The Dealer a/k/a Mistress Of My Fate

[Mad4stevie]

This is one of my very favorite unreleased Stevie songs. Does anyone know the date that this song was written? There seem to be so many demo versions out there - from fast, upbeat songs to slow demos. I just heard an acappella version today for the first time. Very cool!

Can someone enlighten me on the background of this song?

[wondergirl9847]

I LOVE this song to DEATH and it KILLS me she didn't put it on Belladonna because it would SO fit in that country-ish sound the album has. Take off Think About It or something and add The Dealer!! ACK!!

Anyways...sorry, I can't help ya with dates and stuff, but I just wanted to say, I LOVE the acapella version of the demo!!

[darklinensuit]

I like this song, too, especially the last few lines.
People will think I'm nuts for thinking this, but I have a feeling she might not release The Dealer. IMO Stevie is self-conscious enough to worry that critics will look at the title and say this song is all about her drug addiction, and I think she tires of hearing about that.
Still, it's a great song, and I hope she does release it.

- Jake

[darklinensuit]

Christy, Think about It is perfect.
Just had to remind you.:wavey:

- Jake

[wondergirl9847]

Originally posted by darklinensuit
I have a feeling she might not release The Dealer. IMO Stevie is self-conscious enough to worry that critics will look at the title and say this song is all about her drug addiction, and I think she tires of hearing about that.

She could change the title to Mistress of My Fate, Card Shark (LOL!!) or something and THEN release it!!

[wondergirl9847]

Originally posted by darklinensuit
Christy, Think about It is perfect.
Just had to remind you.:wavey:

- Jake

I don't care for it...sowee. The Dealer....WAAAAAAYYYYY better, IMO.

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by wondergirl9847
She could change the title to Mistress of My Fate, Card Shark (LOL!!) or something and THEN release it!!

I agree she could & maybe should. I just don't think she would, this being Ms. Worrywart Nicks we're discussing.

- Jake

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by wondergirl9847
I don't care for it...sowee. The Dealer....WAAAAAAYYYYY better, IMO.

I respect your opinion, but do think about it.:) (You know it's not as bad as it seems.)

- Jake

[Mad4stevie]

I could be mixing things up, but I thought I remember hearing about some kind of controversy with this song. Something about the lyrics? Can anyone fill me in, or am I just making stuff up in my head?!?

[Mad4stevie]

Originally posted by wondergirl9847
I LOVE this song to DEATH and it KILLS me she didn't put it on Belladonna because it would SO fit in that country-ish sound the album has. Take off Think About It or something and add The Dealer!! ACK!!

Anyways...sorry, I can't help ya with dates and stuff, but I just wanted to say, I LOVE the acapella version of the demo!!

As far as Think About It goes, I like the early demo with FM way better than the Belladonna version. I really don't like the middle part (And your heart says 'Danger"! And your heart says whatever . . .). I just think it throws the whole song off.

[gldstwmn]

There is also the Master Of My Fate version with Tom singing the lead which ruins the song IMO (no disrespect to Tom). It just doesn't work. My guess is that it was probably from around 76-80 although I have nothing to base that on. The earliest version that I have of it, I think, is the one with the girls backing her and the tick-tock sound, which I believe is also known as a click track(anyone?). If it had been released on Bella in '81 and was called The Dealer, it would probably have served to make it only more popular back then. The Heartbreakers just smoke on this song, especially Stan Lynch, IMO. That could have something to do with why it hasn't been released. The magic of those early sessions with Petty, The Heartbreakers and pretty much a who's who of all the best side players would be hard to replicate. Or, it could be that it's just not time for it to come out yet. :)

[Mad4stevie]

Originally posted by gldstwmn
There is also the Master Of My Fate version with Tom singing the lead which ruins the song IMO (no disrespect to Tom). It just doesn't work. My guess is that it was probably from around 76-80 although I have nothing to base that on. The earliest version that I have of it, I think, is the one with the girls backing her and the tick-tock sound, which I believe is also known as a click track(anyone?). If it had been released on Bella in '81 and was called The Dealer, it would probably have served to make it only more popular back then. The Heartbreakers just smoke on this song, especially Stan Lynch, IMO. That could have something to do with why it hasn't been released. The magic of those early sessions with Petty, The Heartbreakers and pretty much a who's who of all the best side players would be hard to replicate. Or, it could be that it's just not time for it to come out yet. :)

Other than the song that Tom sings the lead - are there other versions that Petty plays on? If so, how would I distinguish that one from the others?

