1972  The Rolling Stones UK and US Charts  Tumbling Dice

Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, 'Tumbling Dice' was the first single from the 1972 double album 'Exile On Main Street' and was recorded in the basement of the chateau Villa NellcĂ´te, near Villefranche-sur-Mer, France. The basic track of the song was recorded on 3 August 1971. Mick Taylor played bass on the track, due to Bill Wyman's absence that night, and Mick Jagger plays guitar. 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." Of the song, Jagger said "It was written to fit Keith's riff. It's about gambling and love, an old blues trick." The recording and mixing were laborious, and in an interview with Melody Maker, Jagger said, "I think they used the wrong mix for that one. I know they did."
Released on April 14, 1972, it was the Rolling Stones' 23rd single in the US and their 17th in the UK.

The single's B-side was 'Sweet Black Angel', a song written by Jagger about Black Panther activist Angela Davis.



Picture sleeves from around the world

'Tumbling Dice' was the first single from Rolling Stones Records officially distributed into the generic tongue shaped company sleeve, in most countries. The single was reissued in 2010 on Universal Music in its rare 'gamblers cartoon' artwork picture cover [only previously out in 1972 in Israel and Spain] in the US only, as part of a special 'Exile' carrier case also containing a reissue of the 7" single 'Happy' [limited numbered edition of 3,000 copies].


The Rolling Stones: Tumbling Dice, Holland [1972] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Tumbling Dice, Japan [1972] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Tumbling Dice, Madagascar [1972] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Tumbling Dice, Israël [1972] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Tumbling Dice, Spain [1972] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Tumbling Dice, Mexico [1972] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Tumbling Dice, Spain [1972] ,7" The Rolling Stones: Tumbling Dice, USA [1972] ,7"

In total, 85 editions worldwide include 'Tumbling Dice' on the 7" format.



Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, 'Good Time Women' was an early version of 'Tumbling Dice' with the same structure, chord progression and similar melody, recorded during the sessions for the album 'Sticky Fingers', March thru May of 1970. It was eventually released on May 18, 2010, on the reissued and expanded version of 'Exile On Main Street' [although not from these album sessions].

Good Time Women
[Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]

Oh, you got me waitin' on a big-boat line
Yes, it's down a bumpy road
I said now, now honey, you don't need money
And you know you got it easy at home.
Yeah we're gonna get down to boat-line
We're gonna steamboat and a rail alright
I said now, now honey, get down honey
Good time women don't keep you waiting around.
Uh-huh

Yeah we could land in New York City
With whiskey an' mighty fine
Now, I brought downers and a bouquet
And a bottle of dry, white wine.
Yes you got me dizzy, yes you got me silly
And you know you gonna die with your wife
Baby, baby, red light woman
They don't leave you a - ...

Yeah!
I love my woman!

Yeah you got me waiting on a big boat-line
Yeah you're gonna feel alright.
I said baby, honey, you know it's gonna be alright.
Yeah you got me silly, and you got me filthy
Go down, gas up your wife

I said baby, baby. a red light women
Like your party
The red light women, sure like to party
The red light woman, please don't party all night
Alright, you got me cryin' now, ah you got me cryin'
Yeah!
Ah you got me cryin'
Yes, they like your party all night
Yes, they like your party all night
Yes, they like your party all night
They like your party all night
Night Night Night Night......!

Covers
'Tumbling Dice' was covered by the following artists:

  • Annika: 1978 LP: Itseteossa. Finnish title 'Noppamies'
  • Copeland, Johnny : Paint It, Blue, 'Songs of The Rolling Stones' CD (tributes V/A - 1990's)
  • Diesel Park West : 2001 V/A CD Gimme Shelter Vol. 1 (17 covers of RS classics)
  • Gaslight Anthem: 2010 7" ltd edition
    Linda Ronstadt - German 7" PS
  • Goldberg, Barry : 2002 CD, Stoned Again
  • Gray, Owen : 2004 2xCD Shook, Shimmy & Shake: The Anthology
  • Honeywagon : 2005 CD, Paint It Blue - A Bluegrass Tribute to The Rolling Stones
  • Johnson, Jill : 2007 CD (duet w/ Kim Carnes)
  • Lady Killers, The: 2009 CD, Black is Black
  • Leavell, Chuck: 2008 CD, Live in Germany - Green Leaves & Blue Notes Tour
  • London Symphony Orchestra: 1990 CD, The L.S.O. Plays The Music Of The Rolling Stones, '94.
  • Molly Hatchet : 2000 CD, Kingdom of XII
  • Rea, Andrea: 2003 V/A CD, Exile on Blues Street, Telarc.
  • Ronstadt, Linda: 1977 7" & LP: Simple Dreams. Greatest Hits Vol. 2.
  • Scubba feat. Dew : 2006 CD, Bossa n' Stones 2 - The 2nd Electro-Bossa Songbook of The Rolling Stones
  • Sonics, The: 1978 LP, Sounds Of The Rolling Stones.
  • Studio 78: 1978 LP: Soundtrack, Music From The Movie FM.
  • Winstons, The : 1973 LP, Tribute to The Rolling Stones

more covers at Secondhandsongs.comBrowse more covers

The Rolling Stones - Tumbling Dice UK 45
Tumbling Dice [Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]

Recorded on October 1970 & December 1971-March 1972 at Dynamic Sound Studios, Olympic Sound Studios, London & Sunset Sound Studios, Los Angeles, USA
Producer: Jimmy Miller
Engineers: Glyn Johns, Andy Johns & Joe Zagarino
Mick Jagger: lead and bg vocals, electric guitar
Keith Richards: guitar, harmony vocal, bg vocals
Mick Taylor: bass
Charlie Watts, Jimmy Miller: drums
Nicky Hopkins: piano
Bobby Keys: saxophone
Jim Price: trumpet / trombone
Clydie King, Venetta Field: background vocals
charts peak release date 7" single B-side
The Rolling Stones UK Singles Discography 5 April 14, 1972 RS 19103 Sweet Black Angel [Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]
The Rolling Stones USA Singles Discography 7

Tumbling Dice
[Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]


Women think I'm tasty, but they're always tryin' to waste me
And make me burn the candle right down,
But baby, baby, I don't need no jewels in my crown.

The Rolling Stones - Tumbling Dice UK sheet music'Cause all you women is low down gamblers,
Cheatin' like I don't know how,
But baby, baby, there's fever in the funk house now.
This low down bitchin' got my poor feet a itchin',
You know you know the duece is still wild.

Baby, I can't stay, you got to roll me
And call me the tumblin' dice.

Always in a hurry, I never stop to worry,
Don't you see the time flashin' by.
Honey, got no money,
I'm all sixes and sevens and nines.
Say now, baby, I'm the rank outsider,
You can be my partner in crime.

But baby, I can't stay,
You got to roll me and call me the tumblin',
Roll me and call me the tumblin' dice.

Playin' the field ev'ry night.

Baby, can't stay,
You got to roll me and call me the tumblin' dice, (Call me the tumblin')
Got to roll me, Got to roll me, Got to roll me (Oh yeah)
Got to roll me. Got to roll me, Got to roll me (Keep on rolling, Keep on rolling)


The Rolling Stones - Tumbling Dice US sheet music
Sweet Black Angel [Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]

Recorded at Stargroves in early 1971 - overdubs and final mixing at Sunset Sound Studios, L.A., between the December 1971, and March 1972
Producer: Jimmy Miller
Engineer: Glyn Johns
Mick Jagger: lead vocal & harmonica
Keith Richards: electric guitar, backing vocal
Mick Taylor: electric guitar
Bill Wyman: bass
Charlie Watts: drums
Richard "Didymus" Washington: marimbas
Jimmy Miller: percussion
Sweet Black Angel
[Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]

Got a sweet black angel,
Got a pin up girl,
Got a sweet black angel,
Up upon my wall.
Well, she ain't no singer
And she ain't no star,
But she sure talk good,
And she move so fast.
But the gal in danger,
Yeah, de gal in chains,
But she keep on pushin',
Would ya take her place?
She countin' up de minutes,
She countin' up de days,
She's a sweet black angel, woh,
Not a sweet black slave. The Rolling Stones - Rolling Stones Records - Tumbling Dice
Ten little niggers
Sittin' on de wall,
Her brothers been a fallin',
Fallin' one by one.
For a judge they murdered
And a judge they stole,

Now de judge he gonna judge her
For all dat he's worth.
Well de gal in danger,
De gal in chains,
But she keep on pushin'
Would you do the same?
She countin' up de minutes,
She countin' up de days,
She's a sweet black angel,
Not a gun toting teacher,
Not a Red lovin' school mom,
Ain't someone gonna free her,
Free de sweet black slave,
Free de sweet black slave

more covers at Secondhandsongs.comBrowse covers