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Sticky Fingers Censorship: The Rolling Stones in Franco’s Spain

When Sticky Fingers landed in Spain in 1971, it didn’t just top charts—it collided with censorship. Under Francisco Franco’s regime, The Rolling Stones faced strict moral controls, forcing a radical redesign of the album. Gone was the provocative zipper cover; in its place, a surreal image of severed fingers in a syrup tin. The controversy didn’t stop there. The song Sister Morphine was removed entirely. The result? A censored edition that transformed Sticky Fingers into one of rock’s most infamous alternate releases.

Given Francisco Franco’s dictatorial regime in Spain at the time, the original Spanish version of Sticky Fingers, instead of the original album art, which focused on a male model’s crotch, censorship in the country, considering it to be “obscene, depraved, or anti-regime”,took it to feature a different cover showing severed fingers floating in a can of Fowler’s Treacle. Additionally the song Sister Morphine wasn’t included in the album either, being replaced by a live take of Chuck Berry’s Let It Rock recorded in Leeds in March of 1971 (same version of the Brown Sugar/Bitch/Let It Rock single that was released a week before the album)

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The Rolling Stones vs. Spanish Censors: Sticky Fingers Story

*By Marcelo Sonaglioni

Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones, released in 1971, is one of the most infamous in rock history, not only for its music but also for its iconic album cover. Originally designed by artist Andy Warhol, the cover featured a close-up image of a zipper on a pair of jeans, which could be unzipped to reveal an image of underwear. However, some versions of the album, especially in markets like the United States, were censored due to the explicit nature of the artwork.

In the censored editions, the original cover was replaced with an alternative design that kept the zipper but removed the interactive feature, effectively hiding the provocative content. This decision was made to avoid controversy and prevent the album from being banned or restricted by retailers who considered the image inappropriate.

Sticky Fingers: Censored Cover, Unstoppable Sound

Despite the cover controversy Sticky Fingers is celebrated for its music. The album marked a key moment in The Rolling Stones’ evolution, showcasing a more raw and direct sound influenced by blues, rock, and country music.

Still Sticky Fingers remains a landmark in the Rolling Stones’ discography. The censored version has become a collector’s item for fans, symbolizing the band’s audacious and provocative era. The album, with or without the original cover, stands as one of their greatest achievements, both musically and visually.

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