Mirror, Mirror- what the Heck???

[diamondsnake]

I was just looking at the lyrics to Mirror Mirror on the nicksfix and noticed that they said the song was a B-side to Blue Denim. Call me crazy, but this sounds like Stevie's Rock a Little era voice. Was this song recorded in the mid 80's and just didn't see the light of day until the mid 90's. This strikes me as more then a bit odd. Answers please! :blob1:

While we are on the topic, what do you all think of this song? I like it! It is just too hard to sing along to though. It is crazy! Almost like the Nightmare Part 2! It would have been a nice edition to Enchanted. In fact, I think God's Garden, Real Tears, and Mirror Mirror should have been included on Enchanted.

[Johnny Stew]

I was just looking at the lyrics to Mirror Mirror on the nicksfix and noticed that they said the song was a B-side to Blue Denim. Call me crazy, but this sounds like Stevie's Rock a Little era voice. Was this song recorded in the mid 80's and just didn't see the light of day until the mid 90's.That's exactly what happened. The version released as the b-side of "Blue Denim" is a mid-80s recording. Stevie had referenced the song in many interviews over the years... especially during the 'Other Side Of The Mirror' era, when she had said that she originally wanted "Mirror Mirror" to be the title-track of what became 'Rock A Little'... and she probably decided she was never going to use it for anything else, and might as well release it on a b-side.

"Thousand Days," which was also originally recorded for inclusion on 'Rock A Little,' was re-recorded in the 90s though, and the version found on the UK "Maybe Love" single (and, in full, on 'Enchanted') is that re-recording.

While we are on the topic, what do you all think of this song? I like it! It is just too hard to sing along to though. It is crazy! Almost like the Nightmare Part 2! It would have been a nice edition to Enchanted. In fact, I think God's Garden, Real Tears, and Mirror Mirror should have been included on Enchanted.It doesn't seem to be a fan favorite, but I quite like it. The synth line sounds a bit like the opening to the nightly news, but I dig the urgency of it, and Stevie's vocals.
I'm also fond of the abstract lyrics.

And I agree, it definitely should have been on 'Enchanted.' (As "Real Tears," "God's Garden" and "Inspiration" also should have been.)

[diamondsnake]

That's exactly what happened. The version released as the b-side of "Blue Denim" is a mid-80s recording. Stevie had referenced the song in many interviews over the years... especially during the 'Other Side Of The Mirror' era, when she had said that she originally wanted "Mirror Mirror" to be the title-track of what became 'Rock A Little'... and she probably decided she was never going to use it for anything else, and might as well release it on a b-side.


Wow, you learn something new everyday! I would have prefered Mirror Mirror in place of Rock A Little. That is my least favorite title track of Stevies. RAL is kind of blah, especially compared to the roller coaster that is Mirror, Mirror.

[wondergirl9847]

I know lots of peeps hate it, but I love it. I have one labeled Mirror Mirror Take 2 or something and that's my fave version of it.

[CreepingDeath]

I know lots of peeps hate it, but I love it.

Same here. :nod:

I love her delivery on, Well, I think that you walk a thin line, walk a thin line! :thumbsup:

[JazmenFlowers]

That's exactly what happened. The version released as the b-side of "Blue Denim" is a mid-80s recording. Stevie had referenced the song in many interviews over the years... especially during the 'Other Side Of The Mirror' era, when she had said that she originally wanted "Mirror Mirror" to be the title-track of what became 'Rock A Little'... and she probably decided she was never going to use it for anything else, and might as well release it on a b-side.

"Thousand Days," which was also originally recorded for inclusion on 'Rock A Little,' was re-recorded in the 90s though, and the version found on the UK "Maybe Love" single (and, in full, on 'Enchanted') is that re-recording.

It doesn't seem to be a fan favorite, but I quite like it. The synth line sounds a bit like the opening to the nightly news, but I dig the urgency of it, and Stevie's vocals.
I'm also fond of the abstract lyrics.

And I agree, it definitely should have been on 'Enchanted.' (As "Real Tears," "God's Garden" and "Inspiration" also should have been.)


I agree. I love Mirror Mirror. To me, the song seems to be saying "take a look around" at various things, your lover, your life...I think it's got amazing lyrics.

[David]

That's exactly what happened. The version released as the b-side of "Blue Denim" is a mid-80s recording.How do you know that? I know the title of the song surfaced earlier, but what other evidence is there that the recording on the cassette of "Blue Denim" (which I have somewhere) was done in the 1980s?

