The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers

Rolling Stones Records

The Rolling Stones, a name that rings bells in rock circles, released their ninth British studio album on this day in 1971. It captures the Stones essence like no other and is arguably one of the finest records ever made. Opener Brown Sugar and closer Moonlight Mile make this an undeniable rough and rugged rock affair. Moonlight Mile has tinges of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here and ends in a very Springsteenesque manner. It's safe to say that the influence of this record goes beyond the hard rock realm.

Sticky Fingers is a relatively straight forward album, straight to the point, in and out no fluffing about. The Stones do what the Stones do but it exudes an air of confidence that other Stones releases fail to. It's not that their other albums lack confidence either, they just don't seem as qualified and sure of themselves as on here. A nothing but business, take no prisoners approach is adopted. Sticky Fingers packs an off the cuff, jam-like feel which comes to fruition on tracks like 'Cant You Hear Me Knocking'. Loose, free of style, free of thought are a few terms that come to mind.

A lot of this album feels as if they're performing just for you. It has a real personal tangibility to it. The aforementioned rough and rugged approach to production lends a hand to this and Sister Morphine is a great example of the character that resides in Sticky Fingers. You can feel the studio and bask in it's smoke-filled blue fluorescence splendor if you shut your eyes and open your mind. You can see the tape reel running around and round as the boys get down to it.

The artwork was undertaken by Andy Warhol. A rather sensual, and I imagine controversial for the time, cover to say the least.

April 23rd, 1971.