Warhol’s zipper. Not Mick’s junk.

Warhol’s zipper. Not Mick’s junk.

Original Sticky Fingers vinyl with zipper

The Rolling Stones are giving Sticky Fingers a deluxe reissue treatment. It’ll be interesting to see if the hype around the new package and the accompanying tour will have any effect on demand of the original Sticky Fingers vinyl with zipper collectibles. It’s always been a sweet item, but there has also always been a lot of them out there. Kinda wish I kept mine in better condition. Sadly my version looks like the jeans I wore in ’71.

Complete with working zipper and cotton briefs, the original art work conceived by Andy Warhol is one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most famous album covers. It was the first album the Stones produced under their own Rolling Stones Records label giving them full control. It was also the first album to have the lips appear on it. The initial distribution left some record store owners less than thrilled as the zippers would damage the vinyl if they were stacked a certain way. Upon its release it was also believed that it was Mick’s genitalia packed inside those jeans, but that has long been dispelled. Penis rumours aside, it’s a great piece of rock ‘n’ roll, album art, Rolling Stones and Andy Warhol memorabilia. And, oh yeah, the tunes are kick ass.

Released in 1971, the album is 44 years old. Not exactly the roundest number to commemorate a piece, but when you’re the age of the Stones you’re not going to wait around for the fiftieth or even, apparently,  the 45th. That said, it’s one of the boys’ best by far. Sticky Fingers was at the tail end of the Stones most prolific period. In the span of 5 years, they released Beggars Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St. And you can throw in the live Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out featuring a Midnight Rambler better than the studio cut.

As we said, there are a lot of original Sticky Fingers vinyl with zippers out there. We found a bunch on Discogs.com ranging from $7 to $150.00. Discog.com has one of the deepest vinyl catalogues on the web and, Sticky Fingers or not, it is definitely worth your time.

To learn more about this and other Stones reissues click rollingstones.com