Do you even know who plays on the recording? Or even what instruments are used? That might help date it.

I used to argue with Mike Bise about some of his dating techniques: for example, he'd give a 1976 date to a demo or something with an instrument on it that wasn't on the market until 1978.

[glitter_fades]

he'd give a 1976 date to a demo or something with an instrument on it that wasn't on the market until 1978.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[SpyNote]

I used to argue with Mike Bise about some of his dating techniques: for example, he'd give a 1976 date to a demo or something with an instrument on it that wasn't on the market until 1978.

He's notorious for circulating false/unconfirmed information. I think you referred to it in the past as "shameless guesswork."

[Nixxxed]

There's a pic in the Enchanted booklet of Stevie recording the demo for "Mirror Mirror" (if memory serves) - you can barely make out the lyrics sitting on the music stand. You can tell in the pic it's post-WH/pre-RAL just by the hair. :laugh:

[Nixxxed]

Oh, and as I've said on here many times - I love this song.

Fave lines:
"Brilliant is your danger"

"She said, 'You must know!'
He said, "No, not really..."

[diamondsnake]

How do you know that? I know the title of the song surfaced earlier, but what other evidence is there that the recording on the cassette of "Blue Denim" (which I have somewhere) was done in the 1980s?

Do you even know who plays on the recording? Or even what instruments are used? That might help date it.

I used to argue with Mike Bise about some of his dating techniques: for example, he'd give a 1976 date to a demo or something with an instrument on it that wasn't on the market until 1978.
It is clearly her Rock a Little mid 80's voice. And the song and instruments in general have a very 80's vibe. That is why a red flag went up when I saw it was the Blue Denim b side. It is obviously her Rock a Little voice. I love how Stevie's voice changes like that, every solo album has sounded so different because of her ever changing vocals...

I am in love with this song! It rocks harder then most Stevie songs, so it begs the question, why wasn't it included on RAL? The song is superior to most of the RAL songs in my eyes. I so wish this would have been the title track because the actual song RAL is not all that.

I love her vocals on this song so much!!! It is crazy!!!

[GateandGarden]

"She said, 'You must know!'
He said, "No, not really..."Ooooooooh I really like that! I haven't listened to this song in forever so I'll just have to get it back out for those lines.

[Nixxxed]

That's exactly what happened. The version released as the b-side of "Blue Denim" is a mid-80s recording.

And I've always wondered if the vocals were re-recorded so they would match with the Street Angel album. They sound ... slower ... or huskier ... or something. When I heard the b-side version for the first time, that was my impression. The music sounds pretty much the same as the demos, and the same tempo, but yet something about the vocal is different.

Of course, I'm comparing a final version to a 79th-generation bootleg demo that I've had forever, so whothehell knows??? :D

[Nixxxed]

Ooooooooh I really like that! I haven't listened to this song in forever so I'll just have to get it back out for those lines.

:laugh: :thumbsup:

Those two lines = story of my life.


-Chuck "could type about 'Mirror Mirror' all day (and probably will)" L.

[diamondsnake]

:laugh: :thumbsup:

Those two lines = story of my life.


-Chuck "could type about 'Mirror Mirror' all day (and probably will)" L.
Okay what is your interp. of these lines?

[David]

He's notorious for circulating false/unconfirmed information. I think you referred to it in the past as "shameless guesswork."I don't mean to blast him out of the blue because I think he has a great ear & is often very logical. I love his "Mirror Mirror" zines. They wipe the floor with most of the other fanzines. But he had an authoritarian tendency to pronounce his hypotheses as total fact, & that in turn was passed on to guys who wrote books about the band & didn't know even half of what Michael knew. They assumed Mike's educated guesses were officially supported facts, & the next thing you know, you get books like "The Complete Recording Sessions" which purported to be official data of studio sessions, when it was no more official than all our theorizing on the Ledge -- & a lot less accurate.

[David]

It is clearly her Rock a Little mid 80's voice.Maybe, maybe not. I hear some '85/'86 style in the song's vocal, but there's also an absence of vibrato (at least relative to typical vibrato-heavy vocal of other 1985 tracks).
And the song and instruments in general have a very 80's vibe.So does "Thousand Days": the Gerry Baker-style alto saxophone blasting away, the human drums mixed with the electronic drums, the patches that are so generic they could be workstations like the Triton or older analog synths like the Prophet or the Oberheim, the slap-loping bass, etc. etc.

I think it's pretty foolish to try to date Stevie's work based on what her session players sound like: the work on "Street Angel" hardly sounds like post-grunge material. It's totally retro -- maybe even deliberately so.

