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Forty Licks
Forty Licks
Forty Licks
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Forty Licks
Greatest hits album by
the Rolling Stones
Released30 September 2002
Recorded10 January 1964 – 7 June 2002
GenreRock
Length155:52
Label
Producer
The Rolling Stones chronology
No Security
(1998) 		Forty Licks
(2002) 		Live Licks
(2004)
Singles from Forty Licks
  1. "Don't Stop"
    Released: 30 September 2002
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarStar[1]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[2]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarStarStar[3]
StylusA+[4]
Encyclopedia of Popular MusicStarStarStarStarStar[5]

Forty Licks is a double compilation album by the Rolling Stones. A 40-year career-spanning retrospective, Forty Licks is notable for being the first retrospective to combine their formative Decca/London era of the 1960s, now licensed by ABKCO Records (on disc one), with their self-owned post-1970 material, distributed at the time by Virgin/EMI but now distributed by ABKCO's own distributor Universal Music Group (on mostly disc two). Four new songs are included on the second disc. The album was a commercial success, as it reached No. 2 on both UK and US charts. Concurrently with the album's release, the Stones embarked on the successful, year-long international Licks Tour, which would result in the subsequent Live Licks album being released in 2004.

Background

[edit]

In 1970, the Rolling Stones had an acrimonious break-up with their former manager, Allen Klein, and their former record label, Decca Records (who licensed their recordings to London Records for release in the US). Because of the terms of their former contract, all of their pre-1970 recordings were under Klein's control, up to and including Let It Bleed, some tracks that made it on Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St., as well as outtakes, unreleased recordings, and live recordings. The Stones would immediately form Rolling Stones Records as a result, that gave them control over all of their subsequent recordings. As a result, any career retrospectives tended to be divided into two eras: prior to the split, and after the split. Klein's ABKCO Records and Decca Records would continue to release unauthorized greatest-hits records, outtakes and rarities records, and other compilations throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Any compilations or retrospectives released by the Rolling Stones after 1970, by any of their distributors or partners (such as Atlantic Records or Virgin Records) were always restricted to material recorded and released from 1971 onward. Because of various business deals and mergers of various record companies over time, the barriers to creating a unified retrospective compilation album had been resolved by the early 2000s. For the release of Forty Licks, the band recorded 4 new songs on studio are included on disc 2: "Don't Stop", "Keys to Your Love", "Stealing My Heart" and "Losing Your Touch".

Critical reception

[edit]

Forty Licks has received mostly positive reviews from music critics. AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine felt that Forty Licks was similar to ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits because both were influenced by the Beatles' 1, but that Forty Licks had a better concept than ELV1S.[1] Although Rob Brunner's review of the album for Entertainment Weekly was favorable, he felt that the album was not needed because most of the band's fans already own all of the notable songs on the album.[2] Darryl Sterdan of Jam! CANOE also felt that most fans already owned most of the songs on the album and that "Losing My Touch" was the only good previously unreleased song on the collection.[6] Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone felt that there were several songs missing from the album, but that the compilation was exciting and the four new songs were much better than their other recent work.[3] Stylus magazine's Colin McElligatt felt that the band needed an "all-inclusive" collection, but the collection will not please everyone.[4]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, except where noted.

