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

The first hits compilation of the Rolling Stones is still one of the most potent collections of singles that one can find. Listening to it in 1966 or today, one can understand how, almost prematurely for the 1960s -- as most of the material here dates from 1964 or 1965 -- the Stones set themselves up as the decade's most visible rock & roll rebels. The defiant, in-your-face fuzztone riff and sexually frustrated lyrics of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and the frenetic pounding punk anthem "Get Off of My Cloud" are highlights of a 12-song set that has no weak points, only peaks -- the louder-than-life rhythm guitars on "It's All Over Now" and "The Last Time," the wailing r&b of "Time Is on My Side," the balladry, folk, and soul style of "As Tears Go By" and "Tell Me," and all of the rest make for a body of work that's still amazing to hear decades after the fact. Appearing as it did in the late winter of 1966, this collection completely missed the group's drift into psychedelia, and it has since been supplanted by Hot Rocks and More Hot Rocks, but Big Hits is still the most concentrated dose of the early Stones at their most accessible that is to be had, short of simply playing their first five U.S. albums. The artwork and photography were pretty cool too, and the original LP had one of rock's early classic gatefold album designs. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alisa Ritz Repackaging Art Direction Andrew Loog Oldham Cover Design, Producer Bill Wyman Bass, Vocals Bob Ludwig Mastering Brian Jones Group Member Charlie Watts Drums Gered Mankowitz Photography Gus Skinas Engineer Guy Webster Photography Ian Stewart Keyboards Iris Keitel Repackaging Art Direction, Art Direction Jack Byrne Archive Research Jack Nitzsche Keyboards, Percussion Jody Klein Restoration Supervision Jon Astley Digital Transfers, Analog Transfer Keith Richards Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards Laura Walton Production Assistant Lenne Allik Concept Maria Papazahariou Production Assistant Mick Jagger Harmonica, Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals Mick McKenna Tape Research, Archive Research Nicole Monea Design Production Assistant Paschal Byrne Analog Transfer, Digital Transfers Phil Spector Percussion Steve Rosenthal Restoration, Archives Coordinator Teri Landi Digital Transfers, Archive Research The Rolling Stones Arranger