Roll the Dice (song)

In 1977, Harley began working on his debut solo album Hobo with a Grin. Once it was completed in early 1978, he decided to leave Britain and live in Los Angeles for almost a year. A week before the release of Hobo with a Grin, "Roll the Dice" was released as the album's lead single in July 1978.[1] Like the album, "Roll the Dice" was a commercial failure, failing to make an appearance in the UK Top 75.[5]

While most of Hobo with a Grin was recorded in London, "Roll the Dice" was one of two tracks from the album to be recorded and mixed at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles. Any remixing and additional recording was done in Los Angeles as well. Although Harley produced the rest of the album, "Roll the Dice" was produced by the album's assistant producer Michael J. Jackson.[6]

At the time of its release, G. Brown of The Denver Post reported that Harley disdained the song's commercial potential in private. Harley was quoted: "It's 'poppy,' with that Fleetwood Mac-ish shuffle. 'Catchy' is not a good thing in this country. The more AM radio I hear, the more convinced I am that the goal is to bore."[7]

"Roll the Dice" was released by EMI Records on 7" vinyl in the UK, Germany, Spain, Australia and New Zealand.[8][9][1] In America and Canada, it was released by Capitol Records in August 1978.[2][10] For its release as a single, an edited version of the song was used, which shortened the song by approximately half a minute. The B-Side, "Waiting", was written and produced by Harley.[11] It remains exclusive to the single, having not appeared on any other release since.

In the UK, a promotional demo/DJ copy of the single was also issued by EMI. In America, Capitol released a promotional version of the single, which featured "Roll the Dice" on both sides of the vinyl; one in stereo and one in mono.[12][13] In the UK, Germany and Spain, the single was released with colour picture sleeves. In the UK, the first 20,000 copies of the single featured the sleeve. It used similar artwork as on the Hobo with a Grin album.[14]

Following its original release as a single, and on Hobo with a Grin, the song has since appeared on various Steve Harley compilations, including 1981's Collection,[15] 1992's Make Me Smile: The Best of Steve Harley, 1996's Premium Gold Collection[16] 1998's More Than Somewhat – The Very Best of Steve Harley, 1999's The Cream of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel,[17] and 2006's The Cockney Rebel – A Steve Harley Anthology.[18]

A music video was filmed to promote the single.[19] It was filmed over a two-day period in the Bakersfield Desert, California. Shot on 35mm film, videos were also produced at the same time for "I Wish It Would Rain" and "Amerika the Brave", both from Hobo with a Grin.

In the 22 July 1978 issue of New Musical Express, a full-page, black-and-white advert was published to promote the single's release. The advert noted that it was "the single from his first solo album", that the first 20,000 copies came in a "special full colour picture sleeve"" and that the B-Side "Waiting" was "only available on this single."[20][21]

On its release in July 1978, Philip Hall of Record Mirror described the song as "strongly Americanised" and "very smooth, very polished", with Harley's vocal being "less distinctive than usual". He added, "It's got a hook line which I can't stop singing, and which you should give a listen to."[22] American magazine Billboard listed the song under their "Top Single Picks" section in August 1978, under the heading "Recommended Pop".[23]

In a review of Hobo with a Grin, G. Brown of The Denver Post stated: "Hobo with a Grin is turning out to be his fastest seller yet. If Harley is due for a hit single, "Roll the Dice" could fill the bill nicely. Led by a catchy keyboard introduction, the song boasts a great hook and a youthful Harley vocal."[7] High Fidelity noted: "Right from the start of Hobo with a Grin, on "Roll the Dice", Harley settles for good times."[24] Cash Box listed the single as one "to watch" during August 1978. They commented on Partridge's "strong guitar work", Harley's "good singing" and felt the song was "suited to Top 40 lists".[25]

In a review of Harley's 1979 concert at the Hammersmith Odeon, Kelly Pike of Record Mirror described the show as "a sad, distasteful affair" and commented: "It started as a shambles, half a dozen figures ambling around the stage before tumbling into a less than spirited version of "Roll the Dice", [which] did not make a very spectacular start".[26]

In a retrospective review of Hobo with a Grin, Dave Thompson of AllMusic highlighted the song as one of three tracks that represented "Harley wordplay-by-numbers: clever on paper, but too clever-clever by half". He added: "We already know he's a brilliant wordsmith; does he have to keep trying to show us how brilliant? And does there come a point when he'll stop, and try his hand at tunes as well?"[27] In an AllMusic review of the 2008 compilation The Best of Steve Harley, Thompson commented that the song "deserve[s] a fresh hearing."[28]

7" Single

1. "Roll the Dice" - 3:00
2. "Waiting" - 2:52

7" Single (American promo)

1. "Roll the Dice (Stereo)" - 3:12
2. "Roll the Dice (Mono)" - 3:12

Roll the Dice

• Steve Harley - vocals
• Rick Shlosser - drums
• Bob Glaub - bass
• Bill Payne - acoustic piano
• Duncan Mackay - electric piano, harpsichord, synthesizer
• Jo Partridge - electric guitars
• Fred Tackett - acoustic guitar
• Michael J. Jackson - percussion
• Michael McDonald - backing vocals
• Bill Champlin - backing vocals
• Rosemary Butler - backing vocals
• Bobby Kimball - backing vocals
• Tom Kelley - backing vocals
• Michael J. Jackson - producer, additional production, mixing, percussion
• John Haeny - engineer
• James Isaacson - engineer, remixing, additional recording
• Paul Black - assistant engineer
• Ken Perry - mastering

Waiting

• Steve Harley - vocals, producer

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics