Pre-order the Sticky Fingers reissue from our store here.
Sticky Fingers was over 500 days in the making; from when recording began to when it was originally released in April 1971 – anticipation from fans was intense. The anticipation had been heightened by a UK tour in March, the filming of a show at London’s legendary Marquee Club and by the fact that The Rolling Stones had announced that they were going to live in France.
Upon its release the album was greeted with delight by fans and critics alike. As Rolling Stone magazine said, “It is the latest beautiful chapter in the continuing story of the greatest rock group in the world,” The reissue of Sticky Fingers has been over 16,000 days in the making, but has it been worth the wait?
The original Sticky Fingers is a perfect record. Great music, an album cover that’s iconic and the story around its making that has added to its appeal. Many classic Stones’ records were recorded in America, at both RCA’s studio in Hollywood and at Chess Records in Chicago, but for Sticky Fingers the band chose a far less glamorous studio, one in the Southern States that only those in the musical-know had heard of – Muscle Shoals Sound in Sheffield, Alabama.
Having finished their tour of the US in December 1969 the Stones flew to Muscle Shoals where they recorded three songs that are at the very heart of the album – ‘Brown Sugar’, ‘Wild Horses’ and ‘You Gotta Move’. As Keith later said, “I thought it was one of the easiest and rockingest sessions that we’d ever done. I don’t think we’ve been quite so prolific…ever.” The band then flew from Muscle Shoals to San Francisco on 5 December, and 24 hours later they played their infamous free concert at Altamont.
Over the course of the next year the band worked on more recordings at London’s Olympic Studios and at Mick’s country house, Stargroves using the Stones Mobile, to capture the remainder of the tracks that make up the album.
But 1970 was not all about recording, far from it. There was a European tour and behind the scenes there was much changing. The Stones had decided to leave Decca Records at the end of their contract period and to start their own label that was to be funded by another record company; after much negotiation the band decided to go with Ahmet Ertegun and Atlantic Records.
Forming their own label meant coming up with a name and an identity – the name was simple, Rolling Stones Records, but the identity and the logo took a little longer. As we now all know it was the famous ‘tongue and lips’ that became that identity and has since become the most recognisable band logo in the world, as well as one of the most well known brands.
Given some of the issues that the band had faced with earlier record covers they were determined to have an album that looked they way they wanted and so Mick and Charlie set about working with Andy Warhol to come up with a concept that the band loved. The album with its fully working zip on the original release is now one of the best-known covers in the world; at the time the New Musical Express was prompted to write, “Fame has spread from Mick Jagger’s lips to his zips.” It was all part of the single mindedness with which the Stones went about getting this record, just right.
By the time mixing was completed in early 1971 the band had two things on their collective minds. A short tour of the UK and a move to France, a tour to say farewell and a move necessitated by financial mismanagement over a long period that would have bankrupted the band had they stayed in Britain.
And so it was that on 16 April 1971 ‘Brown Sugar’ came out in the UK and a week later Sticky Fingers was released around the world. 44 years later, on 26 May 2015 in North America, and a day earlier in the rest of the world, Sticky Fingers is to be reissued in a variety of formats.
Of course there is the original album on both CD, vinyl and as a download but there are a number of other releases that will include previously unavailable material contained within the Deluxe and Super Deluxe formats. These include the alternative version of ‘Brown Sugar’ featuring Eric Clapton along with unreleased interpretations of ‘Bitch,’ ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking’ and ‘Dead Flowers’, and an acoustic take on the anthemic ‘Wild Horses.’
The Super Deluxe edition will include, ‘Get Your Leeds Lungs Out,’ the 13-track audio recording of the Stones’ gig in Leeds in March 1971. There’s also two numbers from the band’s Marquee Club show of 26 March, 1971 on DVD. The Super Deluxe Edition includes a beautiful 120 page hardback book complete with real zip, featuring new liner notes and many rare and unseen photographs from the era plus a print, postcard set and more.
Worth the wait…we think so!
STICKY FINGERS PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS & TRACK LISTINGS
Original CD
Remastered album with 12 page booklet.
