Tell me everything you love about the Rock a Little tour

[petep9000]

Be prepared to support your love with photos and videos too!
This is NOT the thread where you get to complain about the tour, or wistfully sigh and praise her for pulling out of her messiness. No, here is where you come out of your Rock a Little closet and tell the world (and me!) how much you loved to hear Stevie yodel her EO17 wails.

Go!

[BLY]

I loved the Rock a little tour. Stevie was amazing as she was on fire live. This was a great album in my opinion and has some of my all time favorite solo songs of hers. It seemed like forever since seeing her on the Mirage tour with Fleetwood Mac just a few years back but those were the days to see her in younger days. I’m glad I was there.

[Macfan4life]

Rick Marotta on drums. Good God he beat the hell out of those things. He is the master of groove and I wish Stevie used more of him. He is another the main reason Ooh My Love is so good. If it was not for his drumming the song would not have the strength it has.
Only staying positive as the OP's request.
My answer: Rick Marotta

Next

[gldstwmn]

I loved her crazy ad libs. I didn't know WTF she was saying sometimes but those and the interpretive dance movements and twirls that accompanied them made her so compelling to watch.

[Buster]

Out of this world fantastic tour. The last great tour until Enchanted.

Stevie was raw and let her vocals rip.

I saw the Shoreline show. During the Edge walk, she falsely thought people were dangerously rushing the stage. She started scolding us, yelling Get Back. Then she abruptly stopped the song and left the stage.

She came back with her hair soaking wet. She said “I just didn’t want you hurt” then dang Rhiannon and HAEWAFY.

I also loved her babbling during Outside the Rain and bluesy Talk To Me.

I wish the Red Rocks video wasn’t ridiculously overdubbed.

[David]

Originally Posted by petep9000

No, here is where you come out of your Rock a Little closet and tell the world (and me!) how much you loved to hear Stevie yodel her EO17 wails.

Go!

Where to begin? As you know, John, I don't think it was her most exciting solo tour, like you. It was crazier than the 1983 tour but not as thrilling. (Those of us in the audience in 1983 when the drum machine started for Stand Back surely remember the amazing sensation of seeing Stevie do a club/dance number in front of 20,000 for the first time in her history. THAT was excitement.) And she couldn't bellow as well in 1986 as she could in 1983 (September–October–November). But she still commanded that stage.

One of the things I liked best about this tour, in retrospect, is that she was still wearing all her old clothes—the tablecloths, the shawls, the boots, and top hat, and so on. She dressed essentially the way she did in 1983 and in 1980 before that. No bustiers yet, thank God. And no bunched-up satin with shoulder pads. (Someone once compared her in 1989 to a zaftig African American woman attending Sunday service in Biloxi.)

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by David

Where to begin? As you know, John, I don't think it was her most exciting solo tour, like you. It was crazier than the 1983 tour but not as thrilling. (Those of us in the audience in 1983 when the drum machine started for Stand Back surely remember the amazing sensation of seeing Stevie do a club/dance number in front of 20,000 for the first time in her history. THAT was excitement.) And she couldn't bellow as well in 1986 as she could in 1983 (September–October–November). But she still commanded that stage.

One of the things I liked best about this tour, in retrospect, is that she was still wearing all her old clothes—the tablecloths, the shawls, the boots, and top hat, and so on. She dressed essentially the way she did in 1983 and in 1980 before that. No bustiers yet, thank God. And no bunched-up satin with shoulder pads. (Someone once compared her in 1989 to a zaftig African American woman attending Sunday service in Biloxi.)

Stevie's best stage dance was during How Still My Love at the end 1983. She would dance and make goofy faces to the audience.

Begins at 5:27
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if0lkSZM8Ag


I agree with you about the clothes and a reminder how crazy the Wild Heart Tour was. I was 13 and was afraid at times. LOL A strange feeling to feel at a concert.

[Sanne2]

So Stevie thought this song didn't work live, but there's atleast one video that proves her wrong (and I love her dancing here!)

[Macfan4life]

She had her best Edge walks during this tour

[petep9000]

Originally Posted by Sanne2

So Stevie thought this song didn't work live, but there's atleast one video that proves her wrong (and I love her dancing here!)

She's full of crap. If the song didn't work why did they play it the whole tour? She dropped tried and true numbers like "Sara" yet kept a song she didn't like? Not buying it. To me, the song works as well as any she did on that tour. She should have dropped "I Need to Know" and added another RAL track, she only did four from the album. Some promotion.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by petep9000

She's full of crap. If the song didn't work why did they play it the whole tour? She dropped tried and true numbers like "Sara" yet kept a song she didn't like? Not buying it. To me, the song works as well as any she did on that tour. She should have dropped "I Need to Know" and added another RAL track, she only did four from the album. Some promotion.

I don't understand why I Cant Wait never appeared live since 1986. I do believe and take Stevie at her word that they practiced it live during her Vegas shows (mid 2000's). I do believe that if you removed all the disco crashes and played a full rock version, it would work really well
The story of why not performing Sara for years was bogus, I agree. It always sounded fine live.

[snroxman]

What I liked the most about the RAL Tour was the setlist. "I Can't Wait" *did* work on stage. Early shows in the tour proved it. This tour had some great adlib / creative moments. I miss some of that now - scripted.

[vivfox]

I was lucky enough to see 5 RAL concerts but the one that really stands out was either in April or May of 1986 in Philadelphia. Tom Petty was an unannounced guest and they performed I will Run to You as well as Stop Draggin' but the biggest highlight of that night was Stevie adding Gypsy into the setlist and at the end of Gypsy the band extended the music and she went all across the edge of the stage collecting flowers and gifts like she does in Edge of 17. She collected more gifts during Edge of 17 as well. It was one of those rare shows where everything she did created magic with the audience. The cheers were deafening in a great way of course.

[Netter75]

Originally Posted by petep9000

This is NOT the thread where you get to complain about the tour

Originally Posted by petep9000

She's full of crap. If the song didn't work why did they play it the whole tour? She dropped tried and true numbers like "Sara" yet kept a song she didn't like? Not buying it. To me, the song works as well as any she did on that tour. She should have dropped "I Need to Know" and added another RAL track, she only did four from the album. Some promotion.

The mood shifted a bit there

I'd have been interested in some more RAL album tracks though. Happy that "No Spoken Word" was chosen among the non-singles as it really had some fire live and is probably the best non-single from the album.

I honestly wouldn't have minded one of the dumb pop numbers like "Some Become Strangers" or "If I Were You" were played as well. A live band arrangement might have fleshed them out a bit.

But if she had picked another RAL song my luck would be she'd have chosen "I Sing for the Things", "The Nightmare" or "Sister Honey". I'm not sure if any new arrangement or energy could save those :/