Fixing Street Angel

[petep9000]

I always think that the version of 'Blue Denim' which made it to the SA album is so so much better than the version which was included on the 'Enchanted' box set. That BD is dull, whereas the album version is so full of life and sound. Plus, lots of organ which I think really compliments Stevie's sound and brings back to the days of 'Bella Donna'. I would imagine this is one of the SA tracks that was re-engineered after Stevie got better and decided to try to rescue SA. But what else was fixed? Does anyone have any SA 'before' tracks for comparison to the 'after' album tracks?

[vivfox]

Docklands was way better in its demo form as was Listen To The Rain.

[Travis]

Blue Denim – I agree that the CD version is better than the version that is on the Enchanted Boxed Set. The one on the boxed sets sounds like an adult contemporary version.

Listen To the Rain – I too like the demo version better than what is on the CD. She sounds like a female Bon Jovi on the CD. It’s like she is trying too hard to sound tough as opposed to just singing in her normal voice, and I cringe still when I hear it.

Street Angel – I don’t mind the version on the Boxed Set but I do prefer the CD version because of the guitar (that’s missing from the boxed set version). I think it adds to the song.

Rose Garden – Now I do think I prefer the one on the boxed set over the CD version mainly because the vocals are clearer.

Destiny – Never cared for the song so neither version does much for me.

Maybe Love – The demo that was floating around a few years ago, the one that opens with the drum sticks, that version is excellent. It’s more a singer/songwriter version as opposed to the more poppy version on the CD, which I don’t mind either.

Jane – Now I’m remembering, the other version of this that I heard (I guess the one that Daniel had posted on his site) was another great version. I think it was more piano driven; it’s been a while since I’ve heard it.

[JazmenFlowers]

the Greta demo pwns the SA version.

[Phoenix]

The SINGLE version of Blue Denim rocks even more than the album version. :nod: AND Inspiration should have been on the album, instead of just being a B-side, and import track.

[gldstwmn]

The Street Angel Master Mixes CD is a good counterpoint to what was acutally released. For the most part, I prefer it to the finished product especially Maybe Love. I'm sure there is a link to it in one of the demo threads somewhere.

[petep9000]

The SINGLE version of Blue Denim rocks even more than the album version. :nod: AND Inspiration should have been on the album, instead of just being a B-side, and import track.

Yes! I had the 'cassingle' of this (I think I was one of the last people in the US to buy cassette singles), and I remember the guitar just lept out of the speakers. I thought it was cool, and I kinda/sorta liked the cassette artwork where Stevie was in the big black hat.

<a href="http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc297/jcastr01/a7bf_1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc297/jcastr01/th_a7bf_1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>

[drzubritsky]

I am one of the minority that actually kind of likes SA and thinks it is underrated (or at a minimum does not deserve the bashing it gets from Stevie and most of the fans). I agree with the OP that the SA version of "Blue Denim" is better than the Enchanted version.

But as far as "fixing" it, I don't really see any easy fixes. Certainly omitting a few of the weaker tracks ("Unconditional Love", "Just Like A Woman") and replacing them with some of the better songs that were cut during this era would help (e.g. "Inspiration", maybe "Thousand Days"). It would have been kind of cool to have her acoustic "It's Late" on there, but I believe that was cut the following year.

The real "unfixable" problem with SA is that the arrangements and production were very out-of-step with the times in 1994. For SA, Stevie reverted back to the 70s L.A. rock-style arrangements that had served her so well on BD and WH...not an unreasonable decision, but one that ultimately proved commercially disastrous as well as sealing her image at the time as something of a has-been.

Ironically, new female artists were blossoming around the time of SA (1993-1995 ish), with artists and bands like Sheryl Crow, The Cranberries, Alanis Morrissette, Natalie Merchant, etc. releasing music with a distinctly female perspective and which sounded up-to-date without being overly trendy. It would have been great to hear the production styles of some of these artists applied to the better SA material. While I don't think that would have turned SA into a major hit, it may have kept Stevie somewhat "in the game" as far as being a relevant female artist.

Despite being outdated at the time, I think the production on SA has actually held up BETTER than some of Stevie's other albums, particularly RAL, TOSOTM and the new cuts on Timespace.

[markolas]

The real "unfixable" problem with SA is that the arrangements and production were very out-of-step with the times in 1994.

