View text source at Wikipedia
This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2021) |
Singles Collection: The London Years | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Compilation album by | ||||
Released | 15 August 1989 | |||
Recorded | May 1963 – February 1970 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 185:44 | |||
Label | ABKCO | |||
Producer | ||||
Compiler |
| |||
The Rolling Stones chronology | ||||
|
Singles Collection: The London Years is a compilation album by the Rolling Stones, released in 1989. It was released as a 3-CD and a 4-LP set.[1]
Singles Collection: The London Years was released by former manager Allen Klein's ABKCO Records (who usurped control of the band's Decca/London material in 1970) after the band's departure from Decca and Klein.
The set is a triple album of every Rolling Stones single—and their B-Sides—mostly in their original mono mixes (at least as of the 2002 reissue), in both the UK and US encompassing their entire era with Decca Records in the United Kingdom and London Records in the United States—hence the album's title.
The original collection was produced by Andrew Loog Oldham, and digitally compiled and prepared under his supervision by P. D. Rain and Jody Klein.
With a range from 1963 to 1971, the set begins with their very first UK single, Chuck Berry's "Come On", and runs to Sticky Fingers' "Brown Sugar" and "Wild Horses" (which Allen Klein shares release rights with the Rolling Stones).
The only omissions are four B-sides from 1970 and 1971. "Bitch" and "Let It Rock" (released in the UK on the "Brown Sugar" single) and "Sway" (B-side to "Wild Horses"). Allen Klein did not have release rights to this material when this compilation was released. Also not included was "Natural Magic", a Jack Nitzsche instrumental, released as the B-side to the 1970 Mick Jagger single "Memo from Turner". These are available on the box set Singles 1968–1971 except "Let It Rock" which is available on the box set Singles 1971–2006 and the Rarities 1971–2003 album.
The release also does not include the EPs released by the band, The Rolling Stones, Five by Five and Got Live If You Want It!, which are available on the box set Singles 1963–1965.
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
MSN Music | [3] |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
Rolling Stone | [5] |
Tom Hull | A[6] |
Singles Collection: The London Years was released at a timely juncture, just a couple of weeks before the Rolling Stones' comeback album Steel Wheels was due for release after a significant break, and months following their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Going platinum, the album reached No. 91 in the US.
In August 2002, Singles Collection: The London Years was issued in a new remastered Compact Disc and SACD digipak by ABKCO Records. This version had a few differences from the 1989 release. Notably, the recording of "Street Fighting Man" on the 1989 release (and other releases such as Through the Past, Darkly and Hot Rocks 1964–1971) is the LP stereo mix. The 2002 remaster uses the slightly shorter mono single mix. Also, the 2002 recording of "Sympathy for the Devil" fades out earlier than the 1989 version.
In 2006, Steven Van Zandt placed Singles Collection: The London Years on top of his list of the most essential albums of all time, calling it:
The greatest collection of music by the greatest rock & roll band there will ever be.[7]
All songs by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, except where noted.
All tracks on disc one and most of disc two were produced by Andrew Loog Oldham; tracks 1–4 of disc one were co-produced with Eric Easton. Tracks 15–18 of disc two were produced by the Rolling Stones and tracks 19–20 produced by Jimmy Miller. All tracks on disc three were produced by Jimmy Miller, except tracks 3, 10, and 11, which were produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. and track 6, which was produced by Jack Nitzsche.
Year | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|
1989 | Billboard 200[8] | 91 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[9] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[10] | Gold | 100,000* |
United States (RIAA)[11] | Platinum | 333,333^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |