The Rolling Stones are back with Honk, their latest career-spanning compilation.
The multi-format retrospective will be available as. a 2CD, 3CD and 3LP vinyl version, as well as digitally. The set features hits and key tracks from every studio album released by the Stones from 1971 to date.
Now most fans know Mick and the boys have released the grammy winning blues cover record Blues & Lonsome since their last career spanning package a mere 7 years ago.
So what differentiates Honk from the other greatest hits or best of packages?
The deluxe 3CD edition of the album will be of huge interest to Stones fans and collectors because it contains ten live tracks, recorded around the world during the band’s sellout 50 And Counting, Zip Code and No Filter tours of recent years.
The live set really demonstrates that no matter how proficient the band got in the studio it's this live disc that shows how they earned the mantle of " The greatest rock and roll band".
The band sounds forever young and vibrant on this live set, even out-shinning the great stars on the tracks. Guest appearnces include Dave Grohl, Floremce Welch, Ed Sheeran and Brad Paisley.
My personel favourites are "Bitch" with Dave Grohl and " Wild Horses" with Florence Welch.
However, as much as I did enjoy Honk, there are a few flaws with this set.
Firstly, if you're going to make a deluxe edition, then it should earn the title. As much as I enjoyed the live set, then why not give us an entire concert and not simply 10 selections.
Secondly, there are numerous omissions off Honk, that ( I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Paint It Black, Honky Tonk Women , Sympathy For The Devil and countless others are not on here is simply unacceptable. I understand they wanted to contemporize this package by including tracks from Steel Wheels, Voodoo Lounge, Bridges to Babylon & A Bigger Bang but the omissions of their staple tracks left me scratching my head.
With almost 6 decades in the business, they should put out 3 Discs to better capture the band's entire career.
But as I mentioned earlier, it's the live set that will get Stones fans excited .
Honk is recommended for those who do not own any other greatest hits packages and Stones completists.
