The Rolling StonesImage via The Rolling Stones/YouTube
By
Ryan Louis Mantilla
Published 41 minutes ago
Ryan is a lifestyle and culture journalist born and raised in the Philippines. He primarily covers film, television, music, and all things pop culture. Beyond writing, you can find him buried in thriller novels or off exploring the world on occasion. He deeply romanticizes a slow, peaceful life — even though he’s almost always drowning in deadlines (insert skull emoji here).
Sign in to your Collider account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recapThe Rolling Stones boast quite an extensive discography, one notable example being Sticky Fingers. The influence of their ninth studio album, released in April 1971, cannot be overstated. It not only reached the top of the Billboard 200 — marking their second ascent to the number 1 spot at the time — but also solidified the band’s status as rock legends. Renowned for its daring fusion of rock, blues, country, and soul (as well as its infamous, controversial cover), the album garnered critical acclaim in addition to commercial success. The overall cohesion of the record reflected a band fully in command of its musical identity. Decades later, it still stands as one of the essential works in the Stones’ catalog, celebrated for its enduring influence on generations of musicians.
The Rolling Stones currently have eight number 1s on the Billboard charts, one of which came from the success of Sticky Fingers. After the band first reached Number 1 with their Out of Their Heads album in 1965 — which spent three weeks at the top — Sticky Fingers became their second number-one album on May 22, 1971. It remained at Number 1 for four weeks before Carole King’s Tapestry took over the top spot. Of course, much of the album’s success can be attributed to its standout songs, particularly the hit singles “Brown Sugar” and “Wild Horses.” All tracks were co-written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, except for “You Gotta Move” (written by Fred McDowell and Gary Davis) and “Sister Morphine,” which Jagger and Richards co-wrote with Marianne Faithfull.
'Sticky Fingers' Propelled the Rolling Stones to Continued Success
By the 1960s, the Stones had already made a name for themselves as a rock band to watch. They were, to say the least, hugely popular. By the time Sticky Fingers was released, the Stones were already well-known, but the album helped sustain and elevate their career, solidifying their status as the established band they are today. Sticky Fingers also kicked off their streak of eight consecutive albums reaching the top of the Billboard 200 chart, making the record all the more iconic and significant. It was followed by 1972’s Exile on Main St., 1973’s Goats Head Soup, 1974’s It’s Only Rock ’n Roll, 1976’s Black and Blue, 1978’s Some Girls, 1980s Emotional Rescue, and 1981’s Tattoo You.
Over 50 years after its release, Sticky Fingers continues to resonate among listeners. The Stones weren’t called one of the greatest rock bands in the world for nothing — it comes with such merit, and Sticky Fingers stands as one of the prime examples of why the Stones are just great at what they do. Upon its release, fans and critics alike welcomed it with such enthusiasm and respect. However, before Sticky Fingers came about, the band waved goodbye to the ’60s on such a somber note. Sticky Fingers was not only their first studio album without Brian Jones, but Jones (one of the founders of the band) had also passed away just two years earlier. And the album was recorded during a period marked by the turmoil that followed the Altamont concert, in addition to the 1967 drug bust that embroiled Jagger and Richards.
They entered the 1970s carrying this baggage, but with a renewed sense of direction. The result was an album as gritty and unfiltered as the lives they were living. And as famous as the tracks on the album were, so was the cover — controversially conceived and photographed by someone who helped pioneer the Pop Art movement: Andy Warhol. A photo of a man in tight jeans with a clear imprint of his manhood may not be as controversial today, but it was quite a shock in the 1970s. Conceived by the creative mind of Warhol, the album art for Sticky Fingers features a close-up of a male crotch in jeans. But just as everyone thought it would stop there, the original vinyl featured a working zipper that revealed an image of a man clad in white underwear. It was so iconic that the album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Album Cover at the 14th Annual Grammy Awards in 1972. While most fans of the band found the album cover fun and, well, a bit risqué, not everyone shared their enthusiasm.
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