The Rolling Stones - Flowers

Dismissed as a rip-off of sorts by some critics as it took the patchwork bastardization of British releases for the American audience to extremes, gathering stray tracks from the U.K. versions of Aftermath and Between The Buttons, 1966-1967 singles (some of which had already been used on the U.S. editions of Aftermath and Between The Buttons), and a few outtakes. Judged solely by the music, though, it's rather great. "Lady Jane," "Ruby Tuesday," and "Let's Spend the Night Together" are all classics (although they had all been on an LP before); the 1966 single "Mother's Little Helper," a Top Ten hit, is also terrific; and "Have You Seen Your Mother Baby, Standing in the ShadowNULL" making its first album appearance, is the early Stones at their most surrealistic and angst-ridden. Read More