Usually, a band will tour behind a new release, but the Rolling Stones are apparently working on a new studio record. So, they’ve opted to bring to you another set of ‘best of,’ which we’ll have some fun with. Are these really the best Stones songs spanning 1971-2016, or are they songs the audience will most likely hear in one of these (still to be re-scheduled) upcoming shows? They did try to contemporize this package by including the single “Doom and Gloom” recorded in 2012 as well as including two songs from their Grammy winning 2016 Blue & Lonesome album. The deluxe 3CD set also included `10 live tracks recorded at stadiums and arenas around the world during the band’s most recent tours. There was also an effort to be inclusive as the set has as least one track from every album issued from 1971 through 2016.
Before going further, understand that these other formats are available: Deluxe 4LP set (36 tracks + 10 bonus live tracks), digital equivalent of 36 tracks, a single CD and 2LP version featuring 20 tracks. Specifically Honk features:
Disc 1
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Disc 2
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Disc 3 – Live Tracks
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The 10 live tracks are drawn from three of the band’s most recent tours, the 50 And Counting Tour, the Zip Code Tour and the No Filter Tour. , “Get Off My Cloud,” “Let’s Spend The Night Together” and “Under My Thumb” (recorded in Cardiff, Manchester and London, respectively, during the 2018 No Filter tour) ably represent the band’s groundbreaking early-mid ‘60s years; while the version of “She’s A Rainbow” from Paris, 2017, provides a relatively rare outing of this classic piece of psychedelic Stones. The appearance of “Dancing With Mr. D”, meanwhile, recorded in Anaheim, 2017, marks the song’s acclaimed return to the band’s set lists for the first time in 44 years.
Now, for the fun. If one were to go to previous Stones ‘Best of’ sets, like 40 Licks, you’ll find most, if not all of these tracks from 1971 through the early ‘80s. It’s the later stuff combined with the earlier material that makes this set perhaps a bit more interesting, although most would argue those later years don’t represent the best of the Stones. Secondly, while we understand why the live disc is here, most would agree that the live Stones, with extra musicians and singers, water down, or in some cases, bloat the originals. They have a penchant for guests but the only notable take here is from Florence Welch on “Wild Horses.” Thirdly, we can argue all day long whether they chose the best tracks from these albums. (Keep in mind, however, that they were focusing on the hits). Nonetheless, it would be interesting to pair some of the bluesy tracks from Exile on Main Street such as “Shake Your Hips,” “Sweet Virginia” and “Stop Breaking Down” with those from Blue & Lonesome.
We could also glean their catalog for noticeable omissions or possible alternative selections. How about these that are missing? “Sister Morphine,” “Moonlight Mile,” “Flip the Switch,” “Miss You,” “Shattered” and “How Can I Stop?” What all of this shows is that their catalog contains tons of great songs, making these choices difficult. Given the constructs of making sure they included hits and cherry-picking from the later albums, which pale by comparison to the earlier ones, they did a commendable job. Yet, most folks will have the lions share of what’s here. Of course, the sound is a little better and the collection spans practically fifty years, the longest span they’ve put in one collection.