Track listing
1. Brown Sugar
2. Sway
3. Wild Horses
4. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
5. You Gotta Move
6. Bitch
7. I Got The Blues
8. Sister Morphine
9. Dead Flowers
10. Moonlight Mile
Original LP
Remastered album on black heavyweight vinyl plus 12×12 insert.
Track listing
Side A
1. Brown Sugar
2. Sway
3. Wild Horses
4. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
5. You Gotta Move
Side B
1. Bitch
2. I Got The Blues
3. Sister Morphine
4. Dead Flowers
5. Moonlight Mile
Deluxe 2CD
Remastered album plus bonus CD featuring previously unreleased alternate takes and live performances with 24 page booklet.
Track listing
CD1:
1. Brown Sugar
2. Sway
3. Wild Horses
4. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
5. You Gotta Move
6. Bitch
7. I Got The Blues
8. Sister Morphine
9. Dead Flowers
10. Moonlight Mile
CD2:
1. Brown Sugar (Alternate Version with Eric Clapton)
2. Wild Horses (Acoustic Version)
3. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking (Alternate Version)
4. Bitch (Extended Version)
5. Dead Flowers (Alternate Version)
6. Live With Me (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
7. Stray Cat Blues (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
8. Love In Vain (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
9. Midnight Rambler (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
10. Honky Tonk Women (Live The Roundhouse, 1971)
Deluxe Edition Boxset
Remastered album, bonus CD featuring previously unreleased alternate takes and live performances plus DVD with 2 tracks from ‘Live At The Marquee’.
All housed in a presentation box with 72 page hardback picture book and 4 postcard set.
Track listing
CD1:
1. Brown Sugar
2. Sway
3. Wild Horses
4. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
5. You Gotta Move
6. Bitch
7. I Got The Blues
8. Sister Morphine
9. Dead Flowers
10. Moonlight Mile
CD2:
1. Brown Sugar (Alternate Version with Eric Clapton)
2. Wild Horses (Acoustic Version)
3. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking (Alternate Version)
4. Bitch (Extended Version)
5. Dead Flowers (Alternate Version)
6. Live With Me (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
7. Stray Cat Blues (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
8. Love In Vain (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
9. Midnight Rambler (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
10. Honky Tonk Women (Live The Roundhouse, 1971)
DVD:
Live At The Marquee, 1971
1. Midnight Rambler
2. Bitch
Super Deluxe Edition Boxset
Remastered album and bonus CD featuring previously unreleased alternate takes and live performances.
Plus ‘Get Yer Leeds Lungs Out’ CD, a DVD featuring 2 tracks from ‘Live At The Marquee’ and 7” vinyl with Brown Sugar and Wild Horses.
All housed in a presentation box with hardback book complete with real zip.
Plus print, poster, 4 postcard set and mini replica of band cut out.
The carefully put together 120 page limited edition book recounts the making of this classic Stones album with an extensive essay by Nick Kent, embellished with previously unpublished images of the band and lavishly illustrated with metallic gold ink throughout.
Track listing
CD1:
1. Brown Sugar
2. Sway
3. Wild Horses
4. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
5. You Gotta Move
6. Bitch
7. I Got The Blues
8. Sister Morphine
9. Dead Flowers
10. Moonlight Mile
CD2:
1. Brown Sugar (Alternate Version with Eric Clapton)
2. Wild Horses (Acoustic Version)
3. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking (Alternate Version)
4. Bitch (Extended Version)
5. Dead Flowers (Alternate Version)
6. Live With Me (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
7. Stray Cat Blues (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
8. Love In Vain (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
9. Midnight Rambler (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
10. Honky Tonk Women (Live The Roundhouse, 1971)
CD3:
Get Yer Leeds Lungs Out
1. Jumpin Jack Flash (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
2. Live With Me (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
3. Dead Flowers (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
4. Stray Cat Blues (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
5. Love In Vain (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
6. Midnight Rambler (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
7. Bitch (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
8. Honky Tonk Women (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
9. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
10. Little Queenie (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
11. Brown Sugar (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
12. Street Fighting Man (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
13. Let It Rock (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
DVD:
Live At The Marquee, 1971
1. Midnight Rambler
2. Bitch
Deluxe Double LP Set
Remastered album and bonus tracks featuring previously unreleased alternate takes and live performances on two black heavyweight vinyls’.
