The Rolling Stones

Sticky Fingers

First released1971

Sticky Fingers was recorded between March and July 1970 at various locations including the Rolling Stones' mobile studio, Olympic Studios in London, and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama. The album was produced by the Stones themselves along with Jimmy Miller, who became a key collaborator on their 1970s output. The iconic guitar riff for "Brown Sugar" was recorded at Muscle Shoals, where the band worked with session musicians to capture a raw, blues-influenced sound that marked a return to their roots after the experimental Satanic Majesties period. Notable technical choices included the use of multitrack recording to layer instruments and vocals, contributing to the album's fuller, more cohesive production compared to earlier work. Released in April 1971, Sticky Fingers represented the Stones at a creative peak during a period when they were reasserting their dominance in rock and roll.