I agree, altho I always thought it sounded very '80s - '80s music is hip now, but in 1994 it absolutely was not.

It's been a long time since I heard the Enchanted SA tracks, but I remember liking the Enchanted version of Street Angel better than the original album version, if not the others as well. The tracks she included on Enchanted are really the only ones that are objectively any good, IMO - most of the other songs are just cringe-worthy - lyrically, vocally, and musically.

[Bella Figura]

that's interesting because I always thought that the overall sadness of Street Angel fit perfectly with that time period of angsty music tho I do agree it was overproduced and overarranged...it should have been more stripped down with less instumentation...

[SpyNote]

Yes! I had the 'cassingle' of this (I think I was one of the last people in the US to buy cassette singles), and I remember the guitar just lept out of the speakers.

The single remix is only available on the U.S. promo CD. I like this version the best because it sounds complete.

Blue Denim (remix) (http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=01c8a197b2e1c2a007258ee67c679e4ade90fd39a1fec0a55621d66e282a0ee8)

[Travis]

The single remix is only available on the U.S. promo CD. I like this version the best because it sounds complete.

Blue Denim (remix) (http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=01c8a197b2e1c2a007258ee67c679e4ade90fd39a1fec0a55621d66e282a0ee8)

You are correct Daniel - the remix only surfaced on the CD promo however the video is matched to the remix if I recall. What was the point of it being remixed if they were not going to issue it on the single? Weird.

[SpyNote]

You are correct Daniel - the remix only surfaced on the CD promo however the video is matched to the remix if I recall.

Yeah, that's right. The CD has the full remix without the audience.

What was the point of it being remixed if they were not going to issue it on the single? Weird.

Single remixes don't always appear on commercial releases. For example, this is often done with Madonna, whose promo catalog includes many commerically unreleased single remixes. Fortunately, iTunes has made more single remixes available to the public.

[skuncles]

I'm such an idiot, I see you posted the link to the Blue Denim remix and my first thought was "Wow, I have to have that!!" Then I stopped and realized, I already have this!! Back in the '90's I had a full time job, and LOT'S of disposable income and bought anything and everything to do with Stevie or Fleetwood Mac, as a result, I have all the promo singles along with tons of other stuff!! How could I forget about this!?!?

[louielouie2000]

I am one of the minority that actually kind of likes SA and thinks it is underrated (or at a minimum does not deserve the bashing it gets from Stevie and most of the fans). I agree with the OP that the SA version of "Blue Denim" is better than the Enchanted version.

But as far as "fixing" it, I don't really see any easy fixes. Certainly omitting a few of the weaker tracks ("Unconditional Love", "Just Like A Woman") and replacing them with some of the better songs that were cut during this era would help (e.g. "Inspiration", maybe "Thousand Days"). It would have been kind of cool to have her acoustic "It's Late" on there, but I believe that was cut the following year.

The real "unfixable" problem with SA is that the arrangements and production were very out-of-step with the times in 1994. For SA, Stevie reverted back to the 70s L.A. rock-style arrangements that had served her so well on BD and WH...not an unreasonable decision, but one that ultimately proved commercially disastrous as well as sealing her image at the time as something of a has-been.

Ironically, new female artists were blossoming around the time of SA (1993-1995 ish), with artists and bands like Sheryl Crow, The Cranberries, Alanis Morrissette, Natalie Merchant, etc. releasing music with a distinctly female perspective and which sounded up-to-date without being overly trendy. It would have been great to hear the production styles of some of these artists applied to the better SA material. While I don't think that would have turned SA into a major hit, it may have kept Stevie somewhat "in the game" as far as being a relevant female artist.

Despite being outdated at the time, I think the production on SA has actually held up BETTER than some of Stevie's other albums, particularly RAL, TOSOTM and the new cuts on Timespace.

This has to be one of the most well thought out critiques of SA I've read! :thumbsup: I agree with most everything you said too.

I might have to niggle on a few little issues with you though. I was into Natalie, Sheryl, Alanis, etc when they all first hit the scene. I remember thinking that their sounds were very distinctly retro 70s, especially Sheryl's self titled album. But that's the irony of it all... new artists can find great success and acclaim sounding retro, but if an older artist reverts back to their golden era sound, they're panned.

