6 Unreleased Songs

[sorcerer999]

I'm taking the lead from Skuncles on this one (his desert island post was a good one...and fun). So along those same lines, my question is...what 6 Stevie unreleased demos would YOU like to see make it on an album before Stevie stops making music. I'd say that after this new record comes out, Stevie maybe has one more record with F.Mac and MAYBE one more solo record (hopefully more). So the six I'd like to see on an album before she stops recording are...

1. Blue Water
2. Watch Devil
3. If you Were My Love
4. Mistaken Love
5. Lady From The Mountain
6. China Doll

What about you guys? Thanks for playing!

[nailatixela]

I'm afraid of putting some of my favorites here, like Blue Water. I don't know if she could do all of her demos justice, and I think some of them are best staying in the demo state that they're in now. But 6 songs that I would like to see her do today and release...

Knocking On Doors
The Dealer
If You Were My Love
Belle Fleur
All The Beautiful Worlds
At The Fair

[GypsySorcerer]

1) China Doll
2) Mistaken Love
3) The Dealer
4) Forest of the Black Roses
5) Space Needle
6) Belle Fleur

[skuncles]

I'm one of those that think the demos should maybe get cleaned up musically but leave the vocals alone, but having said that my picks would be:

1) Julia

2) Forest Of The Black Roses

3) The Dealer

4) Smile At You (I know it's already been done, but redo it the way it was originally intended!!)

5) Sanctuary

6) Joan Of Arc

[joe68]

1. Blue Water
2. All the Beautiful Worlds
3. Lady from the Mountain
4. Have no Heart
5. Love & War
6. Forest of the Black Roses

[daniellaaarisen]

FORSAKEN LOVE.
Space Needle
Forest of the Black Roses
If You Were My Love
Julia
Fireflies (piano demo). I know they did it for Live 1980 but seriously the piano demo that I have is all of a minute long and I think it's one of the most incredible things Stevie's ever recorded.

[KarmaContestant]

Eh...most of Stevie's demos would be great if they were just released as-is. But there are a few which would sound great if she re-recorded them:

Blue Water
Lady From The Mountain
Space Needle
She Loves Him Still (I'm unsure on this one - might be best left unchanged)
China Doll
Belle Flower

[kokoro]

I can't bring myself to answer the other thread, but I can manage this one. It’s still hard, though. Some of my favorite Stevie demos are perfect as they are, while others could use some serious work.

Some favorites I'd like to see released:

Chanel, Chanel
China Doll
If You Were My Love (Mirage era style)
Is Anybody There?
Joan of Arc (super creepy version)
Space Needle (with a few cringe-worthy verses removed)

And some runners up, because I’m a cheater:

Baby Doll
Blue Water
Knockin’ on Doors
Lady from the Mountain

[louielouie2000]

This list is highly subject to change, by the way. And I am not saying I like these more than other demos, I'm just saying these would work best with modern production, and Stevie's current voice:

If You Were My Love
Lady From The Mountain
Blue Water
Joan Of Arc
My Heart
Something Exquisite

[sorcerer999]

1. Blue Water
2. Watch Devil
3. If you Were My Love
4. Mistaken Love
5. Lady From The Mountain
6. China Doll


COMPLETELY forgot about Spinning Wheels (Christian) - gonna take off China Doll and replace it with that one! Hehehe...

[vivfox]

Eh...most of Stevie's demos would be great if they were just released as-is.


Great minds...

[tilthefirefades]

Mostly these two:
If You Were My Love
Maker of Birds (Three Birds of Rhiannon)

And also:
Forest of the Black Roses
The Dealer
Love and War
Lady from the Mountain

[darklinensuit]

Leave as is but release on an album:
Lady from the Mountain (RAL version, but not the popular one on Youtube)
She Still Loves Him
All the Beautiful Worlds

She can probably record decent new versions of these with the right producer:
The Dealer
Sanctuary
Love and War
Baby Doll


- Jake

[Christopher]

At this point I almost prefer all new songs. Flashback 8 years ago most fans were clamoring for "Smile At You" to be officially released. Look how that turned out :shrug:, It just didn't live up to a lot of peoples expectations, and those that didn't care for it were more concerned with Lindsey's arrangement than Stevie vocal, which was actually pretty great. I didn't hate the way SAY turned out, but I certainly did not love it, and thought it could & should have been better. Back in 82' Smile At You could have been a hit single for FM or Stevie easily.

