Customer Reviews

Hot Rocks

5 star:		(96)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is the version of Hot Rocks 1964-1971 that was originally released in the U.S. on Jan 11, 1972 but was withheld from the UK until 1990 due to a lawsuit. The album includes different versions of Brown Sugar and Wild Horses that had not been previously released. By mistake, the UK release contained the only true stereo versions of Satisfaction, Heart Of Stone, Paint It, Black, and Get Off Of My Cloud until the 40 Licks CD was released in 2002.

This US version covered their American hits from 1964-1971. The song are on the album in the order they were released in the U.S. Those that were only released as album cuts are noted.
9-25-64 Time Is On My Side (version 2) (also on Big Hits (High Tide & Green Grass))
12-18-64 Heart Of Stone (also on Big Hits (High Tide & Green Grass))
3-12-65 Play With Fire (B side of The Last Time) (also on Big Hits (High Tide & Green Grass))
6-4-65 (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (also on Big Hits (High Tide & Green Grass))
12-17-65 As Tears Go By (also on Big Hits (High Tide & Green Grass))
9-24-65 Get Off Of My Cloud (also on Big Hits (High Tide & Green Grass))
5-6-66 Paint It, Black (also on Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2))
7-1-66 Mother's Little Helper (also on Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2))
2-11-66 19th Nervous Breakdown (also on Big Hits (High Tide & Green Grass))
7-1-66 Under My Thumb (not a single, from album Aftermath)
1-13-67 Ruby Tuesday (also on Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2))
1-13-67 Let's Spend The Night Together (B side of Ruby Tuesday) (also on Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2))
5-31-68 Jumpin' Jack Flash (also on Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2))
8-30-68 Street Fighting Man (also on Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2))
12-6-68 Sympathy For The Devil (not a single, from album Beggar's Banquet)
7-3-69 Honky Tonk Woman (also on Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2))
12-5-69 Gimme Shelter (not a single, from album Let It Bleed)
12-5-69 Midnight Rambler (not a single, from album Let It Bleed)
12-5-69 You Can't Always Get What You Want (not a single, from album Let It Bleed)
5-7-71 Brown Sugar (1st release of version 2)(song not on a previous compilation album)
6-11-71 Wild Horses (1st release of version 2)(song not on a previous compilation album)

Here is a list of the songs that were previously issued on the first 2 compilation albums, but were not included on Hot Rocks 64-71:
3-6-64 Not Fade Away (on Big Hits (High Tide & Green Grass))
6-12-64 Tell Me (version 2) (on Big Hits (High Tide & Green Grass))
7-24-64 It's All Over Now (on Big Hits (High Tide & Green Grass))
7-24-64 Good Times, Bad Times (B side of It's All Over Now) (on Big Hits (High Tide & Green Grass))
3-12-65 The Last Time (on Big Hits (High Tide & Green Grass))
9-23-66 Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow? (on Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2))
8-18-67 Dandelion (on Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2))
12-22-67 She's A Rainbow (on Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2))
12-22-67 2000 Light Years From Home (B side of She's A Rainbow) (on Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2))

This information comes from "It's Only Rock And Roll: The Ultimate Guide To The Rolling Stones" by Karnbach and Bernson and from my own collection.

I was and am too emersed in too many bands and artists to attempt to start collecting the Rolling Stones' essential albums. Their discography is way too big. Hot Rocks has all of the really essential songs you could want(at least the early ones). It goes with me on every trip. There isnt a bad song on here (shocking, yes, I know). In fact there isn't even a song that is just okay. This is two full discs of classic songs, perfect for someone who isn't wholly firmiliar with the Stones. It will make you want to buy more of their records.

If you're thinking about buying this CD, chances are you are a relatively new fan of the Stones, and are looking for a good CD to get you started. Look no further. This is an excellent compilation of the biggest hits the Stones had when they were the hottest rock band in the world.

