The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers Turns 50 - Noise11.com
Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers

Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers

The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers Turns 50

by Paul Cashmere @paulcashmere on April 22, 2021

in News

‘Sticky Fingers’, the ninth album for The Rolling Stones, turns 50 this week. ‘Sticky Fingers’ was released on 23 April, 1971.

‘Sticky Fingers’ came midway through arguably the most creative era of The Rolling Stones. In 1968 the band released ‘Beggars Banquet’, 1969 was ‘Let It Bleed’ then ‘Sticky Fingers’ in 1971 followed by ‘Exile On Main Street’ in 1972. Those four album have continued to make up at least half a Rolling Stones setlist ever since.

‘Sticky Fingers’ was the first studio album without founder Brian Jones. Mick Taylor had replaced Jones’ following his death in 1969. Taylor had appeared on two tracks on ‘Let It Bleed’ and the live album ‘Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out’ but this was his first album as a fully fledged Stone.

The first single from ‘Sticky Fingers’ was ‘Brown Sugar’, a song Mick Jagger wrote in Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia while he was filming ‘Ned Kelly’ in July, 1969.

‘Brown Sugar’, ‘You Gotta Move’, ‘Wild Horses’ and ‘Sister Morphine’ were the first tracks recorded. They were done in December 1969 at the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama.

‘Sister Morphine’ was co-written by Marianne Faithfull, Mick Jagger’s girlfriend at the time. ‘Wild Horses’ was released first by Gram Parsons, who heard an early version of the song. His version came out in May, 1970 on the ‘Burrito Deluxe’ album by the Flying Burrito Brothers’, 11 months before the Stones version.

‘Sticky Fingers’ was notable for its Andy Warhol designed zipper cover. In some part of the world the cover had an actual zipper but in Australia the zipper cover was banned and a printed version was used instead. The model on the cover was Warhol movie star Joe Dallesandro.

‘Sticky Fingers’ contained some remarkable music including the epic ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking’ and the raucous ‘Bitch’.

‘Sticky Fingers’ became the first (and only) Stones album to go to number one in both Australia, USA and UK.

Critics are divided between ‘Sticky Fingers’ and ‘Exile On Main Street’ as the greatest Stones album.

Sticky Fingers Tracklisting

“Brown Sugar”
“Sway”
“Dead Flowers”
“Wild Horses”
“Sister Morphine”
“You Gotta Move”
“Bitch”
“Can’t You Hear Me Knocking”
“I Got the Blues”
“Moonlight Mile”

Noise11.com

Follow Noise11 on Social Media

NEW: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

Noise11 on Instagram

You’ll discover music news first following Noise11 on Twitter

Comment on the news of the day, join Noise11 on Facebook

Related Posts

Ronnie Wood Anthology
Ronnie Wood Has His Own Anthology To Do

Ronnie Wood will release his first anthology, ‘Fearless: Anthology 1965-2025’, covering his entire career including his time with Jeff Beck, The Faces and The Rolling Stones.

13 hours ago
Paul McCartney in Santiago October 2024 photo by Karen Freedman
Paul McCartney Announces North American Got Back Tour 2025

Sir Paul McCartney has announced a second North American leg of his Got Back tour.

1 day ago
Bob Dylan at the Hollywood Bowl 31 July 2024 photo with thanks to Richard Gilkerson
Bob Dylan To Continue Farewell Tour With Dates In UK and Europe Announced

Legendary songwriter and musician Bob Dylan will return to the UK in 2025 for a string of dates presented by ITB.

2 days ago
Paul Simon and Sting at Mt Duneed Winery 2015
Paul Simon Postpones Show after Back Surgery

Paul Simon has postponed a gig after undergoing surgery for "severe" back pain.

July 4, 2025
John Farnham The Age Music Victoria 10th Anniversary Hall of Fame Concert inducts Victorian music legends at the Palais in St Kilda on Friday 20 November 2015. photo by Ros O'Gorman
John Farnham Becomes A Grandfather

John Farnham is a grandfather. Jett James Farnham was born in Melbourne on June 18, 2025. The family has just now announced the news.

July 1, 2025
The Grateful Dead Movie
The Grateful Dead Movie To Screen In Cinemas Worldwide In August

The Grateful Dead movie will screen at IMAX in August to mark the 60th anniversary of the band’s final performance.

June 28, 2025
John Fogerty photo by David McClister 2
John Fogerty Shares New Solo Versions of CCR Classic ‘Born On the Bayou’ and ‘Lodi’

John Fogerty has premiered two new solo remakes of his Creedence Clearwater Revival classics ‘Born on the Bayou’ and ‘Lodi’.

June 27, 2025