Comments, input and alterations are very welcome!
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If I Was A Dancer
(Mick Jagger / Keith Richards / Ron Wood)

Pathé Marconi Studios (EMI Studios), Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris, France,
June 10 - October 19, 1979 and Electric Ladyland Studios, New York City,
New York, US, November - December 1979

Mick Jagger - vocals, percussion
Keith Richards - electric guitar
Charlie Watts - drums
Bill Wyman - bass
Ron Wood - electric guitar, saxophone
Bobby Keys - saxophone
Michael Schrieve - percussion

I stand accused of talking, but I feel that we are falling in the same old groove
The radio is playing, spitting out the same old news
It's time to get up, get out, get out into something new
Time to get up, get out, out into something new
Everybody wants somebody's fantasy, everybody wants somebody's crazy dreams
Everybody wants somebody's fantasy, everybody wants somebody's crazy dreams
If I was a woman, I would want a new man every night
If I was a woman, I would want a new man every night
If I was a politician, make sure I was the best in sight
If I was a woman, I would want a new man every night

The poor man eyes the rich man, denigrates his poverty
The rich man eyes the poor man and envies his simplicity
Everybody wants somebody's fantasy, everybody wants somebody's crazy dreams
If I was a movie star, five million dollars would be my price
If I was a trucker, I'd drive for seven days and seven lonely nights
If I was a drummer, I would never miss the beat
If I was a dancer, y'all would never see my feet, lightning
If I was a hooker, a thousand dollars would be my price, all right
If I was a candidate for President, I'd make sure I had a steady wife
If I was a millionaire, I'd spend all my money in one crazy night

I am what I am, yeah, I am my, my own boss
I am what I am, my dreams can't be bought
Yeah, I said now, I tear across the dollar, just to end this day with you
Yeah, I am what I am, I am my own boss
Everybody wants somebody's crazy dreams
Everybody want somebody's fantasy
Everybody wants somebody's crazy dreams

Produced by The Glimmer Twins

First released on:
The Rolling Stones - “Sucking In The Seventies” LP
(Rolling Stones Records CUN 39112) UK, March 9, 1981

Rubbish. Should've remained an outtake.

Great song - the sound of the band embracing the present - in this case New York funk - instead of dwelling purely on their rock'n'roll roots.

It's right up there as good as any of The Clash's experiments with funky New York disco such as The Magnificent Seven. Of course Everything Is Turning To Gold was the peak of these experiments.

Let's not forget that the Stones moved with the times right until the mid-80s - r'n'b/rock'n'roll; classic 60s pop; psychedelia, back to acoustics; classic rock right through to the new wave sound of Some Girls and Emotional Rescue and the big 80s stadium rock. So some New York funk was par for the course.

No Good Song

Instrumental version on 12" promo ..........



ROCKMAN

Actually it was first released on the 12" promo. Did it chart though?

Groovy beat, excellent production, nice sneering vocal from Mr J. I can't decide if I prefer Dance (Pt 1) or this one. Maybe Dance (Pt 1) is a bit better.

Drew

Utterly brilliant. Blows away the 'Part 1' thats on Emotional Rescue. One of the most danceable things they ever released.

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Gazza
Utterly brilliant. Blows away the 'Part 1' thats on Emotional Rescue. One of the most danceable things they ever released.

yeah baby! :E [kicking off shoes]

I like this one better then the one they released on the album...But i just never got into it..
But then again i loved the single ER!!!

Tremendous!

One of my favorites from the entire Wood era.

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Rockman
Instrumental version on 12" promo ..........

Right.


That was the one that Keith wanted to put on ER. His debate with Mick over which one to use was covered in Rolling Stone, and was possibly the first time that the Glimmers had a spat that was aired in public.

It would have made more sense to have put the instrumental on Sucking In The Seventies, since there was a big curiosity factor about the track among Stones fans. The 12" B-side was pretty obscure, and really didn't give it a full airing.

"If I Was A Dancer" wasn't really "Pt.2" as much as an alternate version of "Dance Pt.1" with different lyrics.

For me, "Dance Pt.1" is the one.

Love it...tracked down a couple of copies on 12" vinyl on ebay.

Kind of daring. One of those tracks that grows in estimation over the years. There's an unfinished sound to it, like the ideas were all over the place.

This track pares nicely for me with "Everything Is Turning To Gold".

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Amsterdamned

I knew I would be considered an apostate for saying that!

Love the song. Everytime I heard this Franz Ferdinand song I always thought the chorus was a steal from the Stones.

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hailtothestones
Love the song. Everytime I heard this Franz Ferdinand song I always thought the chorus was a steal from the Stones.

yeah i always thought that main riff was a direct rip from dance. isn't dance 1 & 2 the same backing track, diff. being length and jagger's lyrics.

i always thought keith was referring to Dance pt.1 not the instrumental. but i'd say the instrumental is my fav. version of dance. the guitar interplay between keith and ronnie is more to the forefront.

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Silver Dagger
Great song - the sound of the band embracing the present - in this case New York funk - instead of dwelling purely on their rock'n'roll roots.

It's right up there as good as any of The Clash's experiments with funky New York disco such as The Magnificent Seven. Of course Everything Is Turning To Gold was the peak of these experiments.

Let's not forget that the Stones moved with the times right until the mid-80s - r'n'b/rock'n'roll; classic 60s pop; psychedelia, back to acoustics; classic rock right through to the new wave sound of Some Girls and Emotional Rescue and the big 80s stadium rock. So some New York funk was par for the course.

Very well said.