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)Album (Date)Length
1."Street Fighting Man" Beggars Banquet (1968)3:15
2."Gimme Shelter" Let It Bleed (1969)4:31
3."(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" Out of Our Heads (1965)3:43
4."The Last Time" Out of Our Heads (1965)3:41
5."Jumpin' Jack Flash" non-album single (1968)3:42
6."You Can't Always Get What You Want" Let It Bleed (1969)7:28
7."19th Nervous Breakdown" non-album single (1966)3:56
8."Under My Thumb" Aftermath (1966)3:41
9."Not Fade Away"
England's Newest Hit Makers (1964)1:48
10."Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?" non-album single (1966)2:36
11."Sympathy for the Devil" Beggars Banquet (1968)6:17
12."Mother's Little Helper" Aftermath (1966)2:46
13."She's a Rainbow" (radio edit) Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967)4:13
14."Get Off of My Cloud" December's Children (And Everybody's) (1965)2:55
15."Wild Horses" Sticky Fingers (1971)5:43
16."Ruby Tuesday" Between the Buttons (1967)3:13
17."Paint It Black" Aftermath (1966)3:44
18."Honky Tonk Women" non-album single (1969)3:00
19."It's All Over Now"
12 × 5 (1964)3:26
20."Let's Spend the Night Together" Between the Buttons (1967)3:26
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Start Me Up" Tattoo You (1981)3:33
2."Brown Sugar" Sticky Fingers (1971)3:50
3."Miss You" (7" remix edit) Some Girls (1978)3:35
4."Beast of Burden" (single edit) Some Girls (1978)3:28
5."Don't Stop" new track (2002)3:59
6."Happy" Exile on Main St. (1972)3:05
7."Angie" Goats Head Soup (1973)4:32
8."You Got Me Rocking" Voodoo Lounge (1994)3:34
9."Shattered" Some Girls (1978)3:46
10."Fool to Cry" (radio edit) Black and Blue (1976)4:07
11."Love Is Strong" Voodoo Lounge (1994)3:48
12."Mixed Emotions" (radio edit) Steel Wheels (1989)4:01
13."Keys to Your Love" new track (2002)4:11
14."Anybody Seen My Baby?"
Bridges to Babylon (1997)4:08
15."Stealing My Heart" new track (2002)3:42
16."Tumbling Dice" Exile on Main St. (1972)3:47
17."Undercover of the Night" Undercover (1983)4:13
18."Emotional Rescue" (radio edit) Emotional Rescue (1980)3:41
19."It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" (radio edit) It's Only Rock 'n Roll (1974)4:09
20."Losing My Touch" new track (2002)5:06

Personnel

[edit]

The Rolling Stones

  • Mick Jagger – lead vocals, harmonica, percussion, guitar, electric piano
  • Brian Jones – guitars (lead, slide and rhythm), mellotron, tambura, marimba, harmonica, backing vocals, recorder, piano, sitar (on all disc one tracks except "Gimme Shelter", "You Can't Always Get What You Want", "Wild Horses" and "Honky Tonk Women")
  • Keith Richards – guitars (lead, slide, rhythm, acoustic and bass), backing vocals, piano, bowed double bass, lead vocals on "Happy" and "Losing My Touch"
  • Mick Taylor – guitars (lead, slide, rhythm and bass) (on "Wild Horses", "Honky Tonk Women", "Brown Sugar", "Angie", "Tumbling Dice", and "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)")
  • Charlie Watts – drums, percussion (except on "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Happy"), backing vocals
  • Ronnie Wood – guitars (lead, slide, rhythm, acoustic, and pedal steel), backing vocals, bass drum, bass guitar (on all disc two tracks except "Brown Sugar", "Happy", "Angie", "Fool to Cry" and "Tumbling Dice")
  • Bill Wyman – bass guitar, organ, maracas, bowed double bass, backing vocals (except on "Street Fighting Man", "Let's Spend the Night Together", "Don't Stop", "Happy", "You Got Me Rocking", "Shattered", "Love Is Strong", "Keys to Your Love", "Anybody Seen My Baby?", "Stealing My Heart", "Tumbling Dice" and "Losing My Touch")