But since we know Stevie pulled 4-5 out of her song vault for the next project, and I have a little renewed faith that Dave can arrange some of her oldies from a fresh & creative perspective, I am hopeful for:

Forest Of The Black Roses
Chanel Chanel
All The Beautiful Worlds
If You Were My Love
Have No Heart
Annabel Lee (added since we know it's been confirmed as being recorded)

Honorable mention (since there are so many great songs unreleased & this is so hard:sorry:)
Space Needle
I Call You Missing
Joan Of Arc
At The Fair
Belle Flower
Lady From The Mountain
Julia
City Of Hope
Love And War
The Dealer
Christian

and on and on...

[SapphireSister]

I'm in the mode where I do not want any of my favorite demos to be released because then they would no longer be my favorite demos. They would become the demo version to the released version and some things are better left untouched. Bottom line, I don't feel like sharing, meh. O.k. I would not be mad at you Stevie if you put Space Needle on the new album.

[starshine]

There's many good songs I wish would be released but I am kinda partial to the original demo or the original outtake in the state that it is in. I love those songs for the raw emotion that they bring to the table and probably for the time period or voice that Stevie had recorded them in. And like someone had mentioned when they are redone they don't pack the same punch that those original versions gave us. It maybe nice for them to be released but .......and I don't mean to even set myself up saying if something that I loved in the past is in 'new' form that I won't like it but I have a feeling I may not ......like someone stated Smile At You from SYW......I also don't like how the lyrics were changed either (but I can also say this about Listen To The Rain from SA cause I like the original version/demo/outtake? from '91 when I think it was /maybe to have been released on Timespace.....I love the way those lyrics were not the way they were changed for SA...it was disappointing......) Anyway, I will make a list too.....(even after all of that.....) LOL....

1/Blue Water 2/City Of Hope/3/All The Beautiful Worlds/4/My Heart/5/Love & War......other favorites too: 3 Birds Of Rhiannon/She Loves Him Still/( I know this was released as a B-Side for SA but I want a longer version/outtake of Mirror, Mirror too or maybe she could just release an outtakes/extended versions/etc box set.....??this would be nice.....Forest of The Black Roses/Chanel,Chanel/Space Needle/Have No Heart/The Dealer/Its Not A Dream/I Call You Missing/Starshine too/Sanctuary/Baby Doll.....I guess I better stop or I keep listing all of them.....Its too easy to keep listing these things.......LOL:D:shrug: (probably forgot something too).....

[chiliD]

At this point I almost prefer all new songs. Flashback 8 years ago most fans were clamoring for "Smile At You" to be officially released. Look how that turned out :shrug

Yeah, effing fantastic!!

There are more layers to an overall song than just Stevie's (mostly) insecure babblings (or as with this one, "angry"...so effing what if Stevie's angry...doesn't NECESSARILY make the track "better", personally, I think that demo is crap, utter CRAP!!) while the musicians are just trying to get through the simplistic changes of the song in the same meter as Stevie's rambling lyrical content.

On the final version, listen to John's incredible bass line throughout, listen to the layers of guitars punctuating the vocal lines, listen to the controlled intensity of Stevie's vocal(s)...the intensity of the entire track all falling together. Best song on the album, pretty damned close to the best Stevie Nicks sung track EVER.

[sorcerer999]

I totally agree that the demos in and of themselves are special, and probably shouldn't be tampered with. However, there is always potential for improvement. I absolutely LOVE Candlebright, Sorcerer, and Running Thru The Garden! I like Smile At You (it was never my fav demo to begin with) - I certainly don't think it's bad.

Now Planets Of The Universe and Goodbye Baby were HUGE disappointments to me, as I adore the demos titled No Light and The Tower. Those demos always cheer me up (an irony since the subject matter on both is so gloomy). The new versions didn't ruin them for me, just made me appreciate them even more, as I will always have those to fall back on.

As far as different versions of things, I prefer the TISL (Wall of Sound) version of Thrown Down as oppossed to the SYW version...and like you, Starshine, I prefer the earlier version of Listen To The Rain.

But my point is, some are great, some are okay, and some are not so good. But there is always potential, and there's no harm in trying to make a demo into a finished song. This, of course, is just my humble opinion.

