The Rolling Stones - Forty Licks [Remastered] (CD 2006)

As teenagers in the 60's we usually aligned ourselves with either The Beatles or The Stones, rarely both. I was definitely in the former camp, although there was always something appealing about those deadly rivals (as seen through our eyes), despite their output being of an altogether different style. Consequently, my collection over the years, from original 45's, EP's and LP's through to the latest CD reissues, is bulging with Beatles’ titles but very few examples from The Stones. OK, I admit it, there were none! So, this was a chance to right that wrong with a collection that unbelievably spans five decades and apparently includes just about every hit song they produced. I would argue that The Stones did not consistently hit the heights over that period, whereas the Fab Four's discography includes very few turkeys (we'll forget Yellow Submarine ever existed). Having said that, the Richmond Rockers, as a group, have endured up to the present day, and are still touring of course, whereas the Merseysiders’ called it a day relatively early on although it seems their music is destined to survive forever.

All this was reinforced for me was as I ploughed through Forty Licks; a wonderful nostalgia trip, some great tracks but some that are less so, with production levels very suspect in places and Jagger's vocals totally drowned out. However, at bargain price this catch-all album can be classed as nothing less than excellent and for me has filled a gaping hole in my collection.