Can of Fingers: A Post About a Rolling Stones Album

On April 23, 1971 the iconic art work done by Andy Warhol emerged into the world as a part of Sticky Fingers by the Rolling Stones. The album art shows a up close and personal shot of a man's zipper area of his pants. There is even a functional zipper and a belt cut out that shows the tighty whities of the man who is on the cover of this Rolling Stones album. There is an alternative album art that was released in Spain, which had a can of fingers, because the original album art was censored. Sticky Fingers is the ninth UK album and the eleventh US album that the Rolling Stones released. However, this album was the first album that was released under their newly formed record label titled Rolling Stones Records. Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Keith Richards (Guitar, Vocals), Mick Taylor (Guitar), Bill Wyman (Bass Guitar), and Charlie Watts (Drums) are the members of the Rollings Stones that appear on Sticky Fingers.

Sticky Fingers is also the first full appearance on a Rolling Stones album by guitarist, Mick Taylor. Taylor took the place of the late Brian Jones in 1969, and he would stay with the band until 1974. In these five years Mick Taylor toured with the band, and also recorded more albums with the band like Exile On Main St where he was credited with co-writer of the song "Ventilator Blues". 

Considered one of the BEST Rolling Stones album they have ever released, Sticky Fingers, was granted triple platinum certification in the United States. It includes songs like "Brown Sugar", "Wild Horses", "Can't You Hear Me Knocking", and my personal favorite off the album "Moonlight Mile". 

It was late at night and Mick Jagger and Mick Taylor were together with their guitars and that is when "Moonlight Mile" was write. Jagger plays the lead acoustic guitar rift in the song, and Taylor supports that with a reworked guitar piece that was perviously written by Keith Richards ("Japanese Thing"). Taylor also suggested that there be strings added into that songs that is played by Paul Buckmaster. Also, the Rolling Stones usual trumpeter plays piano on "Moonlight Mile", Jim Price. Mick Jagger thought it was easier to write this song with Mick Taylor (Keith Richards was not present). However, when it was time to put it onto Sticky Fingers Taylor was not credited as a co-writer of this song that he said he was promised too. Even though people say this song is about drugs and the rock n roll life Mick Jagger recalls it meaning something different. Jagger said the inspiration for this song was his loneliness, being out on tour, and elation of returning home while the Rolling Stones were on a European Tour in the summer of 1970. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger consider "Moonlight Mile" as one of the most under appreciated of all the Rolling Stone songs. 

Sticky Fingers was reissue on June 9, 2015 with the original track list and unheard/rare songs. The album art is still of the one that Andy Warhol designed for the original in 1970. The reissue coincides with the Rolling Stones North American tour, Zip Code Tour. It also includes reworks of songs that were on the original track list and a couple of live songs by the Rolling Stones. The reissue vinyl format still includes a functional zipper on the cover.

Track Listing of Sticky Fingers (original issue)  

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

*All pictures were taken from The Rolling Stones' Facebook Page.*

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