The Rolling Stones - Hot Rocks, 1964-1971 [Remastered] (LP)

All Music Guide

This twoLP/twoCD set is both a lot more and a bit less than what it seems. It is seven years worth of mostly very highcharting, and all influential and important, songs, leaving out some singles in favor of wellknown album tracks and, in the process, giving an overview not just of the Rolling Stones' hits but of their evolving image. One hears them change from loud RBinspired rockers covering others' songs ("Time Is on My Side") into originators in their own right ("Satisfaction"); then into tastemakers and stylesetters with a particularly decadent air ("Get off of My Cloud," "19th Nervous Breakdown"); and finally into selfactualized rebelpoets ("Jumping Jack Flash," "Midnight Rambler") and Shamanlike symbols of chaos. On its initial release, Hot Rocks sold well, not only as a unique compilation but also as a panorama of the 1960s. The only flaw was that it didn't give a good look at the Stones' full musical history, ignoring their early blues period and the psychedelic era. There are ...also some anomalies in Hot Rocks' history for the collector the very first pressings included an outtake of "Brown Sugar" featuring Eric Clapton that was promptly replaced; and the original European CD version, issued as two separate discs on the Decca label, was also different from its American counterpart, featuring a version of "Satisfaction" mastered in stereo and putting the guitars on separate channels for the first time. Those musicologist concerns aside, this is still an exciting assembly of material.will hear the difference with SACD, even on a cheap stereo system without a highend amplifier or speakers. And you won't just hear the difference, you'll be an instant convert and wish, hope and pray that other artists whose catalog hasn't been reissued since the early days of CD Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, especially the Beatles are given the same treatment in the very near future. SACD and DSD are that good.] Bruce Eder, All Music Guide Read more Less