Tumbling Dice: Difference between revisions
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'''"Tumbling Dice"''' is a [[Rock and Roll|rock]] song written by [[Mick Jagger]] and [[Keith Richards]] for [[The Rolling Stones]]' [[1972]] [[double album]] ''[[Exile on Main St.]]'' A mix of [[country music|country]], [[gospel music|gospel]], [[blues]], and rock, it was the album's lead-off [[single]]. The song peaked at #7 in the [[United States]] and #5 in the [[United Kingdom]]. It is an enduring favorite of the band's fans that is performed at almost every Rolling Stones [[rock concert|concert]]. In the [[liner notes]] to [[Jump Back: The Best of The Rolling Stones]], Jagger states, "'Tumbling Dice' was written to fit Keith's riff. It's about gambling and love, an old blues trick." [http://users.skynet.be/stones/albums/jumpback.htm] |
'''"Tumbling Dice"''' is a [[Rock and Roll|rock]] song written by [[Mick Jagger]] and [[Keith Richards]] for [[The Rolling Stones]]' [[1972]] [[double album]] ''[[Exile on Main St.]]'' A mix of [[country music|country]], [[gospel music|gospel]], [[blues]], and rock, it was the album's lead-off [[single]]. The song peaked at #7 in the [[United States]] and #5 in the [[United Kingdom]]. It is an enduring favorite of the band's fans that is performed at almost every Rolling Stones [[rock concert|concert]]. In the [[liner notes]] to [[Jump Back: The Best of The Rolling Stones]], Jagger states, "'Tumbling Dice' was written to fit Keith's riff. It's about gambling and love, an old blues trick." [http://users.skynet.be/stones/albums/jumpback.htm#7] |
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== Structure == |
== Structure == |
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The song's first incarnation was '''"Good Time Women"''', written during the recording sessions for the album [[Sticky Fingers]]. A [[demo]] was recorded in the [[key (music)|key]] of G and played at 120 bpm. |
The song's first incarnation was '''"Good Time Women"''', written during the recording sessions for the album [[Sticky Fingers]]. A [[demo]] was recorded in the [[key (music)|key]] of G and played at 120 bpm. |
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''Exile on Main Street'' was recorded in the basement of the chateau Villa Nellcôte, near Villefranche-ser-Mer, [[France]]. The recording schedule had the band sleeping all day and recording with whomever was around at night. This has a lot to do with why Jagger played guitar and guitarist [[Mick Taylor]] played bass on "Tumbling Dice". In July of 1971, recording began on "Tumbling Dice", which had now gone from the key of G to the key of B (with Richards [[capo]]ing up 4 [[fret]]s). |
''Exile on Main Street'' was recorded in the basement of the chateau Villa Nellcôte, near Villefranche-ser-Mer, [[France]]. The recording schedule had the band sleeping all day and recording with whomever was around at night. This has a lot to do with why Jagger played guitar and guitarist [[Mick Taylor]] played bass on "Tumbling Dice". In July of 1971, recording began on "Tumbling Dice", which had now gone from the key of G to the key of B (with Richards [[capo]]ing up 4 [[fret]]s). Richards said "I remember writing the riff upstairs in the very elegant front room, and we took it downstairs the same evening and we cut it." Jagger said that the song's theme of gambling and love came from the fact that he "had a lot of friends at that time who used to fly to Las Vegas for the weekend." [http://users.skynet.be/stones/albums/jumpback.htm#7] |
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[[Sound engineer]] [[Andy Johns]] said “I know we had a hundred reels of tape on the basic track. That was a good song, but it was really like pulling teeth. It just went on and on and on.” Some have said that it may have taken as many as 150 takes to get the basic track of the song. [http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=823] The mixing of the album was also a nightmare. Jagger has never liked the final mix of the song. In an interview with Melody Maker, Jagger said, "I think they used the wrong mix for that one. I know they did." (Perry 2000:68) |
[[Sound engineer]] [[Andy Johns]] said “I know we had a hundred reels of tape on the basic track. That was a good song, but it was really like pulling teeth. It just went on and on and on.” Some have said that it may have taken as many as 150 takes to get the basic track of the song. [http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=823] The mixing of the album was also a nightmare. Jagger has never liked the final mix of the song. In an interview with Melody Maker, Jagger said, "I think they used the wrong mix for that one. I know they did." (Perry 2000:68) |
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* [http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=823 "The Greatest Songs Ever! Tumbling Dice], by Johnny Black, ''Blender'', May 2003, retreived November 30, 2005. |
* [http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=823 "The Greatest Songs Ever! Tumbling Dice], by Johnny Black, ''Blender'', May 2003, retreived November 30, 2005. |
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* [http://www.starpolish.com/news/article.asp?id=147 "Rosen rapes Rolling Stones"] by David Marsh, Starpolish, August 06, 2001, retrived November 30, 2005 |
* [http://www.starpolish.com/news/article.asp?id=147 "Rosen rapes Rolling Stones"] by David Marsh, Starpolish, August 06, 2001, retrived November 30, 2005 |
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* [http://users.skynet.be/stones/albums/jumpback.htm ''Jump Back: The Best of The Rolling Stones'' liner notes] |
* [http://users.skynet.be/stones/albums/jumpback.htm#7 ''Jump Back: The Best of The Rolling Stones'' liner notes] |
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* [http://www.iorr.org/ It's Only Rock'n Roll -- The Rolling Stones Fan Club] |
* [http://www.iorr.org/ It's Only Rock'n Roll -- The Rolling Stones Fan Club] |
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Revision as of 07:59, 2 December 2005
| "Tumbling Dice" | ||
|---|---|---|
| File:TumblingDice.PNG | ||
| Single by The Rolling Stones | ||
| From the album Exile on Main St. | ||
| B-side | "Sweet Black Angel" | |
| Single Released | April 14, 1972 | |
| Single Format | vinyl record | |
| Recorded | Villa Nellcôte, Villefranche-ser-Mer, France July-November 1971 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Song Length | 3min 45s | |
| Record label | Rolling Stones Records | |
| Producer | Jimmy Miller | |
| Chart positions | #7 (US) #5 (UK) | |
| The Rolling Stones single chronology | ||
| "Wild Horses" 1971 |
"Tumbling Dice" 1972 |
"Happy" 1972 |
"Tumbling Dice" is a rock song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards for The Rolling Stones' 1972 double album Exile on Main St. A mix of country, gospel, blues, and rock, it was the album's lead-off single. The song peaked at #7 in the United States and #5 in the United Kingdom. It is an enduring favorite of the band's fans that is performed at almost every Rolling Stones concert. In the liner notes to Jump Back: The Best of The Rolling Stones, Jagger states, "'Tumbling Dice' was written to fit Keith's riff. It's about gambling and love, an old blues trick." [1]
Structure
"Tumbling Dice" is known for its "groove". Aerosmith's Joe Perry said the song is "so laid-back, it really sucks you in..." [2] The song's tempo (a few beats slower than 110 bpm) has often been credited with creating that groove. In concert, Jagger and Richards have been known to argue over the speed of the song with Jagger trying to push the song's tempo a bit faster. (Perry 1999:67).
The song has a verse-chorus structure that is irregular. Many songs have the same number of lines for the each verse or chorus.
- The first verse has eight lines, the second verse has six lines and the last verse has two lines.
- The first chorus has two lines, the second chorus has three and the third chorus has twelve lines.
At the beginning of every chorus, the piano, bass and drums drop out and the background voices sing the hook "you got to roll me" as the guitar plays the song's signature guitar figure. The third chorus leads into the song's coda. Slowly, the bands rhythm section works its way back into the song. The coda includes a call and response with the female backing voices singing the hook as Jagger and Richards respond by singing "keep on rolling." This happens over a pounding beat laid down by Charlie Watts. After a few measures of this, Watts reenters the song. The coda continues for another minute as Jagger ad-libs lyrics until the songs fade out.
Recording
The song's first incarnation was "Good Time Women", written during the recording sessions for the album Sticky Fingers. A demo was recorded in the key of G and played at 120 bpm.
Exile on Main Street was recorded in the basement of the chateau Villa Nellcôte, near Villefranche-ser-Mer, France. The recording schedule had the band sleeping all day and recording with whomever was around at night. This has a lot to do with why Jagger played guitar and guitarist Mick Taylor played bass on "Tumbling Dice". In July of 1971, recording began on "Tumbling Dice", which had now gone from the key of G to the key of B (with Richards capoing up 4 frets). Richards said "I remember writing the riff upstairs in the very elegant front room, and we took it downstairs the same evening and we cut it." Jagger said that the song's theme of gambling and love came from the fact that he "had a lot of friends at that time who used to fly to Las Vegas for the weekend." [3]
Sound engineer Andy Johns said “I know we had a hundred reels of tape on the basic track. That was a good song, but it was really like pulling teeth. It just went on and on and on.” Some have said that it may have taken as many as 150 takes to get the basic track of the song. [4] The mixing of the album was also a nightmare. Jagger has never liked the final mix of the song. In an interview with Melody Maker, Jagger said, "I think they used the wrong mix for that one. I know they did." (Perry 2000:68)
The song was released as a single on April 14th, 1972 and was backed with Sweet Black Angel, a song written by Jagger about Black Panther activist Angela Davis.
Live
The Rolling Stones performed "Tumbling Dice" live for the first time on June 3, 1972 at the Canadian Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, British Columbia. Since then, only four regular tour concerts and a handful of benefit shows and rehearsals have not included "Tumbling Dice".
- On June 5, 1982, ten years and two days after the Stones first performed it, they did not perform the song in concert. (Karnbach and Bernson 1997:174)
- The first two nights of the "No Security" tour did not feature "Tumbling Dice" making them the first regular tour concerts in 17 years not to feature "Tumbling Dice". Set list first night and Set list second night
- On September 17, 2005, "Tumbling Dice" was missing from the set list. Set list
Linda Ronstadt joined the Stones onstage to sing "Tumbling Dice" on the July 21, 1978.
Live Recordings and Television Appearances
Only two live versions have been released on commercial available CDs.
- A live version of the song was recorded for Stripped, the live album that documented the Voodoo Lounge tour, but was not a song on that album. The recording crossfades from a backstage vocal rehearsal of the song on solo piano to an onstage performance of the song. The recording can be found on the album Rarities 1971-2003. The backstage rehearsal was recorded at the Olympia Theatre, Paris, France on July 3, 1995. The live performance happened at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida on November 25, 1994. (Karnbach & Bernson 1997:310)
- Love You Live features a version was recorded on June 7, 1976 at Les Abattoirs, Paris, France. (Karnbaugh 1997:158)
Five live concert films have included "Tumbling Dice"
- Ladies and Gentlemen The Rolling Stones (1974)
- Rolling Stones - Live at the Max (1992)
- Rolling Stones - Voodoo Lounge (1995)
- Rolling Stones - Bridges to Babylon Tour '97-'98: Live in Concert (1998)
- Rolling Stones - Four Flicks (2004)
On May 21 and 27, Top of the Pops and Old Grey Whistle Test broadcasted film made of the Stones rehearsing "Tumbling Dice" in Montreaux for the upcoming tour.
Personnel
- Mick Jagger: Vocals & Guitar
- Keith Richards: Guitar
- Mick Taylor: Bass
- Charlie Watts: Drums
- Nicky Hopkins: Piano
- Bobby Keys: Saxophone
- Jim Price: Trumpet
- Keith Richards, Clydie King, Vanetta Fields: Background Vocals
Cover Versions
- Pussy Galore covered all of Exile on Main St. on their album Exile on Main Street.
- Bluesman Johnny Copeland recorded a version for Paint it, Blue: Songs of the Rolling Stones. For Copeland, who died of complications from heart surgery, this would be the last song he would ever record.
- Andrea Re recorded a version for Exile on Blues Street, an album of ten songs from Exile on Main St. redone by blues artists.
- Bluegrass band Honeywell recorded a version for Paint It Blue: A Bluegrass Tribute to the Rolling Stones.
- Reggae artist Owen Gray did a version of it for Shook, Shimmy and Shake: The Anthology.
- God Mountain recorded a version of it for an album of Stones covers called As Tears Go By.
- Barry Goldberg would record a version on Stoned Again.
- Molly Hatchett would record a version on Kingdom of XII.
Linda Ronstadt
| "Tumbling Dice" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single by Linda Ronstadt | ||
| From the album Simple Dreams | ||
| B-side | "I Never Will Marry" | |
| Single Released | 1977 | |
| Single Format | vinyl record | |
| Recorded | 1977 | |
| Genre | Country | |
| Song Length | 3min 5sec | |
| Record label | London Records | |
| Producer | Peter Asher | |
| Linda Ronstadt single chronology | ||
| "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" 1977 |
"Tumbling Dice" 1977 |
"Back in the USA" 1978 |
Ronstadt had a top 40 hit with "Tumbling Dice" in 1977. Many fans disliked the version for her careful annunciation of the lyrics. Unfortunately, she annunciated the wrong words. On Exile on Main St., Jagger sings:
- Women think I'm tasty, but they're always tryin' to waste me.
Ronstadt's version begins:
- People try to rape me, always think I'm crazy.
In 2001, Hilary Rosen, representing the Recording Industry Association of America, testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs and listed a number of songs that would be in danger of censorship. Among those were Rondstadt's "Tumbling Dice", which Rosen said was "a song about rape written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards." [5]
Critical Acclaim
The Rolling Stone Record Guide (1979), edited by rock critic Dave Marsh said:
- "Tumbling Dice," incidentally, may be the best thing they've ever recorded." (Marsh and Swanson, 1979:330)
The song has earned spots on numberous "best of" lists.
- Spin magazine ranked it as the third greatest single of all time. [6]
- Rolling Stone magazine ranked it as #424 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
- Q magazine ranked it #258 in their 1001 Greatest Songs of All Time. [7]
Sample
References
- Karnbach, James and Berson, Carol "It's Only Rock and Roll - The Ultimate Guide to the Rolling Stones", Facts On File, Inc, New York City, 1997.
- Marsh, David with Swenson, John; "The Rolling Stone Records Guide"; Random House, Inc; 1979.
- Perry, John "Exile on Main Street - The Rolling Stones" Schermer Books, New York, 1999.
- "The Greatest Songs Ever! Tumbling Dice, by Johnny Black, Blender, May 2003, retreived November 30, 2005.
- "Rosen rapes Rolling Stones" by David Marsh, Starpolish, August 06, 2001, retrived November 30, 2005
- Jump Back: The Best of The Rolling Stones liner notes
- It's Only Rock'n Roll -- The Rolling Stones Fan Club