Two cheers for key Rolling Stones compilation

The Rolling Stones catalogue has been anthologised over and over again. Most of the compilations, especially of the vital 1960s Decca material, are repetitive and unnecessary.

One, however, stands out - Rolled Gold, released as a double LP in 1975 but not, until Monday, on CD. Bang per buck it’s easily the best Stones album, and one of the finest releases of the rock era.

True to form, however, the Stones’ first record label has played fast and loose with the legacy. The new 2CD version of Rolled Gold+ is only an approximation of the classic UK vinyl release: it has 11 additional tracks, and the running order is very different.

Putting on a positive spin:

* a great album is (almost) finally available on CD

* as the “+” in the title indicates, you get extra tracks

* presumably it has the cleaned-up versions from the recent Decca SACD project.

Rolled Gold+

Disc: 1
1. Come On
2. I Wanna Be Your Man
3. Not Fade Away
4. Carol
5. Tell Me
6. It's All Over Now
7. Little Red Rooster
8. Heart Of Stone
9. Time Is On My Side
10. Last Time
11. Play With Fire
12. I Can't Get No Satisfaction
13. Get Off My Cloud
14. I'm Free
15. As Tears Go By
16. Lady Jane
17. Paint It Black
18. Mother's Little Helper
19. 19th Nervous Breakdown
20. Under My Thumb
21. Out Of Time
22. Yesterday's Papers
23. Let's Spend The Night Together
24. Have You Seen Your Mother Baby Standing In The Shadow

Disc: 2
1. Ruby Tuesday
2. Dandelion
3. She's A Rainbow
4. We Love You
5. 2000 Light Years From Home
6. Jumpin' Jack Flash
7. Street Fightin' Man
8. Sympathy For The Devil
9. No Expectations
10. Let It Bleed
11. Midnight Rambler
12. Gimme Shelter
13. You Can't Always Get What You Want
14. Brown Sugar
15. Honky Tonk Women
16. Wild Horses

If you’re short of a Stones comp, Rolled Gold+ is an essential buy. Avoid the Special Edition, unless you’re a collector who doesn’t mind paying extra for special packaging – in this case, a pop-up digipak case.


Gerry Smith