Do You Hear Knocking? (1971)

Still recovering from the turbulent events at the Altamont Speedway in late-1969, The Rolling Stones would shortly after release their next album. Said by many to be the Stones' best album, Sticky Fingers was released in April 1971. While I do enjoy the album greatly, I do not believe that it was their best one. The album also features a new guitarist in the line-up, Mick Taylor, following the death of Brian Jones. The LP features a handful of well-written and interesting songs that I'm sure every rock 'n' roll fan has heard. Included on the album is "Brown Sugar," "Wild Horses," and "Can't You Hear Me Knocking."

Defined by a twangy-style with an iconic guitar strumming pattern and various horn instruments interlaced throughout, "Brown Sugar" would become one of the band's most popular songs. Despite the rising popularity following its release, the track's lyrics are heavily associated with controversy. A variety of taboo topics can be heard including rape, slavery, and interracial sex; hence the lyrics "Gold Coast slave ship bound for cotton fields—sold in the market down in New Orleans."

Similar to other bands during the 1960s-70s, The Rolling Stones were heavily influenced by blues artists in America—especially Muddy Waters. "Sway," the second track on the album, is the first bluesy song featured throughout. As I previously mentioned how I am not a fan of the blues, I enjoy this song specifically due to Mick Taylor's unique bottleneck slide guitar solo. If only I knew how to properly use a slide while playing guitar myself!

The popular ballad, and probably my favorite slow-song written by the Stones, "Wild Horses," features a beautiful acoustic track accompanied by appropriate harmonics. As Mick Taylor had a unique perspective on how he viewed guitar playing, the top four strings of his guitar are tuned an octave higher. I always wondered what tuning his guitar was in because I could never replicate it.

Transitioning from slow to upbeat, the Stones feature another twangy song titled "Can't You Hear Me Knocking." Every part of this seven minute long masterpiece is perfect. Keith Richards' signature tuning, open-G, is featured in the intro of the song. A quarter of the way in, the song changes to an exciting instrumental featuring congas, and the well-known saxophonist Bobby Keys soloing over Richards' and Taylor's guitar work. Roughly two minutes after the start of the instrumental, Taylor yet again shines by picking up a solo that takes place till the end of the song.

I mainly enjoy listening to this album because of Keith Richards' and Mick Taylor's combined guitar-work. The duo's playing intertwines perfectly on almost every song, and was a significant piece to the production of Sticky Fingers. I find it very unfortunate that Taylor left the band a few years after the album was released. However, Keith would yet again find a compatible guitar partner in 1975.

Sticky Fingers is concluded by "Dead Flowers and "Moonlight Mile." While "Dead Flowers" references dark lyrics similar to "Brown Sugar," I believe the song was the right choice to include at the end of the album. I love the "honky-tonk" guitar work played by both Richards and Taylor. However, I do think "Dead Flowers" and "Moonlight Mile" could have switched spots to make the end of the album a better listening experience.

While I can see how music fans may classify Sticky Fingers as one of the Stones' best records, I think there are better. I do very much enjoy the twangy-style songs and the excellent guitar work by the Richards-Taylor duo, however, I do feel there could have been a better variety of songs. Including more knitty-gritty rock that the Stones were associated with in the past could have been an option. Overall, for anyone interested in listening to a great rock 'n' roll album with a unique style of songs, along with ear-catching guitar work, Sticky Fingers is a good one.

The Stones' in an advertisement for Sticky Fingers