Housed in an outer wallet with real zip.
LP1 – Side A
1. Brown Sugar
2. Sway
3. Wild Horses
4. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
5. You Gotta Move
LP1 – Side B
1. Bitch
2. I Got The Blues
3. Sister Morphine
4. Dead Flowers
5. Moonlight Mile
LP2 – Side A
1. Brown Sugar (Alternate Version with Eric Clapton)
2. Wild Horses (Acoustic Version)
3. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking (Alternate Version)
4. Bitch (Extended Version)
5. Dead Flowers (Alternate Version)
LP2 – Side B
1. Live With Me (Live At The Roundhouse , 1971)
2. Stray Cat Blues (Live At The Roundhouse , 1971)
3. Love In Vain (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
4. Honky Tonk Women (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
Deluxe Double LP Set – Limited Edition Spanish Cover (e-commerce only)
Remastered album and bonus tracks featuring previously unreleased alternate takes and live performances on two black heavyweight vinyls.
Housed in an outer wallet with Spanish cover.
LP1 – Side A
1. Brown Sugar
2. Sway
3. Wild Horses
4. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
5. You Gotta Move
LP1 – Side B
1. Bitch
2. I Got The Blues
3. Sister Morphine
4. Dead Flowers
5. Moonlight Mile
LP2 – Side A
1. Brown Sugar (Alternate Version with Eric Clapton)
2. Wild Horses (Acoustic Version)
3. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking (Alternate Version)
4. Bitch (Extended Version)
5. Dead Flowers (Alternate Version)
LP2 – Side B
1. Live With Me (Live At The Roundhouse , 1971)
2. Stray Cat Blues (Live At The Roundhouse , 1971)
3. Love In Vain (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
4. Honky Tonk Women (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
Standard Download
Remastered album.
Track listing
1. Brown Sugar
2. Sway
3. Wild Horses
4. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
5. You Gotta Move
6. Bitch
7. I Got The Blues
8. Sister Morphine
9. Dead Flowers
10. Moonlight Mile
Deluxe Download
Remastered album plus bonus tracks featuring previously unreleased alternate takes and live performances.
1. Brown Sugar
2. Sway
3. Wild Horses
4. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
5. You Gotta Move
6. Bitch
7. I Got The Blues
8. Sister Morphine
9. Dead Flowers
10. Moonlight Mile
11. Brown Sugar (Alternate Version with Eric Clapton)
12. Wild Horses (Acoustic Version)
13. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking (Alternate Version)
14. Bitch (Extended Version)
15. Dead Flowers (Alternate Version)
16. Live With Me (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
17. Stray Cat Blues (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
18. Love In Vain (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
19. Midnight Rambler (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
20. Honky Tonk Women (Live The Roundhouse, 1971)
Super Deluxe Download
Remastered album, bonus tracks featuring previously unreleased alternate takes and live performances, plus ‘Get Yer Leeds Lungs Out’ live tracks.
1. Brown Sugar
2. Sway
3. Wild Horses
4. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
5. You Gotta Move
6. Bitch
7. I Got The Blues
8. Sister Morphine
9. Dead Flowers
10. Moonlight Mile
11. Brown Sugar (Alternate Version with Eric Clapton)
12. Wild Horses (Acoustic Version)
13. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking (Alternate Version)
14. Bitch (Extended Version)
15. Dead Flowers (Alternate Version)
16. Live With Me (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
17. Stray Cat Blues (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
18. Love In Vain (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
19. Midnight Rambler (Live At The Roundhouse, 1971)
20. Honky Tonk Women (Live The Roundhouse, 1971)
21. Jumpin Jack Flash (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
22. Live With Me (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
23. Dead Flowers (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
24. Stray Cat Blues (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
25. Love In Vain (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
26. Midnight Rambler (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
27. Bitch (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
28. Honky Tonk Women (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
29. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
30. Little Queenie (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
31. Brown Sugar (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
32. Street Fighting Man (Live At Leeds University , 1971)
33. Let It Rock (Live At Leeds University , 1971)