Overall, I still really like SA despite it's flaws. I hold steady to my belief that it was the right kind of album for Stevie to make at the time. With the advent of grunge, and the general hardening sound of popular music following the '80s, Stevie badly needed to follow up OSOTM with a more back to basics rock album. And that's what SA is to me, despite it's shortcomings. Stevie stripped off her shawls, put away the fairy dust, and brought back out the electric guitars. I rate Blue Denim up there with anything she's ever recorded. I love the hard edged sound of Love Is Like A River, and the whimsy of Greta. SA really is a good little album in my book.

I agree, some tracks should never have seen the light of day, and others should have taken their place. She did some demos of If You Were My Love at the time which would have been GREAT! Thousand Days could have been worked in too :D . In the end, I think I like the potential SA possessed more than anything. There were some great bones holding the album up, which is why I will always defend it when people bash it. :wavey:

[Fannymac]

There were around three or four songs from the original version that were left off the final version. I think I still have the WEA tear sheet....I'll look for it tonight!

[golddustdrummer]

Yes! I had the 'cassingle' of this (I think I was one of the last people in the US to buy cassette singles), and I remember the guitar just lept out of the speakers. I thought it was cool, and I kinda/sorta liked the cassette artwork where Stevie was in the big black hat.




describe this "cassette" thing you speak of...

[drzubritsky]

I might have to niggle on a few little issues with you though. I was into Natalie, Sheryl, Alanis, etc when they all first hit the scene. I remember thinking that their sounds were very distinctly retro 70s, especially Sheryl's self titled album. But that's the irony of it all... new artists can find great success and acclaim sounding retro, but if an older artist reverts back to their golden era sound, they're panned.



True, those artists did incorporate 70s styles into their 90s work. "All I Wanna Do", for example, is very reminiscent of Stealers Wheels "Stuck In The Middle With You". But somehow the production sounded fresher...maybe there was a "cleaner" feel to the production. The arrangements on SA sound cluttered in comparison.

The production style of Lisa Loeb's "Stay (I Missed You)" from that same year would have also worked well for SA. Another song with good production from the year before is "Look Up To The Sky" by The Indians, which had some interesting instrumentation that would have fit well on SA.

Another interesting aspect of SA is Stevie's voice. She was actually in good voice during this era, but it was quite different than the way she sounded on Timespace 3 years earlier or The Dance 3 years later. Her voice had kind of a congested quality on SA that was never heard again, and I don't think the recording of the vocals did justice to her voice. As evidenced by the House Of Blues radio broadcast, her voice was quite strong and she even hit the same high notes in the Rhiannon finale that she did in the 70s (though not with the same intensity).

All in all, SA is a fascinating near miss.

[petep9000]

And it's funny, because I think it was 'Rolling Stone' that said in their review that SA "gets off to a creaky start with Blue Denim", which I couldn't understand. Because to me, BD was the strongest song on the album.

Ditto to a snotty, phlegmy quality to Stevie's voice, but I cant see any difference between SA and the mucous-fest that was OSOTM. However, at least in SA she had a bit more rock in her rather than crystal fantasies and castles.

Was David Crosby a late addition to the SA track? Was he added post-production to try to make the song better? I don't think he adds anything special that Sharon or Lori couldn't have added.

[Travis]

Just yesterday I was listening to Blue Denim live from Jay Leno and I was thinking – even though SA wasn’t the best era for Stevie (which she openly admits) her vocals are strong and passionate on most of SA and a lot of the live recordings. I thought she had a lot of emotion in her vocals from the Leno performance.

[louielouie2000]

Ditto to a snotty, phlegmy quality to Stevie's voice, but I cant see any difference between SA and the mucous-fest that was OSOTM.

What's most interesting, is she had some SEARING vocals during the SA Tour! Just listen to this version of Outside The Rain:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sscchs4RcJ4

I wish she'd let loose and belt those high notes and infuse some of that passion today! While I realize she's 15 years younger then, it still proves she can do it!!

[petep9000]

Wow, almost like a RAL tour vocal, minus the twirling and kohl around the eyes.
I swear, I just can't remember the details of the one SA show I caught on that tour, and that's a shame. I can't remember if I thought her vocals were strong or not, I can't even remember the 'root perm'. I think it was because I was so far up in the highest balcony section of the Jones Beach Theater. Tsk tsk. My clear memories seem to skip from her Timespace (or was it 'Whole Lotta Trouble') shows to FM's 'The Dance' shows.

Oh, I do remember one detail. She sang 'Destiny', right? I had binoculars, and the guy next to me asked if he could borrow them because it was his girlfriend's favorite song.

Anyway, this was a cool little discovery, thanks for posting this clip. She was in fine voice.

[Fannymac]

OK, here's the track listing for the Glyn Johns-produced version!

BLUE DENIM
ROSE GARDEN
STREET ANGEL
JUST LIKE A WOMAN
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
DESTINY
I CALL YOU MISSING
INSPIRATION
MAYBE LOVE WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND
KICK IT
LISTEN TO THE RAIN
PLAYING IN GOD'S GARDEN

Never noticed this before, but I wonder if this is the same "Inspiration" that she dueted with Rick Vito in his KING OF HEARTS album?

[markolas]

Hmm...

Have the Glyn Johns versions ever surfaced?

[SpyNote]

OK, here's the track listing for the Glyn Johns-produced version!

BLUE DENIM
ROSE GARDEN
STREET ANGEL
JUST LIKE A WOMAN
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
DESTINY
I CALL YOU MISSING
INSPIRATION
MAYBE LOVE WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND
KICK IT
LISTEN TO THE RAIN
PLAYING IN GOD'S GARDEN

Never noticed this before, but I wonder if this is the same "Inspiration" that she dueted with Rick Vito in his KING OF HEARTS album?

I think you're thinking of "Intuition" from Rick Vito's King of Hearts album. Stevie sings backup on this song and duets with him on "Desiree." Ethan Johns wrote "Inspiration."

[Fannymac]

I think you're thinking of "Intuition" from Rick Vito's King of Hearts album. Stevie sings backup on this song and duets with him on "Desiree." Ethan Johns wrote "Inspiration."

Yep, you're correct! Something about that just didn't sound right!
(And I LOVE "Intuition"...one of my favorite tracks off of KOH!)

[Fannymac]

Hmm...

Have the Glyn Johns versions ever surfaced?


I may be wrong, but I don't think so...everyone seemed to be in agreement that they were pretty weak and/or rocky.
Once again, I may be wrong, but I think some of the tracks with Thom were actually recut, while others were (considerably!) remixed!

[markolas]

I may be wrong, but I don't think so...everyone seemed to be in agreement that they were pretty weak and/or rocky.

As opposed to the ones that were actually released? :laugh:

Sorry, I couldn't resist. What makes it so maddening is that there are glimmers of decent/good material buried somewhere in the morass that is the SA album, but there's too much pure sh!t for me to want to listen to it much.

[Chrislit18]

the Greta demo pwns the SA version.
100% ITA.

Greta is great either way, but the Demo version = <3333

[chiliD]

I think you're thinking of "Intuition" from Rick Vito's King of Hearts album. Stevie sings backup on this song and duets with him on "Desiree." Ethan Johns wrote "Inspiration."

Yep, you're correct! Something about that just didn't sound right!
(And I LOVE "Intuition"...one of my favorite tracks off of KOH!)

And, the BTM outtake of "Intuition" is even better than the KOH version! (Mick & John vs drum machine/Rick playing bass....Christine & Billy singing backgrounds vs Stevie multi-tracked)

[Djwidow]

I supported Street Angel all I could when I worked at TowerRecords,
I played it for a few months straight trying to get people interested,
and still people were like "Stevie Nicks, Isn't she dead??" said some tween
at the time...I was like Ummm No She is still alive and Kickin' it !!!!
it was removed from the play list a few days later...
I have to say Greta and Mirror Mirror were my favs from that cd...
even thou MM didn't get cd release...
I still wonder why it was not on the b-side of Enchanted box...hummm...

[iamnotafraid]

I've put a lot of thought into this, and the only way I can think of "fixing"
Street Angel would be to get in my time machine and take a trip back to
1994 and steal the master tapes (and any copies). And then set the time
machine to 1912 and board the Titanic. Put the tapes in a safe, leave hurriedly.
Arrive back in 2009, although no one thanks me, (how would they know?), I
am at peace knowing I saved every Nicks' fan from listening to Street Angel.

[David]

I've put a lot of thought into this, and the only way I can think of "fixing"
Street Angel would be to get in my time machine and take a trip back to
1994 and steal the master tapes (and any copies). And then set the time
machine to 1912 and board the Titanic. Put the tapes in a safe, leave hurriedly.
Arrive back in 2009, although no one thanks me, (how would they know?), I
am at peace knowing I saved every Nicks' fan from listening to Street Angel.
I shudder to think your scenario might ever prove to be the destiny of such great songs. But if it does, I'll grab that safe, jump into one of the lifeboats & save the masters. How to open a locked safe? Kick it! Love is like a river, even in the North Atlantic, so I'd have had no regreta about saving Street Angel.

I don't think there's a single flaw on the album. Call it unconditional love. The album has always been an inspiration to me. I like to play it while I listen to the rain. I think you'll sing a different tune some day, too -- maybe love will change your mind.

As for the Titanic hitting the berg & foundering, isn't that just like a woman?!

[iamnotafraid]

Touche' my friend, touche'...^^

[petep9000]

I shudder to think your scenario might ever prove to be the destiny of such great songs. But if it does, I'll grab that safe, jump into one of the lifeboats & save the masters. How to open a locked safe? Kick it! Love is like a river, even in the North Atlantic, so I'd have had no regreta about saving Street Angel.

I don't think there's a single flaw on the album. Call it unconditional love. The album has always been an inspiration to me. I like to play it while I listen to the rain. I think you'll sing a different tune some day, too -- maybe love will change your mind.

As for the Titanic hitting the berg & foundering, isn't that just like a woman?!

Better wear your blue denim, it sure gets cold out there in the North Atlantic.

[Jondalar]

Add Mirror, Mirror to give album some flare! (One of best vocals she's recorded!)
Put back Inspiration (which in my opinion is the best song on the album),
Add more lyrics to Blue Denim (which is lyrically a weak song with a great hook),
Redo the Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind vocal (her vocal kills the song),
Change the chimapanzee lyrics in Jane to something else,
Redo the Docklands vocal and reproduce it (her vocal is horrible! but good song)

Omit: Street Angel, Love is like a river, Listen to the Rain —BORING!

[StreetAngel86]

the Greta demo pwns the SA version.

hella yeah!
the SA version of SA is one of the few songs i think is better ON SA than on the demos/outtakes etc....Enchanted version doesn't have that eerie opening. it's just a bit flat.

The Street Angel Master Mixes CD is a good counterpoint to what was acutally released. For the most part, I prefer it to the finished product especially Maybe Love. I'm sure there is a link to it in one of the demo threads somewhere.

ITA! :thumbsup:
i like the other versions of Maybe Love too, i havent heard them in a while though
i just remember listening to all the other cuts and wondering WTF was Mama thinking, coz they all sound pretty bloody good, compared to the versions that made the CD...but maybe only coz they were so over produced LiLaR is still kick ass though :p

i would get rid of Unconditional Love.......Jane maybe Just Like a Woman
I would add Inspiration and Mirror Mirror and God's Garden and or Joan of Arc
I would have Stevie re-record Maybe Love and Greta [make it more like the demo] and Docklands

[estranged4life]

The Street Angel Master Mixes CD is a good counterpoint to what was acutally released. For the most part, I prefer it to the finished product especially Maybe Love. I'm sure there is a link to it in one of the demo threads somewhere.

of the tracks from the "Street Angel Master Mixes" disc:

Inspiration
http://www.mediafire.com/?nymdnilxigr

God's Garden
http://www.mediafire.com/?nnmmzmoddug

Rose Garden
http://www.mediafire.com/?ojmdgzlfvxe

Love is Like a River
http://www.mediafire.com/?mfb2mzwmzdd

Greta
http://www.mediafire.com/?jzja42njjue

Street Angel
http://www.mediafire.com/?2bukjdfzm00

Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind
http://www.mediafire.com/?zirzmmymn1x

Blue Denim
http://www.mediafire.com/?nigjddwgyty

Destiny
http://www.mediafire.com/?zuozdzj5nv2

Listen to the Rain
http://www.mediafire.com/?5nyioyatocm

If You Were My Love
http://www.mediafire.com/?mmt3djeonxe

Tracklisting for the disc reads as follows:
01. Docklands
02. Rose Garden
03. If You Were My Love
04. Jane
05. Listen to the Rain
06. Destiny
07. Blue Denim
08. Inspiration
09. God's Garden
10. Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind
11. Just Like a Woman
12. Unconditional Love
13. Street Angel
14. Greta
15. Love is Like a River