Sticky Fingers is the ninth British and 11th American studio album by English rock band The Rolling Stones, released in April 1971.

It is the band's first album of the 1970s and its first release on the band's newly formed label, Rolling Stones Records, after having been contracted since 1963 with Decca Records in the UK and London Records in the US. It is also Mick Taylor's first full-length appearance on a Rolling Stones album, the first Rolling Stones album not to feature any contributions from guitarist and founder Brian Jones and the first one on which Mick Jagger is credited with playing guitar.

The album is often regarded as one of the Stones' best, containing songs such as the chart-topping "Brown Sugar" and the folk-influenced "Wild Horses", along with the 2 part, Latin-inspired, "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" and achieving triple platinum certification in the US.

With the end of their Decca/London association at hand, The Rolling Stones would finally be free to release their albums (cover art and all) as they pleased. However, their leaving manager Allen Klein dealt the group a major blow when they discovered that they had inadvertently signed over their entire 1960s copyrights to Klein and his company ABKCO, which is how all of their material from 1963's "Come On" to Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!

The Rolling Stones in Concert has since come to be released by ABKCO Records. The band would remain incensed with Klein for decades over the act.

When Decca informed The Rolling Stones that they were owed one more single, they cheekily submitted a track called "*ocksucker Blues",which was guaranteed to be refused. Instead, Decca released the two-year-old Beggars Banquet track "Street Fighting Man" while Klein would have dual copyright ownership, with The Rolling Stones, of "Brown Sugar" and "Wild Horses".

Although sessions for Sticky Fingers began in earnest in March 1970, The Rolling Stones had recorded at Muscle Shoals Studios in Alabama in December 1969 and "Sister Morphine", cut during Let It Bleed's sessions earlier in March of that year, was held over for this release. Much of the recording for Sticky Fingers was made with The Rolling Stones' mobile studio unit in Stargroves during the summer and autumn of 1970. Early versions of songs that would appear on Exile on Main St. were also rehearsed during these sessions.

The album's artwork emphasizes the suggestive innuendo of the Sticky Fingers title, showing a close-up of a jeans-clad male crotch ; the cover of the original (vinyl) release featured a working zipper and mock belt buckle that opened to reveal cotton briefs.

The vinyl release displayed the band's name and album title along the image of the belt; behind the zipper the white briefs were seemingly rubber stamped in gold with the name of American pop artist Andy Warhol, below which read "THIS PHOTOGRAPH MAY NOT BE—ETC." While the artwork was conceived by Warhol, photography was by Billy Name and design by Craig Braun. The cover photo of a male model's crotch clad in tight blue jeans was assumed by many fans to be an image of Mick Jagger, but the people actually involved at the time of the photo shoot claim that Warhol had several different men photographed (Jagger was not among them) and never revealed which shots he used. Among the candidates, Jed Johnson, Warhol's lover at the time, denied it was his likeness, although his twin brother Jay is a possibility. Those closest to the shoot, and subsequent design, name Factory artist and designer Corey Tippin as the likeliest candidate. Warhol "superstar" Joe Dallesandro claims to have been the model.

After retailers complained that the zipper was causing damage to the vinyl (from stacked shipments of the record), the zipper was "unzipped" slightly to the middle of the record, where damage would be minimized.

The album features the first usage of the band's "tongue & lips" logo, which was originally designed by Ernie Cefalu. Although Ernie's version was used for much of the merchandising and was the design originally shown to the band by Craig Braun, the design used for the album was illustrated by John Pasche.

Side1.

1. "Brown Sugar" 3:48

2. "Sway" 3:50

3. "Wild Horses" 5:42

4. "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" 7:14

5. "You Gotta Move" (Fred McDowell/Gary Davis)

Side2.

"Bitch" 3:38

7. "I Got the Blues" 3:54

8. "Sister Morphine" (Jagger/Richards/Marianne Faithfull) 5:31

9. "Dead Flowers" 4:03

10. "Moonlight Mile"

The Matrix

Side 1 "COC 59100 A3" ("Rolling Stones Records" Hand Etched Earliest For This Pressing)

Side 2 "COC 59100 B3" ("Rolling Stones Records" Hand Etched Earliest For This Pressing)

The Vinyl

The vinyl lays perfectly flat on the turntable and is free of any warping!. On close inspection I can just see very minor/small surface blemishes/scuffs/scratches only and perhapes light whyspy sleeve removal marks. A slight indend note in the vinyl but not effecting the audio on my systems. Note: Some of these marks are caused by the zip cover (Common on these early originals) At least no needle scratches or indeed any marks that would cause any loud nasty contant clicks or pops during the audio!

The Audio Quality

I have played the vinyl throughout at very loud volume on a top system seven times prior to this listing! The first thing to note is that this vinyl has been stored in my collection, laying dormant for over 40 years. The audio is clear and very vibrant throughout with no signs of distortion or that this has been over played at all! Any static or light tics/crackle heard was isolated and only during very quiet places or tracks only, Noted I heard ticks on side 2 only on my systems and during or in very quiet places or in between tracks to mention. Please note: As mentioned above, allowances must be made for these early 70s pressings static/ticks/pops are common, but for the fact that this is the very earliest 1st issued pressing featuring A3 B3 Matrix endings this is one of the most vibrant copies that I have ever heard! Very rare and collectable like this!  

I would grade the audio at least excellent to excellent plus for the most part.

Please note! This vinyl has been im my collection and laying dormant  for more than 40 years! A build up of dirt and dust in the grooves causes static/ticks. A constant clean before each play is recommended! This will reduce any static/ticks and will enhance the audio quality! It is noted that debrit was seen on the playing surface after each play!

Please note! I always make this disclaimer! Please allow for the odd isolated static,crackle/ticks/pop (not) consistant throughout the audio! I  have given my honest opinion, Please remember that this is a genuine 45 year old vinyl (not a reissue) that would have originally been played on a 45 year old system!

The Labels

These are the original 1st issue Rolling Stones Records custom labels. Minimal spider traces noticed on the labels indicating that this has barely ever been played in my opinion. little if no spindle wear the hole is perfectly round!

The cover

This is the original 1st issue 1st UK pressed Zip cover  The zip is fully working and all teeth are in place. There is no splits or tares. The die cut section is fully intact and in lovely condition with minor crease line only in my opinion.  Any other crease lines or storage wear corner bumping, you have to look for them to notice in my opinion, very minor only. (Noted at the top opening edge and corner bumping to mention.)  There are no obvious nasty indents that would be caused from being stored together with other copies of this album on the front. Just very light indents/pit marks at the rear to mention, but again only noticed if looked for angled to the light. Indents are very common on this album. (see photos) No real rubbing or ring wear to mention that is normally very common on these early covers very rare to find like this. In general this cover is strong and straight and way, way above average condition. Slight browning noted at the edges but not really noticed unless looked for in my opinion. I would grade this cover at least better excellent  in my opinion!

Lyric Insert

The original poster picture lyric insert is clean and tidy, This is the correcect and original, never used or put on a wall!

To sum up: A very playable and enjoyable copy, (one of the most vibrant copies that I have heard) This is not mint. Allowances must be made for light interference, ticks,pops, crackle but not consistant throughout the audio. Some light general wear and tear is evident and noted as much as possible in my description. This is listed for its collectability rather than for its condition. Totally complete 1st UK pressing.