The Rolling Stones – Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) (1966)

In my previous posts about The Rolling Stones, I have mentioned that the first years of the band saw many of the band's most popular and best songs, but the albums in the early years were not that compact wholes and thus not that interesting as albums. That's why this first compilation by The Rolling Stones actually provides a great way to enjoy their best songs from the early years. In 1966 when this compilation album came out, The Rolling Stones was just about to grow up big time in their sound and the fact that this album is a compilation of the best songs before that period makes the time period meaningful. This is the pre golden-age compilation. From a historical perspective, this album along with vol. 2, Through the Past Darkly, which was released a few years later, form the important core of the early years of the Rolling Stones.



I've also said this in the previous posts. I wasn't much of a fan of the Rolling Stones for a long time, while at the same time I was listening to many other bands of the same era with passion. I thought, however, that I should at least know the basics of the Stones as well, so I bought these two early compilation albums as CD remaster editions. Back then, these two albums provided me with everything I needed to feel that I knew what The Rolling Stones were all about. Later on I've learned that actually, The Rolling Stones, much like The Beatles, is at its best when you listen to full albums and compilations do not give full justice to the band. The so called golden age of the Rolling Stones  at the turn of the 70's saw many amazing albums that nowadays beat these early compilations. However, these two albums are a great way to get familiarised to the early songs.

The album starts with possibly the biggest hit the Stones has ever had, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction. This pulsing rock song is a great example of the energy of the early Rolling Stones. The simple guitar riffs, the pounding drumming and Mick Jagger's cocky vocals make this into a great 60's rock classic. This song highlights how important soul and RnB music were for The Rolling Stones. There's really nice grooves in this song and it doesn't sound as white as you would expect from a British rock band from the 60's. The Last Time sounds like a generic 1960's anthem. This song sounds like it could've been released by any 60's great rock band, such as The Who, The Beatles, The Monkees, or The Lovin' Spoonful. As Tears Go By is a ballad that shows how The Rolling Stones was interested in Americana folk and country music of the time. Time Is On My Side draws the great guitar solos from old blues, but the song itself is more mellow pop song. Tell Me is already predicting the psychedelic sounds that took over the rock world at the last half of the 1960's with its sounds. 19th Nervous Breakdown could just as well be The Beatles recording if you just listen to the instruments. Mick Jagger's sharp vocals are the only thing that gives it away. The psychedelic ballad Play With Fire is a great song that shows the depth and shamanic qualities of the band that became much more familiar during the later years.

It took quite a few years from the Rolling Stones to truly find their own sound that made them one of the best bands in the world, but these early recordings already give a glimpse of their songwriting potential.

Listen to the album on Spotify.