Sucking in the Seventies


Sucking in the Seventies is the sixth official compilation album by the Rolling Stones, released in 1981. Serving as the successor to 1975's Made in the Shade, it covers material from the recording sessions of It's Only Rock 'n Roll, Black and Blue, Some Girls and Emotional Rescue. Deviating from the standard practice of "greatest hits" albums, it features a mix of hit songs, remixes, alternate takes of album tracks, B-sides, and live recordings.

Contents

All tracks on Sucking in the Seventies, except "Shattered" and "Everything Is Turning to Gold" were mixed or edited specifically for this release. The album includes an otherwise unreleased live version of "When the Whip Comes Down", which was recorded during the band's 1978 tour in Detroit.
"If I Was a Dancer " is a longer and different mix, containing different lyrics from "Dance (Pt. 1)", which is the opening track on Emotional Rescue. The compilation album does not include "Miss You", which was The Rolling Stones' only number-one hit during this period.

Release and reception

Released in the spring of 1981, as Tattoo You was nearing its completion, Sucking in the Seventies reached No. 15 in the US, going gold, but failed to chart in the UK.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic writes:
In 2005, the album was remastered and reissued by Virgin Records.

Track listing

All songs by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, except where noted.
Side one
  1. "Shattered" – 3:46
  2. *From Some Girls
  3. "Everything Is Turning to Gold" – 4:06
  4. *B-side to "Shattered"
  5. "Hot Stuff" – 3:30
  6. *Edited version from Black and Blue
  7. "Time Waits for No One" – 4:25
  8. *Edited version from It's Only Rock 'n' Roll
  9. "Fool to Cry" – 4:07
  10. *Edited version from Black and Blue
Side two
  1. "Mannish Boy" – 4:38
  2. *Edited version from Love You Live
  3. "When the Whip Comes Down" – 4:35
  4. *Recorded live in Detroit on 6 July 1978
  5. "If I Was a Dancer " – 5:50
  6. *Previously unreleased, from the Emotional Rescue sessions
  7. "Crazy Mama" – 4:06
  8. *Edited version from Black and Blue
  9. "Beast of Burden" – 3:27
  10. *Edited version from ''Some Girls''

Charts

Album
YearChartPosition
1981Billboard Pop Albums15

Singles
YearSingleChartPosition
1981"If I Was a Dancer "Mainstream Rock Tracks26