The Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger (vocals); Keith Richards, Mick Taylor, Ron Wood (guitar, background vocals); Bill Wyman (bass); Charlie Watts (drums).

The Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger (vocals); Keith Richards, Ron Wood (guitar); Bill Wyman (bass guitar); Charlie Watts (drums, percussion).

SUCKING IN THE SEVENTIES is something of a companion piece to the 10-track compilation MADE IN THE SHADE. Both albums were released on Rolling Stones Records, and mixed hits and album tracks from the 1970s catalogue of the World's Greatest Rock & Roll Band. Whereas SHADE focuses on the group's early-'70s albums (including STICKY FINGERS and EXILE ON MAIN STREET), SUCKING IN THE SEVENTIES attends to the later '70s, which saw the release of BLACK AND BLUE (the record that introduced Ron Wood to the lineup) and SOME GIRLS.

This era saw the Stones changing their profile as a fierce, hard-edged rock band by incorporating more elements of reggae, funk, disco, and smooth R&B. These changes can be heard in the shuffling groove of "Everything Is Turning to Gold," the push-pull funk of "Hot Stuff," and the languid sway of "Beast of Burden." The moody ballad "Fool to Cry" and the eminently memorable ode to New York City life "Shattered" are two of the highlights. Though "Miss You," one of the band's biggest hits of the time, is curiously absent, SUCKING IN THE SEVENTIES is an enjoyable dose of late-'70s Stones. (Note: Virgin re-released the collection in 2005 with remastered and remixed tracks.)

What the critics say...

Uncut (p.124) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[It] boasts three otherwise unavailable cuts..."