky Fingers, the Rolling Stones Records release of which marked the band’s independence.
While all of the tracks on The Very Best have been compiled over and over again, this is the first single-disc compilation to cover all of this territory. 1966’s Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) compiled the period of 1964-1966, with different line-ups for the American and British markets. 1969’s Through the Past Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2) continued the Stones’ story, again featuring different track lists in each country. 1971’s double LP Hot Rocks was the first compilation to emerge from Allen Klein’s ABKCO after the band’s departure from Decca/London and Klein’s control. Like The Very Best Of, it included “Brown Sugar” and “Wild Horses” which were recorded under the Decca contract despite appearing on the band’s self-controlled Sticky Fingers.
Hit the jump for more, including an order link and the full track listing with discography!
The new compilation generally hits most of the right marks, presenting the expected big hit singles alongside choice album tracks like “Under My Thumb” and “Gimme Shelter.” What’s missing? Among the tracks you won’t find are memorable cuts “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” “The Last Time” and “It’s All Over Now.” That said, there’s plenty on offer for the casual fan who just wants one disc from this era: “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Get Off Of My Cloud,” “Paint It Black,” “Under My Thumb,” “Ruby Tuesday,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Sympathy for the Devil,” etc. At a retail price of just nine bucks, this may offer a “bigger bang” than many similar budget releases.
The Very Best of the Rolling Stones 1964-1971 (with perhaps the most nondescript cover art of any recent reissue for a group of the Stones’ stature!) is available now at Wal-Mart, and that super deluxe Some Girls, in all its various iterations, arrives November 21!
The Rolling Stones, The Very Best of the Rolling Stones 1964-1971 (ABKCO, `2011)
- Time Is On My Side
- (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
- Get Off Of My Cloud
- 19th Nervous Breakdown
- Mother's Little Helper
- Paint It Black
- Under My Thumb
- Ruby Tuesday
- She's A Rainbow
- Jumpin' Jack Flash
- Sympathy For The Devil
- You Can't Always Get What You Want
- Gimme Shelter
- Honky Tonk Women
- Brown Sugar
- Wild Horses
Track 1 from London single 45-LON 9708, 1964
Track 2 from London single 45-LON 9766, 1965
Track 3 from London single 45-LON 9792, 1965
Track 4 from London single 45-LON 9823, 1966
Track 5 from London single 45-LON 902, 1966
Track 6 from London single 45-LON 901, 1966
Track 7 from Aftermath, London LP PS-476, 1966
Track 8 from London single 45-LON 904, 1967
Track 9 from London single 45-LON 906, 1967
Track 10 from London single 45-LON 908, 1968
Track 11 from Beggars Banquet, London LP PS-539, 1968
Tracks 12 & 14 from London single 45-LON 910, 1969
Track 13 from Let It Bleed, London LP NPS-4, 1969
Track 15 from Rolling Stones single 45-19100, 1971
Track 16 from Rolling Stones single 45-19101, 1971
Discographical information corresponds to U.S. releases.
Kym says
From what I've read online, this compilation uses the "underdub" version of "Ruby Tuesday". Augh!
JoeF says
what does that mean? explain.
Kym says
A lead vocal is missing during the choruses. This "underdub" has appeared on all pressings of "Ruby Tuesday" since the ABKCO remasters first appeared in 2002.
Sean Anglum says
Good to know, thanks Kym.
What would it have taken to use a photo of one of the 20th century's most photographed group?! Purchase of photographic rights, I suppose. What a cash cow this one is! At least the Beatles' reissue of "1" was with remastered tracks. Come on, throw us collectors and completists a bone! haha.
Kym says
I just found out the 'Rolled Gold' reissue on CD has the "correct" version of "Ruby Tuesday"!