[gldstwmn]

The Rumours take has a very Rumours sound as does the Tusk demo. Mick's drums sound loud. Lindsey is playing mostly rhythm guitar as opposed to lead. On the Bella Donna master takes, the sound is much clearer and there is an acapella version. You can hear Tom Petty and Jimmy Iovine talking to Stevie and I think it's in this set of masters where he tells her to shut up. It's not mean, it's kind of funny. The takes are far closer to finished with backing vocals from Stevie and the girls.

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by Mad4stevie
As far as Think About It goes, I like the early demo with FM way better than the Belladonna version. I really don't like the middle part (And your heart says 'Danger"! And your heart says whatever . . .). I just think it throws the whole song off.

I love the vocal on the middle part!
JMO.:)

- Falling Star Jakester

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by gldstwmn
The Rumours take has a very Rumours sound as does the Tusk demo. Mick's drums sound loud. Lindsey is playing mostly rhythm guitar as opposed to lead. On the Bella Donna master takes, the sound is much clearer and there is an acapella version. You can hear Tom Petty and Jimmy Iovine talking to Stevie and I think it's in this set of masters where he tells her to shut up. It's not mean, it's kind of funny. The takes are far closer to finished with backing vocals from Stevie and the girls.

This reminds me that The Dealer versions from Rumours & Tusk have that great twang, and I think an updated version might (unfortunately) lose that sound. I was disappointed that If You Ever Did Believe lost that twang sound in the Practical Magic version. The Dealer and IYEDB have a similar simple sound with the drums and all, and I think producers these days could get carried away embellishing.

- Jake

[WednesdaysChild]

I love Think About It because it's the only song where we KNOW that Stevie is talking about Christine. We know they are/were friends, but they never really talked about each other via their songs...and you can also see how apprehensive Christine was about remaining in FM.

[David]

Originally posted by gldstwmn
The Heartbreakers just smoke on this song, especially Stan Lynch, IMO. That could have something to do with why it hasn't been released. The magic of those early sessions with Petty, The Heartbreakers and pretty much a who's who of all the best side players would be hard to replicate. As more & more of those Bella Donna-related reel-to-reel masters surface & are circulated, I am completely amazed at just how much studio work Stevie did with the Heartbreakers. Apparently, they started in between breaks of the Tusk Tour -- like in April 1980 & again in July -- & just kept it up through the spring of 1981 (they tracked "Julia" a month before "Bella Donna" was released, which is very curious). They did tons & tons of songs together, with other guys like Roy Bittan joining them. When Stevie used to say that "Bella Donna" was recorded in a month or two, I used to believe her. But obviously that's not really the case -- she seemed to have been recording with the Heartbreakers & other musicians all the time during that year-long period. I wonder if the Petty fans even know about any of this, or have any of this stuff. They'd probably be in heaven if they heard it because the Heartbreakers are all over it, stopping, starting, chatting, fiddling around on their guitars & drums & organ. Somebody should be keeping track of all the dates & tracks. I know that photos have been sent around online with some information, but we should have it all grouped.

We've learned more about the "Bella Donna" session dates & tracks from these masters over the past two years than we learned from that entire Peter Lewry book, which purported to be an official guide to the Mac's entire studio work, but which was really just a farce.

Once again, the fans dig up the goods & the details, & the "official" sources fail.

[gldstwmn]

It's too bad she didn't decide to use some of this for a fourth disc on the box set because now we'll probably never get to hear it officially. We only know of what has surfaced. I have to wonder about what we haven't heard yet and might never hear. She did sessions for RAL all over the place and I have to believe there were more outtakes from those sesssions besides Reconsider Me and the other few we've heard.

[gypsysara]

sorry for my belated reply... but I love The Dealer! I so wish she would have released this YEARS ago. I have demos of her doing The Dealer from 1977 Rumours - 1986. I have the Rumours demo, the Tusk demo, the Master R2R from 1981, demo with Tom & demo in 1980 and also a smoking demo from 1986.

My only gripe about the song as the years have gone on, its gotten less away from the smoky voiced Stevie and gone more into a rock -n- roll type of song. I still love all the versions Ive heard though!

[SpyNote]

Isn't that other version, Master of My Faith, with Walter Egan? I thought it was Tom Petty as first too, but now I'm not so sure.

I think Dealer's time has come and should appear on Stevie's next solo record.

