Street Angel- things I didn’t know

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by bwboy

Thank you so much for the link! That is a much better version of Jane. You’re right, it brings HAEWAFY to mind, and that’s a compliment. I read in the comment section that the only time Stevie performed Jane live, she got emotional and Sara Fleetwood had to finish the song, and Stevie had the audio and video destroyed. That’s too bad, and I wonder if Sara was allowed to keep a copy, since she finished the song. Would have been nice for her resume LOL!

Unconditional Love cheesy? I cannot deny that, and what can I say- I love cheese! I think Stevie’s vocals are great, but the backup vocals are too, I don’t know, pronounced for me. The way they sing “Un-con-dit-ion-al love” is very distracting and does kind of make it sound like a parody. But it is still so much better than Everyday! She sounds so flat on that song, and it was clearly a deliberate decision on her part to sing it that way.

I think this is the version where she got emotional. This was recorded just as the Whole Lotta Trouble tour ended. Its ok but very lethargic. Klonopin was killing her. But I still like the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qveKi3kwSUk

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

I think this is the version where she got emotional. This was recorded just as the Whole Lotta Trouble tour ended. Its ok but very lethargic. Klonopin was killing her. But I still like the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qveKi3kwSUk

For me, it's just not a good song, no matter how you slice it.. . It always makes me feel slightly embarrassed for her. I appreciate her idea, but the execution of it is terrible (ymmv). I've said it a lot, but she's a writer who needs an editor but refuses to accept that. Her ideas need help to be shaped into viable recordings; she's too emotionally attached to specific words a lot of the time....(and she often overuses the same word in a song until it dilutes the meaning and impact). Mabel Normand is another train wreck of a song lyrically but some body shaped it musically into more of a rocker which semi-helps it; Blue Lamp is a terrible song as a song, but Jimmy really worked the arrangement and made it sorta listenable.... but this one, neither arrangement works....this shoulda stayed in the attic.

The pics of her with Joe in that video remind me of the story his then-girlfriend wrote about how Stevie would show up at their house and want to hang with Joe and play him stuff she was writing through all hours of the night, totally disregarding that he was with his new partner and that they were giving clear signals they wanted to go to bed and she should leave.... drugs, man.

[Nicks Fan]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

Stevie and Waddy had a falling out for several years at one point, and then they made up and he was back. I don't recall the timing of that, and whether it related to his legal issues, or fallout from an affair they supposedly had had on the road (big surprise).... but he was gone from her "scene" for a block of time

From what I recall he wasn't in her band from 91-2001. If you watch any of her TV appearances during that time there are different guitar players playing on those shows. But then in 2001 he was back.

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by bwboy

I don’t think Stevie removed Inspiration or God’s Garden out of retaliation. I mean, they’re horrible songs. If she came to that decision after rehab, then rehab definitely worked! Listen to the Rain and Love is Like a River replaced Inspiration and God’s Garden, and like you said, they’re two of her better songs on this album.

Street Angel is an odd listen for me. I can’t say I love any songs on it, but there are some I do like. I can give you probably five more reasons I hate Docklands besides her use of the word laundromat LOL.

I love Unconditional Love, but absolutely can see why they scrapped making that a single. That just shows how much trouble they had deciding on which song to release first. I do recall a press release shortly before SA was released saying Blue Denim was the lead single. The fact that no video was shot for Maybe Love tells me that was a last minute decision to release it.

Wish we could see the video for Unconditional Love.

Inspiration was the best song and she removed it. It had a vibe. The album was an embarrassment.

[David]

Originally Posted by Nicks Fan

From what I recall he wasn't in her band from 91-2001. If you watch any of her TV appearances during that time there are different guitar players playing on those shows. But then in 2001 he was back.

There was that one guy, Frank Simes. Remember Frank? Seemed decent. But I guess he was around only for the Enchanted tour.

I always thought Christopher (Chris?) Cameron was a good keyboard player. But he was around for only one tour, as well.

I think my favorite solo band of hers — besides the lineup of stars on the first two tours — was the Street Angel tour, which had Rick Vito, Liza Jane Edwards, Russ Kunkel, and somebody-or-other on bass. Also had a good keyboardist. The band sounded perfectly adjusted for levels and gain and all that. Maybe the sound guy was great on that tour. They actually sounded clearer than Fleetwood Mac did in 1990. Liza Jane sang a beautiful rendition of “Destiny” in 1994.

[secret love]

Originally Posted by bwboy

I saw online that Glyn Johns released a book about his career working with various artists, which had additional links at the end of the article. One article in particular caught my eye- it said that Unconditional Love was supposed to have been the first single, and that a video had been shot for it. It also said pictures from the video shoot are in the Enchanted booklet.

It also said God’s Garden, Inspiration, and another song called I Call You Missing were removed from the album at Stevie’s request when she got out of rehab, and were replaced with Docklands, Listen to the Rain, and one or two other songs. I Call You Missing has never been heard by the public, or at least not when that article initially appeared.

