Singles 1968-1971 [9CD + DVD] [Box set, Single, CD+DVD, Limited Edition]

This item is recommended for collectors, to whom sleeves of singles are important. The set was made with love for the detail, with a informative booklet and pictures. This is part III (the last one of a series of singles box sets). A DVD with (unfortunately only) four videos is also included. Several tracks are in mono (in the format singles normally were released until 1968-69). As a normal listener who wants to buy as many hits as possible on one record, I would suggest "Rolled Gold" instead. There you can also find more stereo-versions. But as a collector's device, this box set is a unique chance to have all the Stones' sixties singles with original singles sleeves from GB and US.

First of all, this box set was not meant for the casual fan, although marketing might've made you think otherwise. If you want a comprehensive and practical collection containing all their singles from the 1960s, buy Singles Collection: The London Years. If, however, you want more than just a compilation of singles, this box set (and its two companions) could be an interesting option.

Convenience was considered second to authenticity when these box sets were conceived, so instead of filling up each CD to the max, the contents of a single CD are limited to what was on the original 45 RPM single. This obviously leads to short playing times, although you thankfully don't have to turn it over halfway through. When there were different B-sides in the US and the UK, both are included here. In case of Street Fighting Man there were three B-sides, so that disc contains four songs (Everybody Needs Somebody To Love is NOT on The London Years, I might add!). Brown Sugar also had two different B-sides, but only one of them is included here (the live version of Let It Rock is omitted). The London Years, on the other hand, also omits Bitch, the B-side that was included here, and Sway, the B-side to Wild Horses. Then again, these Rolling Stones Records era singles don't really belong in either collection anyway. Strangely, Ry Cooder's Natural Magic is also included in this set, although it had nothing to do with The Rolling Stones, other than being the B-side of Mick Jagger's Memo From Turner. Seen in the light of the omission of Let It Rock, this seems like a stange decision on ABKCO's part. Another "extra" compared to The London Years is the inclusion of three Sympathy For The Devil remixes. Frankly, I can't stand them, so I don't actually consider this an advantage. However, it's a nice touch that the same disc includes the original song's guitar and piano tabs, plus some software to view them in a convenient manner. The final musical extra, one that can't be found anywhere else as far as I'm aware, is a DVD. It contains videos for Time Is On My Side, Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow?, Jumpin' Jack Flash and, unfortunately, one of those pesky remixes again. Still, that means there are three interesting videos collected on one disc. Especially the Jumpin' Jack Flash video is worth checking out! It contains an alternate version of the song with different vocals and a longer running time. It's unfortunate that the sound is in AC3 format, but you can't always get what you want...

The set also contains a booklet, some photos and a double-sided poster.

A final remark I'd like to make is about the CDs themselves. They've been made to look like real 45 RPM singles, complete with fake grooves on top. What's more, their underside is also black (but smooth, obviously), which may look familiar to people who've seen Playstation CDs. In fact, even the DVD looks like a 45, although its underside is plain silver (for technical reasons). To be honest, I couldn't care less about the grooves and the vinyl nostalgia, but I do have to admit it's really cool to finally own a couple of CDs with playing sides that are completely black!

The somewhat delayed third instalment in ABKCO's repackaging of the Stones singles from an era when singles were a dominant predeterminate of a band's popularity is by far the best of the bunch.

I'm assuming here that casual buyers will not be the main market for these pretty but not totally convenient box sets of The Rolling Stones Decca/ London singles output. Casual buyers will go for collections like The Rolling Stones Singles collection on three convenient CDs, or the two Hot Rocks collections these latter being the source to go for optimum stereo mixes on many of these epoch defining tracks.

No these boxed sets seem pre-ordained for the fan who already has just about every other permutation of classic Stones trax going but nevertheless appreciates the heady nostalgia of seeing these releases re-presented as treasured artifacts replete with their original sleeves.

However what makes this third instalment attractive to both casual buyer and loyal Stones geek alike is the inclusion of a bonus DVD and that is where this particular instalment of
The Rolling Stones Singles boxes gets good.

Here presented for the first time in pristine quality on DVD is the Stones October '64 debut on the Ed Sullivan show, with a truly memorable rendition of Irma Thomas's "Time Is On My Side" complete with mesmerised U.S. teens. This heady footage is followed by Peter Whitehead's awesome film of the Stones at The Albert Hall in late '66 at the height of their teen rock iconic powers. The best has yet to come however as Michael Lyndsey Hogg's "Jumpin' Jack Flash" promo from May 1968 bestrides the screen in all it's awesome demonic majesty. Filmed as one of two Hogg directed promos for a single which effectively relaunched the band from a psychedelic torpor induced by drug busts, band rivalries and a none too well received album, this film perfectly mirrors the unsettling energy of a single that has now become de rigeur to every Stones concert since.

But this is the original version with the original film and none of the dark intensity has been lost. The accompanying track is longer than the single and features a long organ outro courtesy of Bill Wyman, Keith Richard rather peversely and not for the first time laid down the bass track. But what viewers of the film see is by far the longest version of this all to scarcely seen promo. Which for this reviewer at least is still the greatest rock promo ever - bar none!

There is a glossy and glamorous video to round of this DVD of Sympathy for the Devil remixed by The Neptunes, which along with the Norman Cook and Neptunes audio remixes seems jarringly out of place on this otherwise excellent compilation.

But these minor caveats aside this is an absolute essential for anyone remotely into or curious about what is still arguably The Greatest Rock 'n Roll Band in the world.