ROLLING STONES - TUMBLING DICE 

Publicació: 14 d'abril de 1972

Llistes: EUA: #7   Regne Unit: #5

"Tumbling Dice" és una cançó llançada com a primer single del doble àlbum "Exile on Main St." del 1972. Escrita per Mick Jagger i Keith Richards, la cançó es distingeix per un ritme característic influenciat pel blues i el boogie-woogie, destacant-se pel seu inusual tempo. Líricament, explora el tema de la incapacitat d'un jugador per romandre fidel a cap dona.

"Inicialment, "Tumbling Dice" es va dir "Good Time Woman" amb una lletra diferent. Mick Jagger va explicar al diari The Sun el 2010 que la cançó va començar amb un gran riff de Keith Richards, però que inicialment no estava satisfet amb la lletra. Més tard, li va venir el títol "tumbling dice" al cap i va utilitzar una jerga del joc de casino que havia escoltat per inspirar el nou tema. Jagger va aprendre termes de jocs de daus de la seva dona de la neteja, que n’era jugadora, i això va inspirar la nova lletra de la cançó.

Durant les sessions d'enregistrament de "Tumbling Dice", The Rolling Stones es van trobar al soterrani de la Villa Nellcote, una propietat llogada a França on buscaven evitar impostos a Anglaterra. Treballant en un horari nocturn, dormien durant el dia i gravaven a la nit, sovint amb diversos convidats que passaven per allà. Per aquesta cançó en particular, Mick Jagger i Keith Richards van tocar les guitarres, mentre que Mick Taylor, el guitarrista habitual del grup, va assumir el paper de baixista. 

Quaranta anys després del llançament de "Tumbling Dice", es va revelar que Jimmy Miller va tocar la part final de la cançó, ja que Charlie Watts tenia dificultats amb aquesta part. És notable que "Tumbling Dice" és l'única cançó dels Rolling Stones on Watts va regravar una segona pista de bateria sobre l'original.

"Tumbling Dice" és celebrada pel seu groove contagiós, rebent lloances tant de músics com de crítics. Joe Perry d'Aerosmith va descriure la cançó com "tan relaxada, que realment t'absorbeix", mentre que Joe Strummer del Clash va destacar el seu tempo únic, descrivint-lo com "a mig camí entre un roquer lent i directe". El crític de música Bill Janovitz atribueix el groove de la cançó al seu "tempo perfecte". Curiosament, en les actuacions en directe, Mick Jagger i Keith Richards solen disputar-se la velocitat de la cançó, amb Jagger intentant sovint accelerar el tempo.

"Exile on Main St." va afrontar inicialment desafiaments en el seu llançament, amb vendes pobres i crítiques severes en alguns sectors. Amb el pas dels anys, l'àlbum ha experimentat una reavaluació notable i ara és amplament considerat com una de les millors obres dels Rolling Stones. La seva combinació de blues, rock i altres influències, juntament amb la seva producció crua i poc polida, ha guanyat cada vegada més apreciació tant dels fans com dels crítics.

ROLLING STONES - TUMBLING DICE 

Released: April 14, 1972

Charted:  US: #7   UK: #5 

"Tumbling Dice" is a song released as the lead single from their 1972 double album "Exile on Main St." Composed by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the song boasts a distinctive rhythm influenced by blues and boogie-woogie, characterized by its unusual tempo and groove. Lyrically, the song explores the theme of a gambler's inability to stay faithful to any woman. 

"Tumbling Dice" originally began as "Good Time Woman" with different lyrics. Mick Jagger explained to The Sun newspaper in 2010 that the song started with a great riff from Keith Richards but wasn't initially satisfied with the lyrics. Later, he got the title "tumbling dice" in his head and used casino gambling jargon he had heard to inspire the new theme. Jagger learned dice terms from his housekeeper, who played the game, which became the inspiration for the song's lyrics.

During the recording sessions for "Tumbling Dice," The Rolling Stones found themselves in the musty basement of Villa Nellcote, a rented property in France where they aimed to avoid taxes in England. Operating on a nocturnal schedule, they would sleep during the day and record at night, often with various guests dropping by. For this particular track, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards handled guitar duties, while Mick Taylor, the band's usual lead guitarist, took on the role of bassist. It's noteworthy that Jagger played guitar on the song, a departure from his usual role. 

Forty years after the release of "Tumbling Dice," it was revealed that Jimmy Miller played the final part of the song, right as the coda begins, due to Charlie Watts experiencing difficulty with it. Notably, "Tumbling Dice" is the only Rolling Stones song where Watts overdubbed a second drum track over the original, resulting in a fuller sound. 

"Tumbling Dice" is celebrated for its infectious groove, drawing praise from musicians and critics alike. Aerosmith's Joe Perry described the song as "so laid-back, it really sucks you in," while Joe Strummer of the Clash noted its unique tempo, describing it as "halfway between a slow and straightforward rocker." Music critic Bill Janovitz attributed the song's groove to its "perfect tempo," "slight drag," and "shuffle." Interestingly, in live performances, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have been known to dispute the song's speed, with Jagger often attempting to push the tempo faster.

"Exile on Main St." initially faced challenges upon its release, experiencing poor sales and harsh criticism from some quarters. Over the years, the album has undergone a remarkable reassessment and is now widely regarded as one of The Rolling Stones' finest achievements. Its blend of blues, rock, and other influences, along with its raw and unpolished production, has garnered increasing appreciation from fans and critics alike.