Ideal for neophytes.

By now, Hot Rocks has been supplanted by more up-to-date collections, Forty Licks being the one that comes most readilly to mind. Hot Rocks is no longer deffinative (if it ever really was), but in terms of pure listenability, its a spot-on collection.

As the title implies, its a collection of the 'Stones' best stuff from their early, cover-oriented days (although only one cut here isn't a Jagger-Richards original), through their early seventies heyday. In '72, the Rolling Stones would make their masterpiece, Exile on Main Street, which is sadly their last great album (1977's Some Girls was good, 1981's Tattoo You was okay, but otherwise there was very little of interest). So, in reality, Hot Rocks captures the 'Stones at their most essential, when they really were a great- nay, the greatest- rock n roll band.

That's why I think Hot Rocks should be the first purchase for aspiring Rolling Stones fans. Forty Licks is good, but the mediocre second disk could discourage newcomers. And going the individual album route isn't such a hot idea either, because there are far too many absolutly essential 'Stones songs spread over far too many albums. Not getting a hits set means having to buy Out of Our Heads, Aftermath, and Let It Bleed in order to get "Satisfaction," "Under My Thumb," and "Gimme Shelter." The albums are great, but there'll be time for those later.

The song selection on Hot Rocks is fantastic. Aside from the curious absence of "The Last Time," almost all of the bare-bones essentials are aboard, from the obvious choices of "Satisfaction" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want" to the more underrated gems "Time Is On My Side" and a fantastic live run of "Midnight Rambler" (I prefer the studio version myself, but congrats to Abkco for puting the song on there in any version).

So, purchase Hot Rocks if you're new, and think of it as your 'Stones starter kit. Actually....don't do that last part.

if you want one collection of the Stones, get this one

this covers all their greatest stuff, and is really all you need if you aren't a hardcore fan. I wouldn't call myself a real Rolling Stones fan, but I do enjoy the classic songs on here like "paint it black" and "satisfaction," among others. ideal if you are new to the band, though you have likely heard of them before (they must be the most famous band in the history of rock, no?) yes, definetily get it. I know that the Stones always have released mediocre live material, but the live tracks on here are extremely good, all 2 of them. There's not that much I can say about the Stones; I like most of the music, but in general I don't dig the band that much. If you are like me, this one is for you.

Past classic, now out of date

Sorry to you older fans who grew up with Hot Rocks as the definitive Stones collection, but time has passed this recording by. More than thirty years have passed since the release of the original double LP in 1972, and you would think that ABKCO could have done some much needed enhancement to this old chestnut. For example, today's CDs hold much more material than the old vinyl LP. Why not combine the best of the Hot Rocks and More Hot Rocks collections into a deluxe Hot Rocks collection? As it stands, ABKCO is ripping off Stones fans. For the premium price that ABKCO is charging for their reissued series, they should be including unreleased material, alternate versions, etc. Buy the Forty Licks collection to get your money's worth. That collection is stuffed with arguably the best of the Stones from 60s to today.