Sticky Fingers cover art

  Studio Album · No. 13

Sticky Fingers Songwriting Credits by The Rolling Stones

1971 Rolling Stones Records 10 tracks 46 min

Produced by Jimmy Miller  ·  Engineered by Glyn Johns, Andy Johns, Chris Kimsey, Jimmy Johnson

Rolling Stones Records Blues RockHard RockCountry RockRock and Roll
90%
Authorship
Artist

Holds writing credit on 9 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 9 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether The Rolling Stones carries a lyricist or composer credit.

90%
9 trackswritten by The Rolling Stones 1 trackoutside writers
The Rolling Stones's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist90%
Composer90%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
5
Lyricists
1
Producers
1
No.1 Single
1971
Released

Awards & Recognition 2

Best Album Cover (1972, Nominated)
Grammy Hall of Fame (1999, Inducted)
Data Insight

Every song is credited to Jagger/Richards except the cover of Mississippi Fred McDowell's gospel-blues 'You Gotta Move,' which the band reworked as a slow slide-guitar piece. 'Brown Sugar' was primarily Jagger's writing, composed during the filming of Ned Kelly, while 'Wild Horses' is an original Jagger/Richards country ballad. Jimmy Miller produced, and the record marks the early studio work of new lead guitarist Mick Taylor, whose melodic lines shape tracks like the extended jam 'Can't You Hear Me Knocking.' It was the first album issued on the band's own Rolling Stones Records and the debut of the tongue-and-lips logo.

Released April 23, 1971, Sticky Fingers was the first album on the band's own Rolling Stones Records label and featured the iconic tongue-and-lips logo. It included 'Brown Sugar,' 'Wild Horses,' and 'Sister Morphine.' Marianne Faithfull shares a writing credit on 'Sister Morphine'; 'You Gotta Move' is a traditional blues credited to Fred McDowell and Rev. Gary Davis.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Brown Sugar #1
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Jimmy Miller Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
2
Sway
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Jimmy Miller Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
3
Wild Horses
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Jimmy Miller Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
4
Can't You Hear Me Knocking
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Jimmy Miller Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
5
You Gotta Move
Mississippi Fred McDowellReverend Gary Davis Frederick McDowellGary Davis Jimmy Miller Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
6
Bitch
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Jimmy Miller Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
7
I Got the Blues
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Jimmy Miller Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
8
Sister Morphine
Mick JaggerKeith RichardsMarianne Faithfull Michael Philip JaggerKeith RichardsMarianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull Jimmy Miller Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
9
Dead Flowers
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Jimmy Miller Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)
10
Moonlight Mile
Mick JaggerKeith Richards Michael Philip JaggerKeith Richards Jimmy Miller Mick Jagger (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 10 contributors

KR
Keith Richards
Writer
On this album9 written
MP
Michael Philip Jagger
Writer
On this album9 written
MJ
Mick Jagger
Writer · Vocals
On this album9 written
FM
Frederick McDowell
Writer
On this album1 written
GD
Gary Davis
Writer
On this album1 written
ME
Marianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull
Writer
On this album1 written
MF
Marianne Faithfull
Writer
On this album1 written
MF
Mississippi Fred McDowell
Writer
On this album1 written
RG
Reverend Gary Davis
Writer
On this album1 written
JM
Jimmy Miller
Producer
On this album10 produced

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Frequently Asked Questions Sticky Fingers

Who wrote the songs on Sticky Fingers?
All original songs on Sticky Fingers are credited to Jagger/Richards, the writing partnership of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The one exception is 'You Gotta Move,' a cover of the gospel-blues song by Mississippi Fred McDowell. 'Brown Sugar' was primarily written by Jagger during the filming of the movie Ned Kelly in 1969.
What single from Sticky Fingers topped the charts?
'Brown Sugar' reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. It was released as the album's lead single backed with 'Bitch.' The album itself also hit number one in both the US and UK.
Is Wild Horses on Sticky Fingers?
Yes, 'Wild Horses' appears on Sticky Fingers and was released as the album's second single. The country-tinged ballad was written by Jagger and Richards. It has since become one of the band's most covered songs.
Who produced Sticky Fingers?
Jimmy Miller produced Sticky Fingers, continuing his run as the band's producer through the early 1970s. Engineering credits include Glyn Johns, Andy Johns, and Chris Kimsey. The album was the first released on the band's own label, Rolling Stones Records.
What is the story behind the Sticky Fingers album cover?
The cover was conceived and photographed under Andy Warhol's direction, depicting a tight close-up of a jeans-clad crotch. The original vinyl LP featured a real working zipper that opened to reveal cotton briefs underneath. It introduced the band's now-famous tongue-and-lips logo on the inner sleeve.
Is You Gotta Move a Rolling Stones original?
No, 'You Gotta Move' is a cover of a gospel-blues song associated with Mississippi Fred McDowell, and is credited to Fred McDowell and Rev. Gary Davis. The Rolling Stones reworked it as a slow slide-guitar number. It is the only non-original on Sticky Fingers.
How successful was Sticky Fingers?
Sticky Fingers reached number one on both the US Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart. In the US it has been certified 3x Platinum by the RIAA. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

Sources

Wikipedia: Sticky Fingers Wikipedia: Brown Sugar (The Rolling Stones song) MusicBrainz release group Cover Art Archive front cover Cover Art Archive: Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones