When The Rolling Stones dropped Sticky Fingers in April 1971, they were entering a brand new era. It was the first record released on their very own imprint - complete with the debut of that legendary tongue-and-lips logo - and their first proper studio album fully featuring guitarist Mick Taylor. Coming right after the chaotic end of the sixties, this was the band cementing their legendary status and showing everyone exactly how a mature, self-assured rock band could rule the new decade.

The vibe of this record is famously greasy, loose, and brilliantly atmospheric. It trading the frantic energy of their earlier psych-pop experiments for a deeper, more soulful plunge into American roots music. It is a spectacular cocktail of acoustic textures, country-fried acoustic guitars, and thick, bluesy horn sections, all pinned down by Mick Taylor's incredibly fluid, melodic lead playing. The production feels completely intimate yet massive at the same time, perfectly capturing the gritty essence of seventies rock.

What makes the album such a joy to return to is the sheer variety on display. You get the iconic, immediate swagger of Brown sugar and the horn-drenched punch of Bitch, but it is balanced beautifully by some of their finest slow-burners. The acoustic ache of Wild horses shows a rare, vulnerable side to the band, while the sprawling, seven-minute jam Can't you hear me knocking features an extended jazz-rock instrumental outro that absolutely elevates the record. It is this incredible range - from country ballads to hard rock - that keeps the replay value so incredibly high.