It is always gratifying to rediscover every few years that “Street Fighting Man” still teems with menace, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” is frustration set to music, “Sympathy for the Devil” is downright freaky, “Start Me Up” does just that, and “Honky Tonk Woman” is raunch personified. The Stones songbook never sounded better than on this first collection to feature remastered hits from their entire catalog. How these guys evolved and even defined their musical times remains fascinating: “She’s a Rainbow” is a tingling, well-executed trip, “Get Off My Cloud” flips off the world, “Angie” is incredibly gentle. The Stones made disco cool with “Miss You” and found country on “Tumbling Dice.” In addition to the hits, there are four fine new songs here: “Keys to Your Love,” “Stealing My Heart,” “Don’t Stop, and” “Losing My Touch.” Forty years in, the Rolling Stones still own the best licks in rock’n’roll, and they’re proving it again here and on the road right now.—RW
