Unzipping the Story Behind The Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers Album Cover
The Rolling Stones released their iconic album Sticky Fingers on April 23, 1971, featuring the hit single "Wild Horses." The album cover, photographed by Andy Warhol, gained fame for its provocative close-up shot of a man's crotch wearing jeans with an exposed zipper. The interactive cover featured an actual zipper that could be unzipped to reveal a pair of underwear underneath, signed by Warhol himself. This unique design earned the album a Grammy nomination for best album cover.
Despite its innovative design, the Sticky Fingers album cover faced challenges due to the hardware used. The back of the zippers, which had to be glued down by hand, posed a risk of damaging the record. To address this issue, designer Craig Braun added a third panel and corrugated inserts to protect the vinyl. However, the weight of stacked boxes during transportation caused the back of the zipper handle to damage the Sister Morphine track on side two, leading to concerns about receiving damaged records.
In response to the potential damage caused by the zipper, Braun devised a solution to prevent harm to the vinyl. By shipping the record with the zipper pulled down, the center label of the disc would be dented instead of the actual vinyl, ensuring that the music remained intact. Despite the challenges faced during the production and distribution of the album, Braun's dedication and innovative problem-solving skills helped mitigate the risks associated with the unique design of the Sticky Fingers album cover.