I don't think "Mirror Mirror" was recorded in '94, but I'm not sure that it was recorded in '85, either, or even '86, when she was recording "Seven Wonders" & "When I See You Again." I'm totally puzzled by it, actually. Maybe we'll get some more info on it some day.

[Nixxxed]

Okay what is your interp. of these lines?
:D

Certain people want to put you in a box, classify you, catalog you, and put you on a shelf to admire (or forget about). They don't want to or can't take the time to get to truly know you, much less understand what makes you tick and how that influences what you say or do.

This could be someone you've known only a short time, or (just for argument's sake) an ex-lover whom you met at a party in high school and has actually shared your adventures criss-crossing the globe, yet still can't comprehend what you actually dream of and desire.

"No one knows how I feel -- what I say unless you read between my lines..."

I've run across this situation several times in my life ... the turning point of a relationship (friendly or romantic or sexual), where you're POSITIVE the other person finally knows/understands the things you can't say out loud, and knows WHY you can't. And then, you let your guard down and take a chance, and the other person looks at you as if you are a stranger. Or an enemy.

"Then there are the things, misunderstandings..."

[strandinthewind]

How do you know that? I know the title of the song surfaced earlier, but what other evidence is there that the recording on the cassette of "Blue Denim" (which I have somewhere) was done in the 1980s?

Do you even know who plays on the recording? Or even what instruments are used? That might help date it.

I used to argue with Mike Bise about some of his dating techniques: for example, he'd give a 1976 date to a demo or something with an instrument on it that wasn't on the market until 1978.


I am pretty sure there is an interview with Stevie where she discusses the song Mirror Mirror in refernce to naming RAL that - but she was not pleased with the way the song was in final form. I do not have that interview though :cool:

[David]

I am pretty sure there is an interview with Stevie where she discusses the song Mirror Mirror in refernce to naming RAL that - but she was not pleased with the way the song was in final form. I do not have that interview though :cool:Don't you hate that about interviews? It's like restaurants: you find all the cool ones when you're driving around NOT looking for a place to eat. Then, when you want to go back to one of them, you can't remember where you saw it.

But in relation to my earlier point, the difference between the "song" & the "track" needs to be emphasized. For example, "Rhiannon" is a song Stevie wrote back whenever, & "Rhiannon" is also a bunch of tracks: the studio track recorded in 1975, a live track recorded in 1977 & released in 1980, another live track recorded in 1982 & released on video in 1983, another live track recorded & released in 1997, a home piano-and-vocal track released in 1998, etc.

In other words, I know "Mirror Mirror" the song began life back around the "Rock a Little" era, & was probably written back then & recorded a bunch of times (different takes). But I want to know when the track on the B-side cassette was recorded -- or at least when the lead vocal was recorded. Was it 1985? 1988? 1992? The lead vocal on the cassette sounds like the same session (only a different take) of all those takes we have in scratchy form. But when were those laid down? It would be nice if Stevie would address that issue.

[strandinthewind]

. . . It would be nice if Stevie would address that issue.

ITA - we need to sit her down one day and ask the tough questions :laugh:

On edit- the nicksfix lists the date of the song as 1985 - so there is that little tidbit that may provide some clue. I will look for my cassette of it and see if there is any info. on it.

BTW - here are the lyrics (thanks to the nicksfix) and I LOVE them :cool:

Mirror, Mirror
- written by Stevie Nicks
- b-side to cassette single Blue Denim (U.S. August 1994)
Lyrics

And as all this comes to an end
So go the lilies of the valley
From this hour on
Brilliant is your danger
Darker than the image on the wall
Is the fear of it all
But he never said no to you baby
Mirror, Mirror


Ooh, sometimes your frightened
And you don't know why
There's been a few things
Well, I know you really loved a lot
And then one day
In your bright blue sky
Well, I never did say why to you...
Why... You must know...
He said No not really


Some of us will...
Some of us will never see the light
Some of us will only say,
Well, I don't want to fight about it
And then one day,
Well, you really fall in love
And you never did say
No to me did you?
He said, See ya!


Mirror, mirror
Mirror, mirror
Mirror, mirror


Memories fade like the wind
Oh, and she says
No, this will never come again
He says, Oh well... who can tell?
She says...I think you walk a thin line
Walk a thin line
She said you must know
He said No not really...


