There's nothing really negative about this album. Not sure why OP feels compelled to call out an album that's universally considered one of the Stones' greatest. However, I must say that the sound is rather mid-rangey; and that there's too many mid-tempo songs sequenced together. But these songs are among their very best, so it's more a 'vibe' album to me. Personally, it's not in my top 5 Stones albums, but it's a classic LP.
Far as sound concerning their seventies albums, I always found SF a very mixed bag. But this is a huge part of the charm of The Stones albums from this period. But far as the album in general, I’ve had it tied with Bleed as my favorite for many a decade now. In fact, I’ve grown to love SF more than ever, even liking the one song I once considered a dud, I Got The Blues which I always considered it’s’ one filler track.
As I just said in my previous post, I’ve grown to appreciate IGTB more and more over time. The organ solo is killer but it sounds better on some pressings than others. On some it’s so bright it slices like a razor through the speakers. But that’s besides the point; the song has definitely grown on me.
I have to agree about it being their best sounding album. I played my original copy from mid '70s last night. It looks kind of rough and only saved it since it was pressed at Monarch. That was a good choice as it still sounds amazing, albeit with a little surface noise. After that I have now adjusted my ideas and think it is better than Exile. I don't think there is a tighter Stones album.
I apologize for the redundancy, but I'm going to simply paste what I said on the Beggars Banquet thread: Sticky Fingers was my favorite from the first time I heard the complete Stones catalog across 1981-1982. Solidly.... no question. Not just my favorite Stones album, but an all time top 10 regardless of style, genre, or era. Now in my late 50s, my tastes in classic rock are quite firmly settled after these decades of things solidifying. Or are they? Fairly suddenly in recent months, I've suddenly developed a diminished appreciation for Sticky Fingers. Still great, but not quite that great. Quite surprising. Sure, I've "outgrown" or moved on from beloved albums before, but much earlier on, not a full 4+ decades after falling in love. That said, it's not BB that has supplanted it as my fave Stones spin, but rather Exile. BB has always sat somewhere in the 4th to 6th range in the catalog, currently at the top of that range behind the usual suspects: Exile. Sticky, and LIB. It seems you and I are pretty much on the same page overall regarding this album.... it just took me longer to get there.
I think this explains the OPs current take. Stones are my favorite band and SF is one of their best. After years of curating, I have 1st MO and PR USA pressings, Canada 1st, UK 1st, and the 1997 LPCent38 reissue. All in great condition. But I've heard this music so many times, over so many years that today, whole years go by when I don't spin any of these even once. As an old fart not particularly attentive to music trends, I just now figured out that freakin Yo La Tengo is a great band that's been around since the 90s. So I started into listening to their extensive catalog for the 1st time. Might be awhile before I put on Sticky Fingers again, as unquestionably great as it is. Too much other music to listen to!
I don’t think Sticky Fingers everybody’s collective favourite as you suggest. I think that Exile...is that. Probably worth polling, though.
Sticky Fingers is the quintessential Stones album. I've always felt like it tells a story of infidelity / breakup but never takes itself too seriously; it's a cartoonish take on sex & drugs & rock & roll. It's almost perfectly sequenced as well, never overstaying it's welcome with an onslaught of piano / horns / harmonica / backing singers like another popular album with childish scatological humor ...
It’s 0ne of their slickest combining elements of what came before. I do think it’s a better album than Exile which has too much filler IMHO. In terms of where it stands with what came before, I’ve always thought Let It Bleed was a better overall album.
Not mine. It’s a great album but it’s got too much filler. It’s a great album to be sure but sometimes shorter is better. there is a poll. Q: What is your favorite album by the Rolling Stones?
Nah, still my favorite Stones album by far. I love all the ballads and the overall vibe. It really doesn't get any better for me Stones wise.
For me Brown Sugar, Bitch, Can't You Hear Me Knocking, Sister Morphine, and Moonlight Mile are the only truly great songs on here. Sway and I Got the Blues are some of the Stones worst ever songs, and Wild Horses, You Gotta Move and Dead Flowers aren't bad but aren't the best either. Still a half great half so-so Stones album is still not bad at all.
To me Sticky Fingers and Exile On Main St. are like one (goats head) soup, and I mean it positively. Both great and flawless albums IMO.
It’s pretty flawless to me. A perfect rock album, front-to-back great. If Exile… is the best Keith album, this is the best Mick album. Covers hard rock, blues, soul, country seamlessly across ten stunning - and completely varied - classic songs, and does so entirely authentically: the Stones really inhabit these tracks. This was comfortably their most mature work to date, Taylor adds new levels and layers of guitar beauty to complete an already swaggeringly confident rock band that has truly mastered its form. Sure - it’s not for everyone, despite that.
Loved the album, it was one of my top 5 favorites, but just played it way too many times and burnt out on it long ago. Sticky Fingers is a fantastic album!