Additional musicians

  • Bud Beadle – saxophone on "Honky Tonk Women"
  • Madeline Bell – backing vocals on "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
  • Sugar Blue – harmonica on "Miss You"
  • Paul Buckmaster – string arrangements on "Happy"
  • Blondie Chaplin – backing vocals, shaker and tambourine on "Anybody Seen My Baby?", "Don't Stop", "Keys to Your Love", "Stealing My Heart" and "Losing My Touch"
  • Moustapha Cisse – percussion on "Undercover of the Night"
  • Merry Clayton – vocals on "Gimme Shelter"
  • Mel Collins – saxophone on "Miss You"
  • Brahms Coundoul – percussion on "Undercover of the Night"
  • Sarah Dash – backing vocals on "Mixed Emotions"
  • Jim Dickinson – piano on "Wild Horses"
  • Rocky Dijon – percussion and congas on "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Sympathy for the Devil"
  • Martin Ditcham – percussion on "Undercover of the Night"
  • Sly Dunbar – percussion on "Undercover of the Night"
  • Marianne Faithfull – backing vocals on "Sympathy for the Devil"
  • Venetta Fields – backing vocals on "Tumbling Dice"
  • Lisa Fischer – backing vocals on "Mixed Emotions"
  • Bernard Fowler – backing vocals on "Love Is Strong"
  • Steve Gregory – saxophone on "Honky Tonk Women"
  • Nicky Harrison – string arrangement on "Angie"
  • Nicky Hopkins – acoustic piano, electric piano, synthesized strings and backing vocals on "Street Fighting Man", "Gimme Shelter", "Sympathy for the Devil", "She's a Rainbow", "Happy", "Fool to Cry" and "Tumbling Dice"
  • Kick Horns – brass on "Mixed Emotions"
  • Luis Jardim – percussion on "Mixed Emotions"
  • Darryl Jones – bass guitar on "Don't Stop", "You Got Me Rocking", "Love Is Strong", "Keys to Your Love", "Stealing My Heart" and "Losing My Touch"
  • John Paul Jones – string arrangement on "She's a Rainbow"
  • Bobby Keys – saxophone, percussion and maracas on "Brown Sugar", "Happy" and "Tumbling Dice"
  • Clydie King – backing vocals on "Tumbling Dice"
  • Al Kooper – piano, French horn and organ on "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
  • Chuck Leavell – piano, organ and keyboards on "Don't Stop" and "Mixed Emotions"
  • The London Bach Choir – choir on "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
  • Dave Mason – shenai on "Street Fighting Man"
  • Ian McLagan – electric piano on "Miss You"
  • Jimmy Miller – percussion, drums, cowbell and backing vocals on "Gimme Shelter", "Jumpin' Jack Flash", "You Can't Always Get What You Want", "Honky Tonk Women", "Happy" and "Tumbling Dice"
  • Jamie Muhoberac – bass guitar and keyboards on "Anybody Seen My Baby?"
  • Ivan Neville – backing vocals on "Love Is Strong"
  • Nanette Workman – backing vocals on "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Honky Tonk Women"
  • Jack Nitzsche – piano, tambourine, choral arrangements and Nitzsche-Phone on "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", "You Can't Always Get What You Want", "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?", "Mother's Little Helper", "Ruby Tuesday" and "Let's Spend the Night Together"
  • Denis O'Regan – photography
  • Anita Pallenberg – backing vocals on "Sympathy for the Devil"
  • Wayne Perkins – guitar on "Fool to Cry"
  • Jim Price – trumpet and trombone on "Happy" and "Tumbling Dice"
  • Reparata and the Delrons – backing vocals on "Honky Tonk Women"
  • Ian Stewart – piano on "Jumpin' Jack Flash", "Honky Tonk Women", "Brown Sugar" and "Emotional Rescue"
  • Doris Troy – backing vocals on "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Honky Tonk Women"
  • Waddy Wachtel – electric and acoustic guitar on "Anybody Seen My Baby?"
  • Don Was – keyboards on "Anybody Seen My Baby?"

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications and sales for Forty Licks
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[51] Platinum 40,000^
Australia (ARIA)[52] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[53] Platinum 30,000*
Belgium (BRMA)[54] Platinum 50,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[55] Gold 50,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[56] 5× Platinum 500,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[57] Platinum 50,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[58] Gold 17,382[58]
France (SNEP)[59] Platinum 300,000*
Germany (BVMI)[60] Platinum 300,000^
Greece (IFPI Greece)[17] Gold 15,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[61] Platinum 200,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[62] Platinum 80,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[63] 2× Platinum 30,000^
Norway — 50,000[64]
Spain (Promusicae)[65] Platinum 100,000^
Sweden (GLF)[66] Gold 30,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[67] Platinum 40,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[68] 4× Platinum 1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[69] 4× Platinum 4,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[70] Platinum 1,000,000*
Worldwide — 7,000,000[71]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Forty Licks

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Forty Licks is a double by the English rock band , released on 30 September 2002 to celebrate the group's 40th anniversary. It was first made available digitally in 2023. It comprises 40 tracks spanning the band's career from their 1963 debut single to 2002, including 36 greatest hits such as "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", "", "", and "", alongside four new recordings: the studio tracks "", "Keys to Your Love", "Stealing My Heart", and "Losing My Touch". Issued by in collaboration with ABKCO and Decca for the early material, the album served as the official soundtrack for the ' Licks World Tour, a 117-show global trek from 2002 to 2003 that grossed over $300 million. Upon release, Forty Licks debuted at number two on both the Billboard 200 and the . The compilation has sold over 7 million copies worldwide, earning certifications including quadruple platinum in the by the RIAA and triple platinum in the by the BPI. Notable for being the first anthology to comprehensively cover their entire catalog across labels, Forty Licks received positive reviews for its selection and packaging, which included a limited-edition tongue logo-embossed tin box in some markets.

