I believe Rick's first actual production work was for Rock a Little, specifically I Can't Wait. Belinda Carlisle said in an interview that Stevie recommended Rick to Belinda, and he produced and wrote most of her second album Heaven on Earth, which featured most of Belinda's hits and really put him on the map.
I know Stevie and Rick have remained friends and still collaborate together. I'm also quite certain that Rick Nowels is the one Stevie wrote the special thanks for in Rock a Little... something like "it's not easy to track a ghost through the fog, so thank you."
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