Who knows what she actually calls the song. It be could like Planets of the Universe, which we all knew forever as No Light, or Candlebright as Nomad.

Daniel
sln-news.info (http://sln-news.info)

[gldstwmn]

The demo I have is called Master Of My Fate and it's definitely Tom.

[blinker12]

Can someone point me in the direction of the Mac version of "Think About It"? Thanks! You can PM me or respond here.

[Sugar]

I've been wanting to hear this for a while! I'm thinking this sounds like Walter Egan too. I believe I also read somewhere (his Q &A on the Penguin?) that he wanted to record this for one of his albums, so it would make sense that they recorded this together. I'm guessing that there is no Tom Petty version since I've only ever seen one duet version of this song discussed anywhere.

I've never understood S & L's attraction to Mr. Egan. I thought Not Shy was such a stunningly mediocre album. Maybe I'm missing something..nah! :D

[gldstwmn]

If anyone wants the Tom Petty version, I'd be happy to send it.
David are you out there? Do you know anything about this track?:)

[gldstwmn]

Yes, that's the same one.

[The Chain]

Originally posted by darklinensuit
I like this song, too, especially the last few lines.
People will think I'm nuts for thinking this, but I have a feeling she might not release The Dealer. IMO Stevie is self-conscious enough to worry that critics will look at the title and say this song is all about her drug addiction, and I think she tires of hearing about that.
Still, it's a great song, and I hope she does release it.

- Jake

Just think about what the critics would say about "Melacine" (The Witch) They would have a field day:( But it is such a cool song IMO, different for a Stevie song, but
it should have been released on the Enchanted Set

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by Sugar

I've never understood S & L's attraction to Mr. Egan. I thought Not Shy was such a stunningly mediocre album. Maybe I'm missing something..nah! :D

Stevie's harmonies make that album.
Certainly the lyrics are bland.

- Jake

[David]

Originally posted by gldstwmn
If anyone wants the Tom Petty version, I'd be happy to send it.
David are you out there? Do you know anything about this track?:) I have heard the pretty common recording of "The Dealer" & I think some of the recordings with the Heartbreakers. Aren't the Heartbreakers recordings dated, like a lot of the other reel-to-reel stuff? Anyone have those ID3 tags handy?

The older one I'm thinking of has Stevie playing Christine's electronic piano (a Yamaha CP-30) from the recording period for "Tusk" -- so that's like last half of 1978 & first half of 1979. Stevie must be in the studio using Christine's piano, because Stevie herself would never have bought a CP-30: they have very limited use as a combo instrument. This "Dealer" couldn't be any earlier than 1978 because that was the first year of production for the instrument.

[PenguinHead]

Originally posted by darklinensuit
I People will think I'm nuts for thinking this, but I have a feeling she might not release The Dealer. IMO Stevie is self-conscious enough to worry that critics will look at the title and say this song is all about her drug addiction, and I think she tires of hearing about that.
- Jake

You're right. You're nuts! Whatever reason the song was never released (only Stevie really knows), you're presumption seems so far off base.

Regarding her drug addiction: Stevie has displayed a rare class among drug addicted celebrities. She never used that experience for promotion, to grand stand or to gain sympathy for her struggle. She delt with it privately and kept it very quiet.

Only years after the fact did she reveal what she went through. And she did so unapoligetically and matter-of-factly, without any pandering or self-pity what-so-ever. She addresses the subject, however vaguely, in her song "Welcome To The Room, Sara." She's not shy about talking about it, as lesson to learn from.

Who says she's tired of hearing about that? That's a far-flung presumption. Maybe it's just you who's tired of hearing about it. The fact of matter is, these days it's just cited as a small part of her history.

The Dealer? So what if some critics think the song is about drugs! Is it? Probably not...she refers to "card shark." Shows that there are other kinds of dealers. And so what if it is about drugs. Does that make a song inherently a target for critics any more than any other song?

It's silly, simplistic and short-sighted thinking to assume the song wasn't released for the reasons you cited. If Stevie was as worrisome and self-conscious as you seem to think she is, how do you explain Gold Dust Woman?

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by PenguinHead
You're right. You're nuts! Whatever reason the song was never released (only Stevie really knows), you're presumption seems so far off base.
The fact of matter is, these days it's just cited as a small part of her history.

It's silly, simplistic and short-sighted thinking to assume the song wasn't released for the reasons you cited. If Stevie was as worrisome and self-conscious as you seem to think she is, how do you explain Gold Dust Woman?

