TUMBLING DICE (Linda Ronstadt)
“Tumbling Dice” (originally called “Good Time Women”) is a single written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards for the Rolling Stones’ 1972 double album Exile on Main St., and was the album’s lead single. The song, recorded in the basement of the chateau Villa Nellcôte in France, peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 5 in the UK Singles chart. The lyrics tell the story of a gambler who cannot remain faithful to any woman. The music has a blues boogie-woogie rhythm and has been noted for its irregular lyrical structure and “groove”. Cover versions of “Tumbling Dice” have been created in such diverse styles as reggae, bluegrass and noise rock. An updated version from a female perspective was a Top 40 hit single for Linda Ronstadt in 1978, which is included in the film FM and on her album Simple Dreams. (More from Wikipedia)
When Linda Ronstadt released her version of the Rolling Stones song “Tumbling Dice” (she and Mick Jagger dated for a while), I was reminded again of how masterful the Jagger/Richards team was at crafting song lyrics. The song is included on her 1977 album Simple Dreams; Linda had to noticeably slow the tempo in order to get all of those words out of her mouth but still turns in a fine performance. The Ronstadt concert that forms the focal point of the 1978 film FM also features “Tumbling Dice”. But there was no need to look up the words that time; Linda Ronstadt included the lyrics on most of her albums, so they were right there on the album sleeve.
(May 2015)
