The Rolling Stones, “Live at the Wiltern.”

In February 2023, the Rolling Stones released Grrr Live, an album they billed as their “definitive greatest hits live” collection. And that it was, with at least 18 of its 23 songs either huge hits or beloved favorites. The latest live Stones release, Live at the Wiltern, could be called the band’s “definitive album tracks and covers” collection.

And while Grrr Live generated much of its excitement with how creative or powerful the band’s old war horses were put across, most of the 20 songs on the newly released Wiltern set draw strength not only by how well they’re played, but often simply by their (relative) obscurity.

The best example of that on Wiltern is probably “No Expectations,” which puts across its weary blues just as effectively as its original incarnation on Beggars Banquet. Ron Wood’s slide is every bit as laconic as Brian Jones’ playing on the classic 1968 album. Another song from that album, “Stray Cat Blues,” also shows up on Wiltern – blues of a tougher, punchier kind, different but just as welcome. “Live With Me,” a strong “Hand of Fate” and “Neighbours” also qualify as relative rarities seeing sunlight here.

This show, part of the 2002 to 2003 “Licks World Tour” supporting the then-current 40 Licks compilation, was performed on Nov. 22, 2002 in The Wiltern, an intimate 2,500-seat theater in Los Angeles. Several regular Stones auxiliary players, including bassist Darryl Jones, keyboardist Chuck Leavell and saxman Bobby Keys, were there, too.

The Stones also brought out several ’60s soul songs at the Wiltern that night. One of them, the horn-powered “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love,” jumps in a way not usually associated with the Stones (a good thing). And co-writer Solomon Burke taking one verse and adding harmonies adds an element of joy.

Two other soul oldies, “That’s How Strong My Love Is” (associated with Otis Redding) and “Going To A Go-Go” (Smokey Robinson), don’t quite hit that height.

One thing you can count on from the Stones, however inconsistent their studio work has been after Some Girls in 1978, is classic live rock and roll performances, always hitting a groove, sometimes transcending it. The version of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” here is the perfect platform for Keith Richards’ and Ron Wood’s guitar lines to weave around each other – one of the longtime touchstones of the Rolling Stones’ sound.

Richards’ two featured pieces here are not the usual ones. Rather than “Happy” or “Before They Make Me Run,” we get “Thru and Thru” (from 1994’s Voodoo Lounge) and “You Don’t Have to Mean It,” first found on Bridges to Babylon in 1997. “Thru and Thru” is a slow burner, building up over its seven minutes from quiet to Stones-signature guitar crunch. “You Don’t Have to Mean It” is a bouncy Caribbean-tinged delight. Richards is in good-for-him voice on both.

There are only four songs found on both Grrr Live and the new Wiltern. Not surprisingly, they’re not rarities in any sense. It is surprising to not see “Satisfaction” on the Wiltern setlist – I guess fans will have to be content with dozens of other versions of that one.

While the performances here are never less than solid – Mick Jagger is his usual self, as one would expect – it’s the song choice that separates Live at the Wiltern from the Stones’ myriad other live sets. These guys have such a huge back catalog, they could cobble together several more good “rarities” sets.

Follow journalist Sam Richards at Twitter.com/samrichardsWC.