Rolling Stones ‘Sticky Fingers’ Album: Which Song Is The Best? [POLL]

Looks like we may have a sticky situation here.

The Rolling Stones released their classic album ‘Sticky Fingers’ on this month back in 1971. Recorded during a period when the band was an unstoppable creative force in rock ‘n’ roll, it remains one of the all-time great Stones albums.

In recognition of the album’s release, the band recently revealed they will re-issue ‘Sticky Fingers’ on May 26th. The band is also considering playing the entire album in full during upcoming tour dates. We’ll keep our “fingers” crossed on that one.

The album is highlighted by one of their all-time greatest singles “Brown Sugar”. Released on April 16th of ’71, it remains a must on every set list the Stones roll out. The band followed with their second single that summer, the country ballad “Wild Horses”. It’s a song that sounds just as good today as it did in the summer breeze days of ’71.

Of course, you can’t call an album classic based on singles alone. The rest of 'Sticky Fingers' is pure Stones perfection with the tracks “Sway”, “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking, “You Gotta Move”, “Bitch”, “I Got The Blues”, “Sister Morphine”, “Dead Flowers” and “Moonlight Mile”.

The question I pose to you: Which track off of 'Sticky Fingers' is the best of them all?

This is not easy. For me it comes down to two tracks: “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” and “Moonlight Mile”.

The opening riff on “Knocking” is Keith Richards at his best. The classic Keith open-G tuned intro. It’s an instant adrenaline rush. The groove kicks in with Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman in perfect harmony and ends with Bobby Keys adding just the right touch with his Sax solo. Then, of course, there’s Mick Jagger. “Yeah you got satin shoes!” Mick starts in with aggression and never lets up on the vocals.

“Moonlight Mile” may be the most underrated Stones ballad of them all. I was recently driving in my car listening to my Stones songs. It was early evening, the sun was just going down and this track came up. It was one of those blissful moments when time seemed to stop. An absolutely beautiful Stones song.

This is a great example of how much Mick Tayler meant to The Stones. The result of an all-night session between Jagger and Taylor, “Moonlight Mile” was taken from a short guitar piece by Richards called “Japanese Thing” and reworked by Taylor for the session. Add Paul Buckmaster’s pretty string arrangement and you have just the right setting for Mick Jagger's lyrics. And what lyrics they are: “The sound of strangers sending nothing to my mind; Just another mad day on the road; I am just living to be lying by your side, But I’m just about a moonlight mile down the road.”

I can’t pick two favorite songs. That just would be copping out so I will have to put my “finger” on just one track. At the end of the day I always have to go for the song that will get me fired up and not mellowed out so I will pick “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking”.

Now it’s your turn!

You can listen to Eric Senich live on Saturdays from 10am to 3pm on 95.1 FM. You can also listen online by clicking here or by downloading the radioPup app for your mobile device.