Background

Conception

The Rolling Stones conceived Forty Licks in early 2002 as a project to commemorate the band's 40th anniversary since its formation in 1962. The initiative aimed to encapsulate four decades of the group's recording history, reflecting on their evolution from blues-infused rock pioneers to enduring global icons. Key to the project's scope was the decision to produce a double-disc compilation featuring 40 tracks drawn from the band's entire career, spanning the band's career from early 1964 singles such as "Not Fade Away" and to selections up to 2002. This structure allowed for a balanced representation across eras, with the first disc primarily focusing on pre-1971 material and the second covering post-1970 output. A pivotal enabling factor was the resolution of longstanding licensing disputes between ABKCO Music & Records, Inc., which controls the band's pre-1971 catalog, and , holder of rights to post-1970 recordings. This agreement facilitated an unprecedented between ABKCO and (a UMG imprint), permitting the first full-career on a single release. The collaboration was announced on August 12, 2002, alongside details of the album's September 30 release. To bookend the compilation and signal the band's ongoing vitality, the project included the announcement of four new original tracks recorded specifically for the album. These additions were positioned on the second disc, framing the retrospective with fresh material while avoiding a static "greatest hits" format.

Track selection

The track selection for Forty Licks was guided by the goal of encapsulating ' evolution across their four-decade career, balancing representation from distinct phases: the raw blues-rock of the mid-, the psychedelic and of the late , the expansive stadium anthems of the and , and the reflective maturity of the and early 2000s. Band members, including and , contributed by compiling personal lists of favorites, prioritizing tracks that resonated widely with both the group and audiences to create a cohesive journey through their hits rather than a exhaustive catalog. This approach ensured the 36 archival tracks highlighted the band's most enduring contributions while avoiding lesser-known deep cuts in favor of commercial viability. A key logistical aspect of the selection involved navigating the band's divided catalog rights, incorporating tracks from the pre-1971 catalog licensed from —which controlled their early Decca/ era material—and post-1970 tracks from Virgin/Universal, marking a rare cooperative effort between the labels to enable a full career for the first time. This distribution allowed for an equitable spread across the two-disc format, with handling the formative years and Virgin/Universal covering the post-1971 output under the band's own imprint. The chosen tracks emphasize chart-topping singles and enduring fan favorites that defined the Stones' global impact, such as "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" from 1965, from 1966, from 1969, from 1971, "Miss You" from 1978, and from 1981. These selections underscore the band's shift from British Invasion provocateurs to rock icons. The new tracks added to the collection complement these archival hits by extending the retrospective into the present.

New tracks

Recording

The four new tracks for Forty Licks were recorded during sessions in 2002, as the band reconvened following a hiatus after their concluded in 1998. for these tracks took place from late February to early March 2002 at ' home in , , where initial ideas and arrangements were developed. The principal recording occurred from May 13 to June 7, 2002, at Studio Guillaume Tell in , near , , with the core lineup of (vocals, guitar), (guitar, vocals), (drums), and Ron Wood (guitar), alongside bassist , keyboardist , and backing vocalist/percussionist . Don Was and The Glimmer Twins—Mick Jagger and Keith Richards' longstanding production alias—oversaw the sessions, with Ed Cherney serving as chief engineer. The band ultimately laid down around 30 songs during this intensive period, selecting four for inclusion on the album: "Don't Stop," "Stealing My Heart," "Keys to Your Love," and "Losing My Touch." Mixing followed in June and July 2002, primarily at Mix This! Studios in Los Angeles, California, handled by Bob Clearmountain.