Stevie also said Johns wouldn’t allow Waddy to play on Street Angel, saying he wasn’t needed. However, wasn’t the recording of SA about the same time he was charged with child pornography? If so, I figure that was more likely the reason, but I could be wrong about the timetable.

Are these well known anecdotes?

I would not say well known, but I was aware of Waddy being charged with child porn and the timeline seems similar (that part is well known I think).

Also knew that those songs (Inspiration and God's Garden) had been removed at Stevie's request - but had not heard that about I Call You Missing.

Stevie basically re-produced the album, spending two months on it after she was released from rehabilitation. She still says she isn't happy with her vocals and wishes she had got someone to re-record them as well as doing the edits she made to the music.

[secret love]

Originally Posted by David

There was that one guy, Frank Simes. Remember Frank? Seemed decent. But I guess he was around only for the Enchanted tour.

I always thought Christopher (Chris?) Cameron was a good keyboard player. But he was around for only one tour, as well.

I think my favorite solo band of hers — besides the lineup of stars on the first two tours — was the Street Angel tour, which had Rick Vito, Liza Jane Edwards, Russ Kunkel, and somebody-or-other on bass. Also had a good keyboardist. The band sounded perfectly adjusted for levels and gain and all that. Maybe the sound guy was great on that tour. They actually sounded clearer than Fleetwood Mac did in 1990. Liza Jane sang a beautiful rendition of “Destiny” in 1994.

Link please?

[David]

Originally Posted by secret love

Link please?

I just mean the backup vocals that Liza Jane did on the whole tour. Are you able to find an audio for any of the cities on that tour? Here’s a quite decent one from Jones Beach, a little before I saw her in California. Listen to Sharon and Liza Jane really nail the beautiful backups.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-bhY3-Jv8w

The more years that go by, the more I miss the great musicianship and singing from this tour. This tour was the true Enchanted tour.

[David]

Here’s another nice video from the stop in Pittsburgh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRKEjsEQfAs

[soul_drifter333]

There's a complete pro-shot from the Street Angel tour that's really good. I thought it was on YouTube, but not sure. I saw her twice on that tour and it was some of my favorite shows, especially the Atlanta show. Her vocals and setlist were spot on. The backdrop was a giant framed picture that the lights manipulated to be different images. At one point it was a giant dragon.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by David

Here’s another nice video from the stop in Pittsburgh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRKEjsEQfAs

It rained that night but most fans were under the ampitheater. During Dreams and "thunder only happens when its raining" line there were flashes of lightening as the storm and rain were fading. Talk about mood. An incredible natural special effect and mother nature must be a Stevie fan.

[Villavic]

I always wondered if Stevie hadn't been addicted that year, and produced the album with a different producer (like Jimmy Iovine, etc.), how Street Angel would have been like.

[bwboy]

Originally Posted by Villavic

I always wondered if Stevie hadn't been addicted that year, and produced the album with a different producer (like Jimmy Iovine, etc.), how Street Angel would have been like.

Interesting question. I feel like, after TOSOTM, Stevie may have lost some of her standing or power with her pals at Modern Records, because I suspect Glyn Johns was not her choice to produce Street Angel. Jimmy Iovine would have said no; none of the other producers on RAL really made an impact; and Rupert Hine probably wasn’t an option for personal reasons.

Patrick Leonard, who produced a lot of Madonna’s songs from True Blue and Like a Prayer (not to mention the two incredible Christine McVie songs from the FM box set) would have been a really intriguing choice for Street Angel. A lot less country and a lot more pop and adult contemporary material for sure. Slicker production as well. The only question would have been if they would have been a good match.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by bwboy

Interesting question. I feel like, after TOSOTM, Stevie may have lost some of her standing or power with her pals at Modern Records, because I suspect Glyn Johns was not her choice to produce Street Angel. Jimmy Iovine would have said no; none of the other producers on RAL really made an impact; and Rupert Hine probably wasn’t an option for personal reasons.

Patrick Leonard, who produced a lot of Madonna’s songs from True Blue and Like a Prayer (not to mention the two incredible Christine McVie songs from the FM box set) would have been a really intriguing choice for Street Angel. A lot less country and a lot more pop and adult contemporary material for sure. Slicker production as well. The only question would have been if they would have been a good match.

Oh gosh no. If you remember Stevie worked with TLC's producer for over a year on TISRL. The album was nearly finished and Stevie did not like the funk sound and hired Sheryl Crow. I think Sheryl has talents but she destroyed Stevie's album. TISRL is a horrible album. Every song similar beat and sound. The studio musicians don't have much power. Strip all vocals from Street Angel and TISRL. There is actually good music tracks on Street Angel. TISRL is so overproduced and is so boring. I don't even think there is one guitar solo on the entire album. If you dont like Street Angel, I dont think its the producer's fault.

[Macfan4life]

BTW
Since we have pivoted to the Street Angel tour. Her band was really good. Rick Vito and the other guitarist really did a great Stand Back playing guitar with the keyboards for the entire opening. They also rock Edge of 17. But this video shows something really rare.
Stevie takes the microphone out of the stand and is holding it walking around the stage and singing like she's Whitney Houston or something. Never saw her do this before.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyMaHj7dsCM