Album Details

• Artist: The Rolling Stones
• Album: Rolled Gold: The Very Best Of The Rolling Stones
• Label: Decca
• Year of Release: 1975
• Original Release: 2006
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: charlesmartel on 2012-05-17

That is precisely what I did. I purchased this compilation. I fell in love with it almost instantly. If there were awards handed out for the best ever compilation, this would probably get them all. In that sense it is now an essential album in my collection and one I could neither do without nor truly replace. I know some people do not like compilations but without such albums, I would never have heard as much of the Rolling Stones as I have done.

The album, which was released in the early seventies, covers solely the sixties and shows the development of the band from an R&B covers outfit playing small clubs in London, to megastars producing such rock classics as "Gimme Shelter" (my favourite ever Stones track), "Midnight Rambler" and "Sympathy for the Devil." All their better known tracks from the sixties are on here, and while that may mean there may be a few omissions, hey, their output is so huge that it would take an enormous quadruple vinyl collection to get all the great stuff from that era on. Perhaps most tellingly, except for a few downloads, I have, until recently, never felt the need to go out and expand my sixties era-Stones collection by purchasing new stuff. This compilation has pretty much been all I have needed.

In addition, the sleeve notes provide some useful context in which to place the music. From the days of dingy clubs just off Oxford Street, through their phases of flirtation with the hippies in 1967 and on to their undeserved reputation (a reputation they nonetheless played up to) of Satanism, this is the Stones encapsulated. Yet it is the music which speaks loudest. The infamous misogyny of Mick Jagger is on show for all to see, not just in terms of the obvious tracks like "Under My Thumb", but also with tracks like "Yesterday's Papers". The sinister and the threatening is obvious with tracks like "Sympathy for the Devil" but also with the dark lyrics of "Jumping Jack Flash". And yes, just in case you never knew, the Stones had their fair share of political and social commentary - the 1968 Paris student riots described in "Street Fighting Man" and the case of the Boston Strangler in "Midnight Rambler."

Of the sides on this original double vinyl (which I have now replaced with an expanded and remastered CD), well the fourth stands out. This is the Stones, post Brian Jones, as a band whose reputation had preceded it. This was after the ill-advised flirtation with psychedelia and contemporaneous with Altamont. By the end of the sixties the Stones had come a long way from their early pop phase, with roots firmly embedded in R&B. This was a band who was now producing some of the greatest music of all time. Whatever one may think of the Stones now, or what they have become, just take the time to look back at what they were and appreciate their music from the sixties - you won't be disappointed I assure you.

If you find the Stones back catalogue just too big to handle, get this for the sixties.

User Reviews and Comments

Review:

on 2012-06-21 gutterseed Said:

One could argue that Alice Cooper put this album together. It's such an ecletic compilation of the Stones. I own everything they've ever done,and I could arguably throw this onto the Ipod and just forget about the others. The Stones always had an amazing talent for drivig rhythms and great guitar work. I get tired of hearing the mainstream stuff that's always played on the radio, and have been guilty of just forwarding through those overplayed classics.
There are songs on this album (Carol) that bring back that Chuck Berry guitarwork. I always loved the bluesy side to the stones. This album has both the hits and stuff you don't hear back. I hadn't heard "Tell me" in at least 5 years. I enjoyed disc 1 more than disc 2, but both discs are enjoyable. If you're looking for an album that captures the best of The Stones, this is your abum.
Not Rated