Various Artists - Paint It Black

I only have one complaint about Paint It Black, which is a compilation of Rolling Stones covers. It doesn't have the Mick Jagger version of "Paint It Black" nor does it have the Eric Burdon version, so I can't compare and contrast like I used to in English class. Still, Burdon wins in my book. I mean when you have some of the greatest rock songs ever written and more than a few exceptional covers of the same, you can't go wrong. Stand outs: Aretha Franklin's version of "Jumpin' Jack Flash." When the Queen of Soul shouts: "Hallelujah!" at its end, you don't have to hear any more. Still there is St. Otis Redding's "Satisfaction," Bryan Ferry's "Sympathy For The Devil," Ike and Tina Turner's "Honky Tonk Woman" and so on. But the real true surprises are Grand Funk Railroad's "Gimme Shelter," (are their instruments really in tune or did I just go to too many Ted Nugent concerts?) and The Ramones' "Out Of Time." Hey, it's the Ramones, gabba, gabba hey! "DooDooDooDooDooDoo(Heartbreaker)," as done by the Quireboys, is as good as any "da doo ron ron" or "baby, baby, baby" out there. But my absolute favorite is the Doo Wop Street Corner Singing version of "Get Off My Cloud," by The Flying Pickets. That's a "gas, gas, gas" too. It's all worth the price of admission, except for one other carpe diem, Rod Stewart. But that's probably just me. [www.virginrecords.com]