STICKY FINGERS

Forty years ago today, The Rolling Stones released their seminal ‘70’s album, Sticky Fingers. With landmark songs like “Brown Sugar,” “Sway,” “Wild Horses,” “Bitch,” “Sister Morphine,” “Dead Flowers” and “Moonlight Mile,” Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were reaching their creative and commercial zenith.

The now well-regarded album that followed, 1972’s Exile on Main Street, was grittier and more complex. But the polished songs on this record are arguably just as audacious and even better executed, much like its predecessor Let It Bleed. Interestingly, early versions of songs that would appear on Exile were rehearsed during these sessions.

This was guitarist Mick Taylor’s first full-length appearance on a Rolling Stones album and the earliest release not to feature any contributions from founding member Brian Jones. Also featured on the album were Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Ry Cooder, Nicky Hopkins, Bobby Keys, Ronnie Lane, Jimmy Miller, Jack Nitzsche, Billy Preston, Ian Stewart and Pete Townshend.

Sticky Fingers was the debut on the band’s newly formed label, Rolling Stones Records. With their Decca/London association ended, The Stones were finally free to produce albums and covers as they pleased. The original record’s famous artwork, which featured a working zipper, was conceived by American pop artist Andy Warhol and designed by Craig Braun. After retailers complained that the zipper was causing damage to adjacent records, it was “unzipped” to the middle of the record and later replaced by an embossed replica. This album also featured the first use of the “Tongue and Lip” design by John Pasche. In 2003, Sticky Fingers was listed #63 on Rolling Stone magazine’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” That same year, VH1 named it the “Number 1 Greatest Album Cover.”

This is probably my favorite Stones recording period and line up. Mick Taylor provided wonderful contributions on lead guitar. For the earlier albums. The recent ABKCO ’64-69 vinyl box set sounds great – including are my perennial faves Aftermath, Beggars Banquet and Let It Bleed. Those reissues have a very analog-like feel with a warm tone and rounded textures, and they were cut from high-res digital sources. In seeking out the best sonics on vinyl for Sticky Fingers and Exile, look for original US or UK pressings. Avoid the recent Universal reissues for these titles, as well as the ’71-75 box, as these LPs are digitally compressed. Like producer Jimmy Miller said, you need to “Turn It Up.”

(Cover Photograph: Billy Name)