Illusion

Composers: Keith Richards, Steve Jordan & Norah Jones
Recording date: Between April 2011 and 2014
Recording location: Germano Studios, One East Recording & Brooklyn Recording, New York City, USA
Producers: Keith Richards & Steve Jordan               Chief engineer: Dave O'Donnell
Mixers: Dave O'Donnell, Keith Richards & Steve Jordan


Line-up:

Drums: Steve Jordan
Bass: Pino Palladino
Acoustic guitars: Keith Richards 
Electric guitars: Keith Richards
Lead vocals: Keith Richards & Norah Jones  
Background vocals: Steve Jordan, Bernard Fowler, Blondie Chaplin & Babi Floyd
Piano: Keith Richards
Farfisa organ: Keith Richards
Vibes: Steve Jordan
Timpani: Steve Jordan


Uh-huh-huh

It's an illusion in my blood
But it's not the one you're thinking of
Illusion in my heart
Doesn't mean we have to part, baby

Just an illusion, that's for sure
Nothing that you've seen before
Baby, an illusion
But not the one you're looking for

Between you and me
Yes, between you and me
Between you and me

What's this illusion in your eyes?
We see each other different ways
A solution, baby
But it's not the one you're thinking of, baby

Such an intrusion in my soul
But I never said I'd let you go
This illusion is haunting me
But it ain't the one you're looking for, baby

Between you and me
Oh what's the difference between you and me?
Oh what's the difference between you and me?

No conclusion, baby - so you say
I'm not the one you're thinking of, baby
A confusion to my heart
It nearly tore us apart

She's an illusion baby
But not the one you're looking for, baby

Between you and me
What's the difference between you and me?
Something that deeply set you free

It's an illusion - yeah that's the difference honey
Between you and me - that's the difference - what's the difference between you and me?
To my blood
But not the one you're thinking of

It's an illusion in my heart
Doesn't mean we have to part


 

TrackTalk

(T)here are some outtakes from A Bigger Bang. I think you can maybe hear the beginnings of Illusion: I really want to pick up on this song, or else it's going to disappear down the drain.

- Keith Richards, July 2015

I had already laid down Illusion (in 2004). Two or three of these songs were coming out of stuff I was writing for the Stones and then we reached our deadline there, so these things were left over.

- Keith Richards, September, 2015

We had the track down, and I had my vocal part on it, but Steve Jordan said, You know this is really written for a duet. Without female input, this song will cry in the wilderness. We wre thinking about who was around in town, and suddenly Steve got hold of Norah. So she wrote the female part, came into the studio and did it. It was a real joy. I wasn't expecting ladies to feature on this record.
- Keith Richards, September 2015

(Norah Jones) gave me exactly the right feeling we needed. I'm always looking for songs where I can bring a lady in.
- Keith Richards, July 2015

It's got a slow burn. I wanted it to sound like an early morning argument, or a very late night one. (Recording it was) pretty old-school. We only did three takes, and they took the first one. It's not like it has to be perfect - it has to be real, especially with Keith.
- Norah Jones, 2015


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