#104 The Rolling Stones, 'Sticky Fingers' (1971)
Previously #64
Fourth entry for The Rolling Stones. ‘Sticky Fingers’ celebrated its 50th anniversary just two weeks ago. This album was the first to be released on the Stones’ own label after their deal with Decca Records lapsed. It was also the first record to fully feature Mick Taylor on guitar and the first without any contributions whatsoever from founding member, Brian Jones, who died two years before this. The album was a back to basics for the band, with Mick Taylor Jazz and Country influences being felt throughout. The band is more free on this record; not only had they left their label, but they’d also parted ways with manager, Allen Klein, the stereotypical evil manager that conned the band into signing over the American copyrights of their 1960s albums to him. The album was recorded in a haze of drugs and was a perfect statement for the band entering the ‘70s. They’d outlived The Beatles and it was now up to them to be the torchbearers of that era of music.
The album opens with first single, ‘Brown Sugar,’ a song that was both inspired by Jagger’s then girlfriend, Marsha Hunt, mother of his first child, Karis, and heroin. It’s incredible that this song was ever a single, its lyrics about slaves, rape, interracial relationships (which was taboo at the time), heroin and possibly even underage sex. Wild song for a single! The second single is one of the great Stones songs ever; ‘Wild Horses.’ Bearing a strong Country feel, the song came out of Jagger and Richards’s sessions with Gram Parsons. ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,’ another favourite Stones song of mine, features a great extended jam at the end. ‘You Gotta Move’ is a return to the classic Blues sound of the band and is a cover of a traditional African American Gospel song that was originally recorded in 1948, but had been around well before that. Other highlights include ‘Bitch’ and ‘Sister Morphine,’ a song that was co-written with Marianne Faithfull. The album ends with the great ‘Moonlight Mile.’ The Stones have a knack for ending their albums incredible songs. The album cover was designed by Andy Warhol and on original release, included a real zip that when opened revealed underwear. It was expensive to produce and damaged the vinyl, so it was quickly abandoned.
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