Then there are the things,
Misunderstandings...
Well I know that there's a few things
That you really loved a lot...
I know, in spite of what you say,
One thing that I really wanted,
I really wanted you...
This will leave you
Haunted in your mirror

[David]

ITA - we need to sit her down one day and ask the tough questions :laugh:Yeah, but you do realize that you'll never get that chance, right? And you know why, right?

[strandinthewind]

Yeah, but you do realize that you'll never get that chance, right? And you know why, right?

Because Eulid will yell at me for wanting to do so :laugh: and :wavey: Eulid (I know you know and am joking here :laugh: )

I will never get that chance because I do not know her :laugh: But, I have to say if she keeps giving interviews like the recent Ladd one, she will shed some light on other songs :cool:

[David]

I will never get that chance because I do not know her :laugh: But, I have to say if she keeps giving interviews like the recent Ladd one, she will shed some light on other songs :cool:I just meant that all the callers on all those interviews over the years NEVER ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS!! :laugh: :laugh:

[strandinthewind]

I just meant that all the callers on all those interviews over the years NEVER ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS!! :laugh: :laugh:

I know - I was just joking around. I mean you would think someone would have asked a very detailed question about an obscure song instead of the repeats we see. Maybe in the written ones she sees the detailed ones and says NEXT :laugh:

[Johnny Stew]

How do you know that? I know the title of the song surfaced earlier, but what other evidence is there that the recording on the cassette of "Blue Denim" (which I have somewhere) was done in the 1980s?You're right, I don't know the exact date... I just made an educated guess, based on Stevie's voice (which sounds straight out of "The Nightmare" or "Some Become Strangers," to my ears), and, more importantly, the fact that Keith Olsen produced the track.

To the best of my knowledge, the recording sessions for 'Rock A Little' mark the only time Stevie worked with Keith in her solo career.

[David]

You're right, I don't know the exact date... I just made an educated guess, based on Stevie's voice (which sounds straight out of "The Nightmare" or "Some Become Strangers," to my ears), and, more importantly, the fact that Keith Olsen produced the track.Well, I didn't know that Keith Olsen produced the track, so there. But sure enough, I went to go look at the cassette just now, & there's Keith Olsen's name, in serif print.

Now what have you got to say for yourself, Stew?

[Johnny Stew]

Now what have you got to say for yourself, Stew?May I have a cookie? :D

[David]

May I have a cookie? :DPeanut butter? Butterscotch? Banana?

has anyone ever even heard of a banana cookie?

[Johnny Stew]

Peanut butter? Butterscotch? Banana?Make it Chocolate Chip, please.

has anyone ever even heard of a banana cookie?With all of the variations of cookies there are, someone must make 'em!

[LiquidBlue5000]

especially during the 'Other Side Of The Mirror' era, when she had said that she originally wanted "Mirror Mirror" to be the title-track of what became 'Rock A Little'... and she probably decided she was never going to use it for anything else, and might as well release it on a b-side.


If she had called RAL "Mirror Mirror" instead, then what would "The Other Side Of The Mirror" had been called? certainly not that... too many mirrors in too short a period of time... ;)

[johnny4406]

If she had called RAL "Mirror Mirror" instead, then what would "The Other Side Of The Mirror" had been called? certainly not that... too many mirrors in too short a period of time... ;)


:laugh: LOL you are funny
I was actually thinking that as soon as I read the post.

"Mirror, Mirror" is an amazing song. One of my favorites.

[petep9000]

I have a few different takes of 'Mirror, Mirror' somewhere on cassette and on one of them I remember I used to always think the vocal was even possibly pre-RAL. This was a 'less complete' version, more of a demo so maybe this was the version we see Stevie plunking in the photo in the 'Enchanted' booklet where she has the 'Wild Heart'-era hair. You never know.
Anyway, I adore this song- I think it's Stevie at her freaky best!!

Maybe, maybe not. I hear some '85/'86 style in the song's vocal, but there's also an absence of vibrato (at least relative to typical vibrato-heavy vocal of other 1985 tracks).
So does "Thousand Days": the Gerry Baker-style alto saxophone blasting away, the human drums mixed with the electronic drums, the patches that are so generic they could be workstations like the Triton or older analog synths like the Prophet or the Oberheim, the slap-loping bass, etc. etc.

I think it's pretty foolish to try to date Stevie's work based on what her session players sound like: the work on "Street Angel" hardly sounds like post-grunge material. It's totally retro -- maybe even deliberately so.

I don't think "Mirror Mirror" was recorded in '94, but I'm not sure that it was recorded in '85, either, or even '86, when she was recording "Seven Wonders" & "When I See You Again." I'm totally puzzled by it, actually. Maybe we'll get some more info on it some day.

