The Rolling Stones

Released in 1967, Flowers was cobbled together from unreleased cuts and singles from albums like Aftermath and Between The Buttons. Although at the time critics were disappointed by the practice of repackaging material that already existed, who can blame the band for doing it when the results put a song like "Out Of Time" next to "My Girl."

The Stones were cresting so high around 1967 that even this pieced-together hodgepodge has a distinctness of style and invention about it. Right, it re-recycles "Let's Spend the Night Together"/"Ruby Tuesday," which shouldn't have been on Between the Buttons to begin with. It disrespects the rightful owners of "My Girl," the Temptations, and the target of "Mother's Little Helper," yo mama. As for "Lady Jane," what's that about? Nevertheless, every track connects. That's more than can be said of Their Satanic Majesties Request, which is better than its rep even so. (Grade - )