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

Infobox Album | Name = Through The Past, Darkly
(Big Hits Vol. 2)
Type = Compilation album
Artist = The Rolling Stones


Released = 12 September 1969
Recorded = 8 August 1963 -
June 1969
Genre = Rock
Length = 42:30 (UK)
38:23 (US)
Label = Decca (UK)
London/ABKCO (US)
Producer = Andrew Loog Oldham,
The Rolling Stones
and Jimmy Miller
Reviews = *Allmusic (UK) Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:brfozfa2eh3k link]
*Allmusic (US) Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wnd9kect7q7q link]
* "Rolling Stone" Rating|5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/therollingstones/albums/album/245465/review/5941909/through_the_past_darkly_big_hits_vol_2 link]
Last album = "Beggars Banquet"
(1968)
This album = "Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)"
(1969)
Next album = "Let It Bleed"
(1969)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate Album Cover
Type = Compilation Album


Lower caption = The limited edition octagonal cover.

"Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)" is The Rolling Stones' second official compilation album, released in 1969 shortly following Brian Jones's departure from the group and subsequent death.

In September, "Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)" - dedicated to Jones - appeared with a limited edition octagonal-shaped album cover. Because their first compilation had been released in separate UK and US formats (with the "Aftermath"-era material appearing only on the UK edition), the American edition included hit singles from that period.

The UK tracklist included the more obscure "You Better Move On", from The Rolling Stones' self-titled 1964 debut EP and "Sittin' on a Fence", an "Aftermath" outtake originally released in 1967 on the US-compiled "Flowers" album. In addition to those songs, many tracks, notably single-only releases, were collected for the first time on a UK Rolling Stones album: "Let's Spend the Night Together", "Ruby Tuesday", "We Love You", "Dandelion" and "Honky Tonk Women".

Both versions of "Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)" proved to be popular releases, reaching #2 in the UK and US with enduring sales.

The name of the album is a play on a line from the KJV translation of I Corinthians 13: "For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face: . . .", but it is more likely the Stones intended an homage to Ingmar Bergman and his 1961 film "Through a Glass Darkly".

In August 2002 the US edition of "Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)" was reissued in a new remastered CD and SACD digipak by ABKCO Records. The UK counterpart is currently out of print.

Track listings

All songs by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, except where noted.

UK track listing

#"Jumpin' Jack Flash" – 3:40
#* "Originally released as a single in May 1968"
#"Mother's Little Helper" – 2:45
#"2000 Light Years from Home" – 4:45
#"Let's Spend the Night Together" – 3:36
#* "Originally released as a single in January 1967"
#"You Better Move On" (Arthur Alexander) – 2:39
#* "Originally released on the 1964 EP The Rolling Stones"
#"We Love You" – 4:22
#* "Edited; Originally released as a single in August 1967"
#"Street Fighting Man" – 3:15
#"She's a Rainbow" – 4:11
#"Ruby Tuesday" – 3:16
#* "Originally released as a single in January 1967"
#"Dandelion" – 3:32
#* "Originally released as a single in August 1967"
#"Sittin' on a Fence" – 3:02
#* "Originally released on the American-compiled Flowers album in July 1967"
#"Honky Tonk Women" – 3:00
#* "Originally released as a single in July 1969"

US track listing

#"Paint It, Black" – 3:20
#"Ruby Tuesday" – 3:12
#"She's a Rainbow" – 4:35
#"Jumpin' Jack Flash" – 3:40
#"Mother's Little Helper" – 2:40
#"Let's Spend the Night Together" – 3:29
#"Honky Tonk Women" – 3:03
#"Dandelion" – 3:56
#"2000 Light Years from Home" – 4:45
#"Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?" – 2:33
#"Street Fighting Man" – 3:10

Charts

AlbumSingle