Today in 1971: Marking 52 Years Since the Release of the Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers

On this day in 1971, The Rolling Stones released their 9th UK and 11th US studio album, titled Sticky Fingers, on their newly founded label, Rolling Stones Records. 

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia. Cover by Andy Warhol

Recordings technically began in December 1969 at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama, less than a month after the release of their 8th UK and 10th US studio album Let it Bleed. Some of the leftover tracks that were held over from the former, which included "You Gotta Move", "Brown Sugar", and "Wild Horses" were originally cut in March and later became the first tracks to be completed. Most of the album's recording was done in the summer and autumn of 1970 and took place at a mobile studio in Stargroves, a manor and estate that was owned by Mick Jagger at the time.

The cover was conceived by pop artist Andy Warhol, photographed by Billy Name, and designed by Craig Braun. It sparked some debate as to whose crotch is actually on the photograph. Many fans thought it to be Mick Jagger's, but actual candidates included Jed and Jay Johnson, Corey Tippin, and Joe Dallesandro. The last of which claims to be that actual model. It would also be the first album to use the tongue logo in some of its art.

The original packaging also included a working zipper that revealed underwear fabric stamped with credits to Warhol. Retailers complained that the zipper would damaged the records when stacked, so it was eventually unzipped to the middle where damage would be minimized. 

After the album's release, it spent three weeks in the #1 spot in the British charts for three weeks in May, and then again in mid-June. It also spent 69 weeks on the Billboard 200. It was received in mostly-positive manner, however, there were many mixed reviews as well. Some critics even balanced the line between both, including Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times, who claimed that it was "modest" by the band's standards, yet one of the best rock albums of the year. Lynn Van Matre of the Chicago Tribune felt similarly, claiming that the album is "hardly innovative", but is still "consistent enough to be one of the year's best albums." He also wrote that the band was at their "raunchy best" at the time.

Overall, it has held up through the years as one of their most famous records despite its somewhat-mixed reputation. Songs such as "Moonlight Mile" and "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" remain among some of their most popular ones.