(Album ©1971, Rolling Stones Records)
This was the Stones’ first album of the 70’s,
their first on their own label, and was the third in what has to be considered one of if not THE most impressive four-album run of any band in rock history, from ’68’s Beggar’s Banquet through ’69’s Let It Bleed, this one, and ’72’s Exile on Main St. I love all four of those records, but this makes this list because the album cover is so iconic.
Conceived of by Andy Warhol, with a photo by Billy Name, the original pressings of the album had a working zipper thanks to cover designer Craig Braun. Apparently, the zipper damaged a number of the albums inside, and so subsequent pressings were simply the image without a working zipper. Also, it must have been really expensive to manufacture that album cover.
The inside was an image of a man in white briefs, with Warhol’s signature and a Stones tongue logo in opposite corners. The raunchy feel of the cover matched the vibe of the album itself – the record itself is packed with great songs like “Brown Sugar,” “Wild Horses,” “Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’,” “Bitch,” “Sister Morphine,” and “Dead Flowers.” It hit #1 in both the US and UK, and sold 4 million copies worldwide. Interesting note: this is NOT a photo of Mick Jagger, as was often rumored. I’m sure he was happy to allow that rumor to persist, though, as there’s no ignoring that bulge. Jesus.