Composition

The four new tracks on Forty Licks represent a deliberate effort by to infuse fresh material with their signature rock energy while incorporating contemporary production touches. These songs, all credited to the Jagger-Richards songwriting partnership, revisit core elements of the band's sound—raw guitar riffs, rhythmic drive, and blues-inflected melodies—while exploring themes of resilience, romance, temptation, and introspection. "Don't Stop" opens the set of new recordings as an upbeat rock track, propelled by ' infectious guitar riff and ' prominent, steady drumming that underscores its driving pulse. The lyrics, penned by and Richards, center on themes of perseverance amid emotional turmoil, portraying a to sustain passion and connection despite challenges, as in the repeated exhortation to "don't stop" in the face of relational strain. This energetic number evokes the band's classic mid-1960s vigor, blending gritty realism with an anthemic chorus that highlights Jagger's charismatic delivery. "Keys to Your Love" shifts to a bluesy , co-written by Jagger and Richards, evoking the Stones' roots in American traditions through its languid tempo and emotive structure. The track emphasizes contributions from , creating a rootsy, intimate feel that supports its romantic about longing and access to a lover's affections. With Jagger's soulful vocals gliding over the sparse arrangement, the song captures a tender vulnerability, drawing on conventions to convey heartfelt devotion without overt flashiness. "Stealing My Heart" adopts a mid-tempo rocker format, incorporating subtle electronic influences in its polished production to modernize the band's guitar-driven sound. Richards and Wood's layered guitars provide a solid backbone, while themes of and raw desire emerge in the , depicting a seductive intruder who "comes on like a thief" to capture the narrator's emotions. Jagger's sly phrasing amplifies the song's tension between attraction and betrayal, making it a bridge between the Stones' blues-rock heritage and early-2000s rock aesthetics. A slow, introspective track, "Losing My Touch" features on lead vocals, delivering a hazy, reflective performance over acoustic elements and flourishes from . The track explores themes of aging and personal reflection, with lyrics lamenting a fading and the passage of time, as Richards croons about feeling disconnected in a changing world. Its woozy style, marked by minimalistic arrangement, offers a poignant counterpoint to the compilation's high-energy hits, underscoring the band's enduring ability to convey emotional depth. The album also includes a new live recording of "", captured at during the , adding a high-energy performance to close the compilation. Collectively, these tracks blend the Rolling Stones' foundations—rooted in , rhythm, and riff-based songcraft—with subtle modern production techniques, such as layered keyboards and crisp mixing, to connect the band's storied past with its contemporary relevance. This synthesis ensures the new material complements the archival selections, reinforcing the album's celebratory tone.

Release and promotion

Marketing

The album Forty Licks was released on 30 September 2002 by Virgin Records in the United States and by ABKCO in conjunction with Virgin in the United Kingdom. To generate pre-release hype for the 40th anniversary compilation, The Rolling Stones engaged in a press rollout featuring interviews with band members that highlighted the milestone and the inclusion of four new tracks as promotional hooks. For instance, radio interviews with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and others were distributed to stations, discussing the album's retrospective scope. Advertising campaigns included TV commercials showcasing career highlights to appeal to longtime fans and introduce the collection to newer audiences. The strategy emphasized heavy radio promotion on stations, with early airplay building anticipation ahead of the release. Digital previews were also offered on dedicated early websites like 40Licks.com, allowing fans to sample tracks and explore the album's content.

Singles

The lead single from Forty Licks was "", released on 30 September 2002 in various formats, including a featuring the remix of "Miss You" as the B-side. No other official singles were issued from the album's four new tracks, though several archival hits such as "" received renewed radio promotion alongside the compilation's release. "" achieved moderate chart success, peaking at number 36 on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, it reached number 21 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The song's promotion included a music video directed by Stylewar, depicting three young men journeying to a Rolling Stones concert while passing landmarks and imagery referencing the band's history.

