It's the rare greatest-hits album that takes on a life of its own. Generally, best-of collections are superseded by updated retrospectives. Hot Rocks 1964-1971 is the exception to the rule: a classic comprised of classics. Originally released in December 1971, this two-LP set is the Rolling Stones' first anthology and one of the band's all-time best sellers. Upon release, it remained on the Billboard album chart for an amazing 243 consecutive weeks with the highest chart position reaching No. 4. Hot Rocks has been certified 12X platinum by the RIAA. The album carries most of the band's biggest hits; the 21 tracks featured represent seven years of dizzying growth.

While the emphasis is on the hits, Hot Rocks also includes several iconic album tracks such as "Play With Fire," "Under My Thumb" and "Gimme Shelter." This gives listeners a well-rounded impression of the Stones' music and their ever evolving sound during this critical period. You hear them change from a loud R&B-inspired rock ‘n' roll band covering their mentor's hits and making them their own, such as Erma Thomas' "Time Is on My Side," to true musical innovators with breakthroughs like "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," "Get Off of My Cloud," "19th Nervous Breakdown" and, finally, into self-actualized, rebel-poets with "Jumpin' Jack Flash," and "Midnight Rambler." From "Time is on My Side" through "Let's Spend the Night Together," on to Sticky Fingers' "Brown Sugar" and "Wild Horses," Hot Rocks 1964-1971 never lets up!

The album tracks were produced by Andrew Loog Oldham, Jimmy Miller, The Rolling Stones and Glyn Johns. Hot Rocks 1964-1971 garnered 11 Top Ten U.S. and U.K. hits and 7 No.1 hit singles.