Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2) [Remastered]

iTunes Review

Picking up where Big Hits left off, this collection, released just months after Brian Jones' July 1969 death, is both testimony to a band flexing its muscles and the closing of a chapter. Even with that and with a couple of songs that had appeared on two other U.S. albums, this avoids any exploitative feel — "Honky Tonk Women" (at the time a big hit), "Jumpin' Jack Flash," and the thrilling "Dandelion" had not been on any albums at that point. Indeed, a summation of the development from Aftermath through Beggars Banquet was called for, tracing the run from post-blues explorations into psychedelia ("Paint it Black," "Ruby Tuesday," "2000 Light Years From Home") and back to the roots with new character and confidence ("Honky Tonk Women," "Street Fighting Man"). This is a release that undeniably stands on its own considerable merits.