Licks Tour

The Licks Tour was a worldwide by , launched to promote their 40th anniversary Forty Licks. It commenced on September 3, 2002, at the Fleet Center in , , and concluded on November 9, 2003, at the in , spanning over a year with 117 performances across , , , and . The tour encompassed a mix of stadium, arena, and intimate theater shows, including club-like gigs at venues such as the 1,800-capacity Wiltern Theatre in and the Palais Royale Ballroom in , allowing for varied production scales and setlist experimentation. Setlists for the emphasized selections from Forty Licks, blending the album's new tracks—such as "Don't Stop," "," and "Losing My Touch"—with enduring classics like "," "," "Satisfaction," and "You Can't Always Get What You Want." Over the course of the tour, the band performed a total of 80 different songs, enabling dynamic variations that kept shows fresh while honoring their catalog's depth; typical sets opened with high-energy numbers like "" or " Flash" and closed with anthems such as "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." Guest appearances added to the excitement, including joining for "" in and on piano for several dates. The tour's production, designed by longtime collaborator in consultation with and , featured elaborate staging that supported both large-scale stadium spectacles and smaller venues, including a retractable 200-foot by 60-foot fabric wall adorned with artwork by , motorized drapes, and integrated video content by Willie Williams. The setup required 60 trucks, 10 buses, and a 125-member crew for logistics, incorporating large video screens for visual effects and to enhance key moments like song transitions and encores. Various support acts opened shows, including for early North American dates like the Boston opener, in Anaheim, in , , Shaggy, and across select cities. Financially, the Licks Tour grossed approximately $300 million, ranking as one of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time at the time and the second-highest ever reported by up to 2003. This success underscored the band's enduring draw, with over 3.5 million attendees witnessing performances that celebrated their legacy through a balance of innovation and nostalgia.

Artwork and packaging

Cover design

The cover art for Forty Licks was designed and art directed by Tom Hingston Studio, featuring a vibrant, multicolored rendition of the in red, white, and blue tones, with the number "40" prominently integrated to mark the band's 40th anniversary. This stylized serves as a symbolic nod to the group's rock 'n' roll , rebellious energy, and enduring career, drawing on the original tongue motif's inspiration from the Hindu goddess Kali to represent raw power and defiance. The design evokes a sense of celebration and longevity, blending nostalgia with a fresh, anniversary-focused aesthetic. The inner packaging includes a curated selection of photographs spanning the band's history from the through the early , sourced from photographers such as Gered Mankowitz, Terry O'Neill, and Cyrus Andrews, to provide a visual of their evolution. was handled by David Costa, contributing to a cohesive, archival look that complements the compilation's career-spanning theme. Overall, the artwork by Tom Hingston Studio aimed to balance iconic branding with commemorative elements, enhancing the album's appeal as a milestone release.

Formats and editions

_Forty Licks was initially released on , , as a standard double in a jewel case format by and ABKCO, containing 40 tracks across two discs. A limited vinyl edition was also produced in , though it was extremely scarce and not widely distributed at the time. Special editions included a limited digipak version with a bonus poster, as well as a collector's featuring a 12x12-inch booklet with exclusive photographs and a mouse mat. The Japanese edition, released by in , came with an obi strip, a special , and an additional booklet containing region-specific . Digitally, the album was first made available for download on in 2006 before being temporarily removed in 2008 due to licensing issues. It returned to streaming platforms, including and , in July 2023, marking its first widespread digital release, alongside a mix. In 2023, to coincide with the digital launch, a remastered edition was issued as a limited four-disc 180-gram black vinyl set, housed in a wide-spine sleeve, representing the album's first official mass-market vinyl pressing. No further major anniversary editions have been released as of 2025.

Critical reception

Contemporary reviews

Upon its release in September 2002, Forty Licks received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its comprehensive overview of ' career and the vitality of its four new tracks, while noting some omissions and redundancy for longtime fans. AllMusic's awarded the compilation five out of five stars, hailing it as a definitive hits collection that effectively spans the band's 40-year history with strong sequencing and fresh additions. He compared it favorably to Elvis Presley's ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits, noting that Forty Licks had a superior concept by including material from the Stones' entire catalog rather than limiting to chart-toppers, and commended the new songs for revitalizing the set. Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield gave it four stars, applauding the album's crackling energy and bold track selection, which provided an exciting career retrospective from the onward. He highlighted the pacing, starting with high-impact openers like "" and "," but critiqued the absence of rarities and several key songs, such as deeper cuts from landmark albums. Entertainment Weekly's Rob Brunner assigned an A− grade, appreciating the new tracks—"," live version of "," "," and "Losing My Touch"—for injecting vitality into the package, though he deemed them somewhat inconsequential overall. Brunner called the two-disc set a nicely sequenced and relatively comprehensive sampler but pointed out its redundancy for dedicated fans who already owned most of the hits, along with inclusions of later-period lowlights like "" and "Anybody Seen My Baby?" and omissions of classics such as "" and "." Common criticisms across reviews included the compilation's lack of surprises for die-hard listeners and unevenness in the new material, which some felt did not match the enduring power of the classics.