I believe the drugs are cited as a large part of her history.I recall that the Downtown Live interview focused on the drugs more than anything else.

How do I explain GDW? For years she claimed it had nothing to do with drugs.

And when WTTRS was released, Stevie was just out of Betty Ford. It's been sixteen years. I think it's "short-sighted" to assume Stevie's outlook or direction has not changed in that time period. I remember the quote at the time of Street Angel: "Eight years sober and the stories STILL get passed around." She did not sound pleased about discussing drug rumors.

Does Stevie care what critics and fans think? Many of us believe she is over Lindsey, but he revealed recently that she still did not want to be on the song Come because she thought people would think it was about her. So yes, Stevie is at least somewhat "worrisome and self-conscious."

- Jake

[gldstwmn]

A lot of the interviews seem to focus on drugs because the short sighted interviewers (Matt Lauer comes to mind) keep asking about it over and over.

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by gldstwmn
A lot of the interviews seem to focus on drugs because the short sighted interviewers (Matt Lauer comes to mind) keep asking about it over and over.

Exactly. Stevie is such a lady not to roll her eyes and say, You know I AM past those days by quite a bit! Would you mind asking me about my songs?

- Jake

[Johnny Stew]

Originally posted by darklinensuit
Exactly. Stevie is such a lady not to roll her eyes and say, You know I AM past those days by quite a bit! Would you mind asking me about my songs?Ooh, but that reminds me of her MTV interview with Chris Connelly, right before 'The Dance' aired.
He was asking her about her drug problems, and she had an annoyed tone in her voice when she said, "Well, it wasn't just my problem."

Typically though, she talks about it with complete candor and without even a hint of annoyance in her voice.

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by trackaghost
LOL! David, when I first read that I thought "C3-PO, what the hell has Star Wars got to do with this?" :laugh: Blame my lack of knowledge of musical instruments.

Anyway, do we all agree this is not Tom Petty but Walter Egan on the demo? I think it's Walter for sure.

And PenguinHead, my jaw dropped at your remarks. You make some valid points, afterall I never thought we'd see The Tower/Goodbye Baby on a record but "silly, simplistic and short-sighted"? I personally think it's fair to say that Stevie cares very much about what people think. For years she claimed Gold Dust Woman was about groupies and Lindsey has said himself that she's very conservative about certain things.
I couldn't tell you why The Dealer has never been released but I wouldn't be surprised if the lyrics did have something to do with it. When The Other Side Of The Mirror was released for example, the only things Stevie seemed to be asked about was her drug addiction and regrets about not having a child. I'm sure she wants to put that all behind her now.
Stevie can be quite cagey about certain things as well as surprisingly honest about other things.
This is all speculation anyway but I hope that one day, like The Tower, The Dealer will turn up on a Stevie or Mac album.
:nod:

Trackaghost, you are now my official speech writer. Thanks for writing what I meant.

- Jake

[Johnny Stew]

I don't think Stevie is ever dishonest about the meanings behind her songs, I think that it's just a matter of them being about so many different things (Lindsey: "I often think she's writing about me at first, but then I'm not sure."), that she sometimes chooses to discuss only one side of it.

I'll bet there ARE reference to groupies in "Gold Dust Woman," alongside those cocaine references. But in the '70s she chose to only discuss the groupie aspect.
She even alludes to that herself, in the 'Making of Rumours' documentary... "I stopped doing cocaine 10 years ago, so I can talk about this now."

She seemed to like "The Dealer" quite a bit, having recorded it for more than one album... so it probably didn't get released simply because she wrote something newer and wanted to include that instead, or because she and/or her producers felt that another song added the texture they were looking for, better than "The Dealer" could.

[goldie]

Can someone point me in the direction of the Rumours version? I've heard the Tusk version and the Belladonna version - but I'm not sure if I've heard the Rumours one!

[dissention]

Originally posted by trackaghost
Lindsey has said himself that she's very conservative about certain things.

But Stevie has gone on record as saying that she is incredibly radical about lots of things, too! :laugh: :wavey:

[snwriter]

I just listened to The Master of My Fate demo. I think it's Walter Egan--not TP.

[PenguinHead]

Another thing...how do we even know for sure that the song was officially entitled "The Dealer?" It is possible that years ago some collecter labelled it as such, and it became the title that was passed down and generally accepted as official. My bet is that it is probably "Mistress of My Fate" or "Mistress of My Faith" or "Master of My Fate," or something similar. Makes more sense and sounds a hell of a lot better.