Highlights on Disc One include "Satisfaction" (which is quite possibly the best rock song ever recorded), the dark "Paint It Black," and the gorgeous ballad "Ruby Tuesday." On Disc Two the best include the rocking "Jumpin' Jack Flash," the redneck-flavored "Honky Tonk Woman," and the ambitious statement "You Can't Always Get What You Want." But every single song is worth a listen, I generally don't skip any tracks.

If you are already a Stones fan, chances are you already have most of these songs on their respective albums. But if you are just starting to come around, I definitely recommend Hot Rocks as a smart buy.

This was my first Stones album. I got it when I was a kid and I remember really liking it alot especially the first side with all their earlier songs.My favorite songs in those days was Ninteenth Nervous Breakdown, As Tears Go by, Play With Fire, Paint it Black, Time is On my side, Get off My cloud, and Mothers little helper, and my especial favorite was Ruby Tuesday. I never have liked Satisfaction or Under my Thumb. I also remember being really shocked by Sympathy for the Devil and I would never listen to it, I guess I thought I would be dragged down to Hell for listening to it. Thats one reason I never listened to the second side, I was so scared of hearing that song(hey, I was only about 9 years old)Anyway, times change and now my favorite songs are on the second side because I don't really like their mid sixties songs too much anymore. My fave songs on it now are Jumping Jack Flash,Wild Horses, Brown Sugar, Midnight Rambler(I like the version on Let it Bleed better though)Honky Tonk Women, and yes, Sympathy For the Devil. Its a good album to start out any Stones collection with and if you like it then you can go on to Beggers Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile on Main Street which is the god of all rock albums.

What? You don't own any Rolling Stones albums? Then don't hesitate and go out and buy this one. This is the best album to get if you've never heard the Stones before. Then if you like it (and even if you don't like it), go out and get "Sticky Fingers" and "Exile on Main Street." Then you'll be Stoned.

Spanning the first seven years of the Stones' recording career, "Hot Rocks" includes almost every song the casual fan could want from that period.
It doesn't include their earliest blues and R&B covers, which is a shame, but once you're hooked I'm sure you can find the money to go out and get the Stones' first four LPs anyway ;-)

But look at what is here: "Satisfaction", "Heart Of Stone", "Honky Tonk Women", "Jumpin' Jack Flash", "Brown Sugar", "Sympathy For The Devil" and many, many more. This excellent, attractively packaged and well annotated compilation truly provides the cream of the crop.
Get "Hot Rocks" and "Jump Back: The Best Of The Rolling Stones 1971-1993" and you'll have a much better career overview than with the good-but-not-great 2002 box set "Forty Licks".

Way back in 1976, Decca UK asked critic Roy Carr to put together a 2LP compilation of the best of the Stones' output for the label. Carr came up with Rolled Gold, an amazing 30-track, 90-minute long set that provided a clear, comprehensive guide to the band's achievements during the years 1963-1969. Man, was it good. Needless to say, this isn't that album. Record company greed and the complicated web of legal intrigue surrounding the Rolling Stones' 1960s recordings dictates that we get this 1972 US compilation instead: skimpy on running time, with variable sound at best, and missing so many important hits and milestones that they had to put together *another* 2LP set to get them all in. If your interest in the Stones runs to just wanting the 'hits', then this might do (although it's outrageous that they're still marketing this as a 2CD set when, with a little squeezing, it could fit onto one). If you're a fan who happens to believe that the band recorded some of the best rock of all time during their first decade, you can only mourn a lost opportunity. Surely *someone* at ABKCO/London/Decca/Universal must be able to compile a worthy collection that tells us the Stones story in detail (and actually USES the CD's playing time)? The music deserves five stars; the compilation one; so I've gone for the middle ground.

Well, I am quite satisfied with this purchase. I had bought the Digitally Remastered Version because I had heard previous reviewers mention poor sound. Although it still has some flaws, it really has a great selection of songs. This is a great cd for a newbie for the Stones, but don't let this be your only Stones purchase. I really wished "Monkey Man" from the Stones hit album "Let it Bleed" could have been on here. It is an awesome combination of guitar riffs, great lyrics, great vocals, and some great piano work, unfortunatley it is a greatly underrated song. The psychedelic "2000 Light Years From Home" would have been a nice touch But I guess "You can't always get what you want."