Retrospective views

In a 2016 ranking of compilations by Ultimate , Forty Licks was placed second overall, lauded as the most comprehensive collection to date for spanning the band's 40-year career from their 1964 debut single "Not Fade Away" through to four new tracks recorded in 2002, effectively bridging the stylistic and label divides between their early Decca/ output and later Virgin era material. By the 2020s, Forty Licks has been reassessed in the context of digital streaming platforms, where its 2023 full digital release marked the first time the complete 40-track set was made available online. Similarly, a 2023 Metal Talk article praised the digital unleashing of Forty Licks as a "" that immerses modern listeners in the band's sonic journey from blues-rock roots to stadium anthems.

Commercial performance

Chart positions

Upon its release in October 2002, Forty Licks debuted at No. 2 on the US chart, held from the top spot by Eminem's , and spent 48 weeks on the chart as of early 2004, with additional re-entries in later years including No. 61 in July 2023. In the United Kingdom, the album also peaked at No. 2 on the , blocked by Norah Jones' , spending 4 weeks in the top 10 and a total of 148 weeks on the chart. The compilation achieved No. 1 positions in several international markets, including (Flanders), , , and . It reached the top spot in as well, while peaking at No. 2 in the and . Sweden saw the album enter the top ranks, contributing to its strong European performance.
Country/RegionChartPeak PositionSource
Belgium (Flanders) 100 Albums1
Albums Chart1
Irish Albums Chart1
FIMI Albums Chart1
RIANZ Top 40 Albums1
Norway Top 40 Albums2
Top 60 Albums2
Dutch Top 100 Albums2
United Kingdom2
2
On year-end charts for 2002, Forty Licks ranked No. 79 on the US , reflecting its solid performance throughout the year. In the UK and several European countries, it placed within the top 20, underscoring its widespread appeal.

Sales certifications

In the , Forty Licks was certified 4× by the RIAA in December 2002 for shipments of 4 million units. In the , the album achieved 3× status from the BPI, representing 900,000 units shipped. The compilation performed strongly across , including a certification in by the BVMI for 300,000 units. By 2005, Forty Licks had sold over 7.5 million copies worldwide, bolstered by synergies with the accompanying and its release timing during the holiday season, with total sales surpassing this figure as of 2025.
RegionCertificationUnits ShippedCertifying BodyDate
4× Platinum4,000,000RIAADecember 2002
3× Platinum900,000BPI-
300,000BVMI2002

Contents

Track listing

Forty Licks is structured as a two-disc containing 40 tracks spanning ' recording career from 1964 to 2002, including 36 previously released songs and four new recordings exclusive to the compilation.

Disc one

No.TitleWriter(s)LengthAlbum (year)
1""3:16 (1968)
2""4:32 (1969)
3"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"3:44 (1965)
4"The Last Time"3:42 (1965)
5""3:43Single (1968)
6"You Can't Always Get What You Want"7:29 (1969)
7""3:57Single (1966)
8""3:42Aftermath (1966)
9"Not Fade Away"Petty–Hardin1:49 (1964)
10"Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?"2:36Single (1966)
11""6:17 (1968)
12""2:47Aftermath (1966)
13""4:13 (1967)
14""2:56December's Children (And Everybody's) (1965)
15"Wild Horses"5:45 (1971)
16"Ruby Tuesday"3:15 (1967)
17""3:45Aftermath (1966)
18""3:01Single (1969)
19""B. Womack–S. Womack3:2812 X 5 (1964)
20""3:25 (1967)

Disc two

No.TitleWriter(s)LengthAlbum (year)
21""3:33 (1981)
22""3:49 (1971)
23"Miss You"3:35 (1978)
24"Beast of Burden"3:27 (1978)
25""3:58Forty Licks (2002)
26"Happy"3:05Exile on Main St. (1972)
27"Angie"4:31 (1973)
28""3:33 (1994)
29"Shattered"3:46 (1978)
30""4:07 (1976)
31""3:48 (1994)
32"Mixed Emotions"4:01 (1989)
33"Keys to Your Love"4:12Forty Licks (2002)
34"Anybody Seen My Baby?"4:07 (1997)
35"Stealing My Heart"3:42Forty Licks (2002)
36""3:46Exile on Main St. (1972)
37"Undercover of the Night"4:13Undercover (1983)
38""3:42 (1980)
39"It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It)"4:10It's Only Rock 'n Roll (1974)
40"Losing My Touch"5:05Forty Licks (2002)