[David]

I have a few different takes of 'Mirror, Mirror' somewhere on cassette and on one of them I remember I used to always think the vocal was even possibly pre-RAL. This was a 'less complete' version, more of a demo so maybe this was the version we see Stevie plunking in the photo in the 'Enchanted' booklet where she has the 'Wild Heart'-era hair. You never know.
Anyway, I adore this song- I think it's Stevie at her freaky best!!Why didn't someone ask Keith Olsen when he Q&A'd for us here? Just more reason to think that we never ask the right questions!!! :lol:

Hi Pete!! :wavey: :wavey:

[SuzeQuze]

Stevie sounds so good on this song. I asked her in Ask Stevie why she doesn't like it but I kind of doubt that question will be answered in that forum.

[strandinthewind]

Stevie sounds so good on this song. I asked her in Ask Stevie why she doesn't like it but I kind of doubt that question will be answered in that forum.


I think she thought the sound was too erradict, which it is and brilliantly so IMO. I think she knew it would not be mainstream enough for the album title. Then again, she could have been pissed at someone who provided some music on it - bless her heart, esp. then :laugh:

[Janet]

If Mirror Mirror had been the title song to Rock a Little instead of RAL, the album would have been completely different.

RAL, as slow and as undramatic as it is, fits the album. I take that very literally to mean she is rocking but in a really feminine way. I think it all ties together beautifully.

When Stevie gets an idea tho, she won't let it go. So OSOTM she totally stuck with the mirror vibe but didn't put the song on that album either, I guess because no one would let her?? M/M doesn't even fit with THAT album except with Doing It the Best That I Can which kind of doesn't fit either.

It's like Joan of Ark...another great song that kind of doesn't fit from the same time.

I guess it belongs on that album that could have been before 1985 and 1989.

[svnwndrs]

To me, "Mirror Mirror" sounds like it was probably recorded in 1984. Many Ledgies know this, but Stevie took almost two years to record and release RAL. The production sounds very mid-80's, and part of the music kind of sounds like the music that is heard in "Risky Business" (listen during the opening credits). Stevie proabably heard that and incorporated it into one of her own songs, since she did say in an interview a while back (during the WH days?) that she was watching the movie one night at her house with her friends, and she called up somewhere and had the same Porsche that was in the movie delivered to her house that very night. Isn't there a picture of her signing the license in the Enchanted booklet? If you look closley the date on the license says 8/15/84. It is on the same page as Stevie is recording the song.

[GypsySorcerer]

If Mirror Mirror had been the title song to Rock a Little instead of RAL, the album would have been completely different.

RAL, as slow and as undramatic as it is, fits the album. I take that very literally to mean she is rocking but in a really feminine way. I think it all ties together beautifully.



I've been listening to RAL all weekend, trying to get into it. I just can't....back onto the shelf it goes.

[Serrart]

I think that if the "darker" RAL had been released, that it might have had JOA and MM on it.

I would have loooooved to hear the "darker" RAL. I love RAL as it is, but if it were dark? I'd probably love it more than I love OSOTM. And that's a lot. :laugh:

I don't know what I'm saying right now. Hi, kids! :wavey: :woohoo:

RAL or TITN, it's a shame Joan of Arc has never been released, it's an incredible and powerful song, actually a first step for Stevie in a totally new, modern and engaging direction, that she's been able to go back to only after Klonopin Years, with many of the TISL songs and demos, IMO.

Romy

[David]

To me, "Mirror Mirror" sounds like it was probably recorded in 1984. Many Ledgies know this, but Stevie took almost two years to record and release RAL. The production sounds very mid-80's, and part of the music kind of sounds like the music that is heard in "Risky Business" (listen during the opening credits). Stevie proabably heard that and incorporated it into one of her own songs, since she did say in an interview a while back (during the WH days?) that she was watching the movie one night at her house with her friends, and she called up somewhere and had the same Porsche that was in the movie delivered to her house that very night. Isn't there a picture of her signing the license in the Enchanted booklet? If you look closley the date on the license says 8/15/84. It is on the same page as Stevie is recording the song.She's signing something with the number N77738 on it, but what is that?

More important, in the photo to the left of that, she's playing "Mirror, Mirror" on a Roland JX-3P. What does that tell you guys?

[tynan88]

She's signing something with the number N77738 on it, but what is that?

More important, in the photo to the left of that, she's playing "Mirror, Mirror" on a Roland JX-3P. What does that tell you guys?

I give up? :shrugs: :laugh: