Part Five: The Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band in the World (1971–1974) | Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main St., The Tongue Logo and Rock Immortality
A New Decade, A New Beginning
As the 1970s began, The Rolling Stones stood at the peak of their powers.
They had survived the loss of Brian Jones, weathered the controversy surrounding Altamont, and released a succession of critically acclaimed albums. Yet the band refused to stand still. Instead, they embarked on one of the most extraordinary creative runs in the history of popular music.
Between 1971 and 1974, The Rolling Stones produced a remarkable series of albums, launched their own record label, unveiled one of the world's most recognisable logos and became the highest-grossing live act on the planet.
For many fans, this was the era when they truly earned the title:
"The World's Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band."
Rolling Stones Records: Taking Control
One of the band's most significant decisions came in 1971 when they left Decca Records after nearly a decade.
Determined to gain greater artistic and financial control over their music, they established their own label:
Rolling Stones Records
The label's first release would become one of the greatest albums ever made.
The Birth of the Tongue and Lips Logo
Few images in music history are as instantly recognisable as the Rolling Stones' Tongue and Lips logo.
Contrary to popular belief, it was not designed by Andy Warhol.
The logo was created in 1970 by John Pasche, then a student at the Royal College of Art in London. Mick Jagger commissioned the design after seeing Pasche's portfolio.
Jagger asked for a logo that symbolised rebellion, confidence and youthful energy while avoiding traditional record-company imagery.
Pasche drew inspiration partly from the image of the Hindu goddess Kali, particularly her protruding tongue, but his primary intention was to capture Jagger's unmistakable lips and expressive stage presence.
The logo first appeared on Sticky Fingers in 1971 and quickly became one of the most successful pieces of branding in entertainment history.
More than fifty years later, it remains a global symbol of rock 'n' roll.
Sticky Fingers (1971): A Masterpiece
Released in April 1971, Sticky Fingers marked the beginning of a golden age.
Featuring the famous working zip designed by Andy Warhol for the original LP sleeve, the album combined blues, country, gospel, soul and hard rock into one of the defining records of the era.
Classic songs include:
Brown Sugar
Wild Horses
Can't You Hear Me Knocking
Dead Flowers
Bitch
Moonlight Mile
Sister Morphine
The album reached Number One in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
Many critics still regard it as one of the finest rock albums ever recorded.
Mick Taylor Comes Into His Own
Although only in his early twenties, Mick Taylor blossomed during the Sticky Fingers sessions.
His fluid blues solos brought a new sophistication to the band's sound.
Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than on Can't You Hear Me Knocking, where Taylor's extraordinary extended solo transforms the song into a thrilling fusion of blues, jazz and Latin-inspired improvisation.
Many guitarists consider his work during this period among the finest ever recorded by The Rolling Stones.
Britain Becomes Too Expensive
Despite worldwide success, Britain presented the band with an unexpected problem.
Heavy taxation meant that many of the country's highest earners faced income tax rates exceeding 80%.
To avoid crippling financial losses, The Rolling Stones relocated to the south of France in 1971.
The move earned them the label of "tax exiles," although many musicians of the period made similar decisions.
This relocation unexpectedly led to one of the greatest albums in rock history.
Villa Nellcôte: The Most Famous Basement in Rock
Keith Richards rented an elegant villa called Nellcôte on the French Riviera near Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Using the band's mobile recording studio—housed in a specially equipped lorry—The Rolling Stones transformed the villa's hot, humid basement into an improvised recording studio.
Conditions were far from ideal.
The basement was cramped, cables ran through every room, equipment regularly malfunctioned and musicians came and went at all hours.
Yet somehow, amidst the chaos, musical magic emerged.
Exile on Main St. (1972): Rock's Ultimate Double Album
Released in May 1972, Exile on Main St. is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums ever made.
Initially, some critics found its loose, gritty production confusing.
Over time, however, its reputation has grown enormously.
Today, many publications rank it among the greatest albums in popular music.
Rather than pursuing polished perfection, Exile captured the spontaneous energy of musicians playing together.
Its influences included:
Blues
Gospel
Country
Rhythm & Blues
Rock and Roll
Soul
Highlights include:
Rocks Off
Tumbling Dice
Sweet Virginia
Happy
Rip This Joint
Loving Cup
Shine a Light
All Down the Line
Keith Richards later described the album as "the sound of a band living together."
Many fans would agree.
The Rolling Stones Mobile Studio
One of the secret weapons behind Exile on Main St. was the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio.
Rather than recording exclusively in conventional studios, the band used a state-of-the-art mobile recording truck capable of producing professional-quality recordings almost anywhere.
The mobile studio later became famous for recording:
Led Zeppelin
Deep Purple
Fleetwood Mac
Bob Marley
Status Quo
Iron Maiden
It also captured one of rock's most famous live albums:
Made in Japan by Deep Purple.
Its influence on music recording cannot be overstated.
The 1972 American Tour
Following the release of Exile on Main St., The Rolling Stones embarked on a spectacular North American tour.
The concerts became legendary.
Mick Jagger had evolved into perhaps the greatest frontman in rock history, effortlessly commanding enormous stadium audiences with boundless energy and charisma.
Keith Richards and Mick Taylor formed one of rock's greatest twin-guitar partnerships, while Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman remained the band's rock-solid rhythmic foundation.
The tour cemented their reputation as the world's premier live rock act.
Goats Head Soup (1973)
Recorded partly in Jamaica, Goats Head Soup demonstrated yet another side of the band.
Although initially receiving mixed reviews, its reputation has grown considerably.
The album's greatest success was undoubtedly:
Angie
The beautiful acoustic ballad became one of the band's biggest worldwide hits and remains among their most loved songs.
Other highlights include:
Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)
Star Star
Silver Train
The End of an Era Begins
Despite enormous success, tensions were beginning to emerge once again.
Mick Taylor contributed increasingly sophisticated guitar work and even helped shape aspects of the band's arrangements. However, he became frustrated that his musical contributions were rarely acknowledged with songwriting credits.
At the same time, the relentless pace of recording, touring and fame was taking its toll on all five members.
The classic early-1970s line-up had reached astonishing creative heights, but change was once again on the horizon.
Why This Era Is Considered Their Greatest
Many critics identify the period between 1968 and 1974 as the finest sustained run of albums by any rock band.
Within just six years The Rolling Stones released:
Beggars Banquet
Let It Bleed
Sticky Fingers
Exile on Main St.
Goats Head Soup
It's Only Rock 'n Roll
These records continue to appear in lists of the greatest albums ever made and have influenced generations of musicians across blues, rock, country, punk and heavy metal.
The Stones had become more than a successful band.
They had become a cultural institution.
Discover The Rolling Stones' London with Magical Music Tours
Although The Rolling Stones became an international phenomenon, their story began on the streets of London.
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Packed with fascinating stories, rare insights and unforgettable locations, the tour brings the history of The Rolling Stones—and countless other legendary artists—to life.
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Coming in Part Six - this post will be shared on the Wednesday, 16th September
The next chapter explores Mick Taylor's departure, Ronnie Wood joining The Rolling Stones, the making of It's Only Rock 'n Roll, Black and Blue and Some Girls, the punk explosion, the disco era, Keith Richards' legal battles, and how the Stones reinvented themselves to remain one of the biggest bands in the world.
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