Personnel

The core lineup of the Rolling Stones featured on the new tracks for Forty Licks consisted of on lead vocals and guitar, on guitar and backing vocals, on drums, and on guitar. Bass duties were handled by , keyboards by , and additional backing vocals were provided by and . The four new recordings—"Don't Stop," "Keys to Your Love," "Stealing My Heart," and "Losing My Touch"—were produced by and the Glimmer Twins (the production pseudonym for Jagger and Richards). Engineering for these sessions was led by Ed Cherney, with mixing by and Don Smith. For the archival tracks spanning the band's first 40 years, personnel reflected the evolving lineup, including on bass for selections from the 1960s and early 1970s, on guitar for mid-1970s material, and on various instruments for pre-1969 recordings. Notable guest contributors across the compilation include on piano for tracks like "Street Fighting Man," on backing vocals for "Gimme Shelter," and on saxophone for several recordings. Original production credits for the archival material vary by era, with overseeing many late-1960s classics such as "" and "," for early Decca-era singles, and for 1970s and 1980s albums. The compilation's overall sound restoration was handled at The Magic Shop, with mastering by Gateway Mastering for disc one and Marcussen Mastering for disc two.

Legacy

Cultural impact

Forty Licks played a pivotal role in solidifying ' status as enduring rock icons by presenting a comprehensive career-spanning that bridged their early blues-influenced years with later rock anthems. Released to commemorate the band's 40th in 2002, the compilation featured 36 remastered classics alongside four new recordings: the original studio tracks "", "", and "Losing My Touch", plus a live version of "" from —which not only refreshed the material but also introduced the band's evolving sound to younger audiences unfamiliar with their full discography. This structure allowed newcomers to appreciate the Stones' longevity and versatility, serving as an accessible entry point to their catalog. The album exemplified a trend in compilations toward anniversary retrospectives that unify an artist's output, much like Elvis Presley's ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits (2002), which drew inspiration from The Beatles' 1 (2000). By including tracks from all eras for the first time, Forty Licks modeled how veteran acts could curate definitive overviews to reaffirm their influence, paving the way for similar career-spanning releases by other legacy bands. Its format emphasized thematic continuity over chronology, highlighting the band's consistent rebellious spirit and musical innovation across decades. Culturally, tracks from Forty Licks permeated popular media, amplifying the band's reach; for instance, "" opened Martin Scorsese's 2006 film , underscoring themes of urban violence and moral ambiguity in a modern context. The accompanying , supporting the album, further cemented this impact by grossing nearly $300 million across 117 shows, drawing diverse crowds and reinforcing the Stones' live performance prowess. In the , the compilation's enduring appeal contributed to heightened catalog engagement, though full digital streaming availability arrived later in 2023. On the fan front, Forty Licks enhanced catalog unity by resolving long-standing licensing hurdles between ABKCO (controlling pre-1971 material) and the band's post-1970 self-owned recordings, allowing seamless access to hits from both periods on a single release. This cohesion bolstered fan appreciation of the band's complete legacy, facilitating expanded merchandise lines tied to the anniversary theme and inspiring tribute performances that celebrate the compilation's eclectic tracklist.

Reissues

In 2011, select tracks from Forty Licks benefited from remasters of their original albums, such as the 2011 edition of , though the compilation itself saw no major standalone remaster that year. The following year, for the ' 50th anniversary, the album's content was bundled into the expansive GRRR! super-compilation, which expanded on Forty Licks with additional tracks spanning the band's career, while the original compilation remained available as a standalone release. Digital availability expanded significantly in the late , with full streaming on platforms like and becoming widespread by 2017 through catalog integrations, though no dedicated digital edition was issued until 2023. That year marked the first official digital release of Forty Licks on July 26, including a mix, followed by a limited-edition four-LP 180-gram vinyl set on July 28, pressed by . No major 20th anniversary edition appeared in . In the , Universal continued vinyl repressions of the 2023 edition to meet demand, focusing on standard black variants without picture disc options.

References

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