"Time is on my side" is a great kick-off with "Satisfaction" not so far around the corner. The pill-popping inspired "Mother's Little Helper" gets you ready for your "19th Nervous Breakdown" where "on our 1st trip I tried so hard to rearrange your mind." And if "Paint It Black" gets you too dark, skip to "Ruby Tuesday." And that's only the 1st disc.

Disc 2 is alright now, infact it's a gas with "Jumpin' Jack Flash." You'll shout and scream and kill the king with "Street Fightin' Man." And for the ultimate Stones Rocker, a sin of a song, "Sympathy For the Devil" with "Gimmie Shelter" just a track away. Don't let the boys' choir in "You Can't Always Get What You Want" make you want to skip track, it get's better. Keith lays down an awesome riff that could whip the women just around midnight in "Brown Sugar." And ending your very awesome CD set, Mick gives an excellent vocal that couldn't be dragged away in "Wild Horses"

The Rolling Stones were the original Bad Boys of rock. The Beatles and other groups of the early and mid-60s had a clean-cut image that the Rolling Stones deliberately flaunted with their facial expressions, appearance, and blues-influenced music that lyrically was more challenging than most other popular contemporary groups. The closest contemporary group to the Rolling Stones was Aerosmith, before they too became more commercial. Now so many groups attempt to affect a bad boy image that the image has been watered down and no longer has much meaning. But in the 60s, the Rolling Stones were the definition of rebellion and thinly veiled sexuality.

This collection of hits recalls the Rolling Stones at their most rebellious and cutting edge. In the still relatively proper (read Victorian-like) year of 1965 the song "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" bordered on being scandalous. When the boys sang with their shirts open with movements that pushed beyond Elvis Presley's hips, you knew that these lads were something different. Later songs such as "Let's Spend the Night Together" pretty removed the pretense of veiled sexuality.

As the Rolling Stones moved into the late 60s their music changed steadily, frequently anticipating the direction of popular music. The ubiquitous sitar of psychedelic 60s music makes an incredible appearance in "Paint It, Black." Their music became heavily blues influenced in songs like "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Wild Horse." The vocals on the last song particularly were heavy, plaintive and emotional, very different from the Stones' early music.

There is an on-going debate over the value of this CD versus "40 Licks." I do not have "40 Licks," which is also a fine CD. Many of the songs on this CD are represented on "40 Licks." However, "40 Licks" seems to me to belie the original Stones bad boy image because of the inclusion of so many commercial songs from the later decades of their career. "Hot Rocks" still provides the illusion of the original Bad Boy Stones at their 60s anti-establishment, rebellious best. Understanding the flavor you get from each CD, pick the one that fits what you want to hear, or buy both.

The Rolling Stones were heavily influential in the 60s. The music on this CD represents that influence, and shows The Rolling Stones during their most consistently creative and stylistically unique best. This CD is a valuable recording for any collector of Rolling Stones music or cutting edge music of the 60s.

Note that there is also an SACD version of this CD available, though at a price that is usually different from the price of this CD. Choose the version that best fits your needs!

Enjoy!

Here's a surprise: this greatest hits collection actually offers a great look at what the Rolling Stones were all about. Most greatest hits collections have left me starving for the studio albums, but this album really brims with energy and most importantly, excellent songs.
The Stones wrote some great singles, and here they are for all of you out there who don't care to hear their blues covers and "in-between hits" songs on the albums. Not that they had bad albums, "Let it Bleed" and others attest to the fact that the Stones could produce albums of great music.
What makes this collection so great is the amount of music contained on it. I'm listening on vinyl and every side offers something new. The great rockers like "19th Nervous Breakdown", "Satisfaction", along with the slower songs like "Wild Horses" and "Time is On My Side," blend together very nicely, making for an interesting and totally fun listen.
I'm not really a Rolling Stones fan, or a fan of Greatest Hits collections, but this album is one of my favorites.