Forty Licks

Disc 1
1	Street Fighting Man 3:16
2	Gimme Shelter 4:32
3	(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction 3:44
4	The Last Time 3:42
5	Jumpin' Jack Flash 3:43
6	You Can't Always Get What You Want 7:29
7	19th Nervous Breakdown 3:57
8	Under My Thumb 3:42
9	Not Fade Away 1:49
10	Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow? 2:36
11	Sympathy for the Devil 6:18
12	Mother's Little Helper 2:47
13	She's a Rainbow 4:13
14	Get Off of My Cloud 2:56
15	Wild Horses 5:45
16	Ruby Tuesday 3:15
17	Paint It, Black 3:45
18	Honky Tonk Women 3:01
19	It's All Over Now 3:28
20	Let's Spend the Night Together 3:27
Disc 2
1	Start Me Up 3:33
2	Brown Sugar 3:49
3	Miss You 3:35
4	Beast of Burden 3:27
5	Don't Stop previously unreleased 3:58
6	Happy 3:05
7	Angie 4:31
8	You Got Me Rocking 3:33
9	Shattered 3:46
10	Fool to Cry 4:07
11	Love Is Strong 3:48
12	Mixed Emotions 4:01
13	Keys to Your Love previously unreleased 4:12
14	Anybody Seen My Baby? 4:07
15	Stealing My Heart previously unreleased 3:42
16	Tumbling Dice 3:46
17	Undercover of the Night 4:13
18	Emotional Rescue 3:42
19	It's Only Rock 'N' Roll 4:10
20	Losing My Touch previously unreleased 5:06

Barnes & Noble

While there are several best-of collections in the Rolling Stones' catalog, each of the previous ones focused on a limited period of time, making this generous two-disc set unique in its career-spanning scope. Harking back to the Stones' days as young R&B acolytes -- represented by their driving cover of "Not Fade Away" -- Forty Licks delves deep into the band's mid-'60s hits, including "Satisfaction," "19th Nervous Breakdown," and "The Last Time." Equal time is given to the vividly experimental period that followed -- a time that produced ornate soundscapes like "Ruby Tuesday" (with lovely recorder playing from Brian Jones) and "She's a Rainbow," as well as the era immediately following Jones' departure. Since it's not chronologically arranged, that period -- highlighted by such Sticky Fingers classics as "Wild Horses" and "Brown Sugar" -- is represented on both Forty Licks discs. The second focuses on mid-to-latter-day hits, from ballads such as "Angie" to disco-era struts like "Miss You," but only touches lightly on the last decade or so. That leaves room for the four newly-recorded numbers, highlighted by a rare Keith Richards' lead vocal on the guttersnipe ballad "Losing My Touch," which carries a touch of Tom Waits-styled wistfulness in its downtrodden groove. Jagger falls a bit short on the maudlin "Keys to Your Love," but more than makes up for it on the archetypal raunch-fest "Don't Stop." For Stones fans, Forty Licks is about as good as it gets -- and thanks to the variety and punch within, even the casual listener will be left wanting another spin at its end. David Sprague

All Music Guide

Forty Licks, like Elvis' Elvis 30 #1 Hits, is a career-spanning compilation that wouldn't have happened without the unprecedented, blockbuster success of Beatles 1. Where Elvis' set is hurt by the simple fact that there are too many damn Elvis comps on the market, the Rolling Stones benefit greatly from the fact that there has not been any set that chronicles all their recordings from the '60s through the '90s. It also benefits that this is the concept behind the record -- it's meant to be a journey through their biggest songs, not just the number one hits. Of course, the Stones couldn't have had a CD containing just their number ones that spanned one disc, much less two, because they never topped the charts that frequently. This is a liberating thing (compare it to Elvis', which got weighed down with the number ones, resulting in some subpar selections), since it opens the door for almost every Stones song of note to feature on this collection, along with four new songs (not great, but solid songs, all). Sure, there are many great Rolling Stones moments missing, and not just fan favorites Beggars Banquet or Exile on Main Street, either -- "Play With Fire," "2000 Light Years From Home," "Tell Me," "Heart of Stone," "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)," "Lady Jane," "Time Is on My Side," "Waiting on a Friend," "I'm Free," and "We Love You" are all missing in action. The thing is, as the disc is playing, you don't miss any of them, and it feels like all the hits are here. At first, the non-chronological order seems to be a mistake, but both discs flow well, especially since they're roughly divided thematically (the first is devoted largely to the '60s, with the rest on the second). Yes, the Stones made great albums that should be in any serious rock collection, but if you just want a summary of their best moments, Forty Licks is it; it does its job as well as Beatles 1 did. Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Rolling Stone

The selection is daring.... The pacing is brilliant.... And the four new songs? Their toughest rock in years. Rob Sheffield