[starshine]

Yeah, Sorcerer999: I hear what your saying.....there is no harm in the 'trying' part of any of the unreleased Stevie songs (solo or with Mac).....they could be better but I guess I'm less than impressed with some that have been released as they have than to what we have as a 'demo' or unreleased outtake version (like MikeB says not every song is a 'demo' they are outtakes or UNreleased extended versions etc) but it is hard to know sometime. I would venture to say the songs that we have many versions of could be considered outtakes ? I could be wrong so Mike if your here clarify this(or anyone?).....anyway, either way.....they a 'new' version of an outtake or demo song could be better but as much as I can handle Stevie's voice now it'll never be the 'voice' that I love from certian periods (or era's that is ) I can listen to it don't get me wrong but for me there was something special about her voice from say '77-early '84.....not that I mind it before than (before 77) or after (85 to present) but I do love those times.....so anyway.....its only IMO....no offence meant.......but I will try to keep an open mind to 'when' we get this new Stevie LP/Cd sometime in the said future......time will tell. I do hope they put at least 15 songs on it. Heck cds can hold alot of music.....so theres no excuse to only have 10-12 tracks. I also hope there is a Japan release with extras of a B-side or extended versions or something 'cool' like that......we'll see.......:shrug::D

[DestinyRules]

My apologies in advance if this list includes some that have been released sort of already:

1. Something Exquisite
2. Space Needle
3. My Heart
4. Mirror Mirror
5. The New Orleans Song
6. The Dealer

I quote extensively from the first two songs.

[vivfox]

1. Something Exquisite


I was trying to remember this song earlier today. I often use this song as a motivator when I am looking for new work for my cleaning business.

[Nikolaj]

I liked nearly all of the choices, you can't really argue on this topic!
First, I want to give some love to:
1. 24 Karat or aka 24 Karat Gold.
(I didn't see anyone mention it, and I think it has good potential!)
2. Jimmy Come Back, if she ever finished lyrics to it clearer than what we heard, the song was rockin- well, it wanted to!
3.Definitely 'Space Needle'
4. China Doll is gorgeous, and I have a feeling that it will be on the coming cd.
5. I'd like her to re-record 'Everybody Finds Out' though it was nearly perfect. It's just a song that deserves to be known by the masses, but it isn't. Sorry for cheating.
6. Oh, and just to be contrary, how about releasing 'Are You Mine' as a solo song? It was a nice demo with Dick Mito.

So, those were my 6 choices, with one cheat. I loved the mentions of 'She Still Loves Him'- though it's been said here that Knopler has nixed it, and of course, 'Forest of the Black Roses' is gorgeous but she still seems to be saving it. 'If You Were My Love'- to me, would be best ala the Mirage version, it feels like a Fleetwood Mac song but of course solo could be great, too.

[Christopher]

On the final version, listen to John's incredible bass line throughout, listen to the layers of guitars punctuating the vocal lines, listen to the controlled intensity of Stevie's vocal(s)...the intensity of the entire track all falling together. Best song on the album, pretty damned close to the best Stevie Nicks sung track EVER.

I agree, John does mind blowing bass on this track, as well as Illume & Everybody Finds Out to name a few that also stand out on SYW. Johns work on that album was unbelievable! And Stevie vocal is great with probably more bitters and foreboding from her matriarch perspective.

Running Through The Garden to me is the polar opposite to how Smile At You became on SYW. I think Lindsey and the band improved upon the arrangement and music from the RAL outtake, However, Stevie's vocal to me was underwhelming and does not hold a candle to her RAL version. And even though Stevie's vocal from the RAL outtake was unreachable for Stevie at that point, I still think she could have probably turned in a better vocal than they ended up with.

Eh... ledgie's are obviously never in complete agreement as what makes a song great or not, that's why we come here to vent our self important opinions. ;)

[Christopher]

I liked nearly all of the choices, you can't really argue on this topic!
First, I want to give some love to:
1. 24 Karat or aka 24 Karat Gold.
(I didn't see anyone mention it, and I think it has good potential!)
2. Jimmy Come Back, if she ever finished lyrics to it clearer than what we heard, the song was rockin- well, it wanted to!
3.Definitely 'Space Needle'
4. China Doll is gorgeous, and I have a feeling that it will be on the coming cd.
5. I'd like her to re-record 'Everybody Finds Out' though it was nearly perfect. It's just a song that deserves to be known by the masses, but it isn't. Sorry for cheating.
6. Oh, and just to be contrary, how about releasing 'Are You Mine' as a solo song? It was a nice demo with Dick Mito.

So, those were my 6 choices, with one cheat. I loved the mentions of 'She Still Loves Him'- though it's been said here that Knopler has nixed it, and of course, 'Forest of the Black Roses' is gorgeous but she still seems to be saving it. 'If You Were My Love'- to me, would be best ala the Mirage version, it feels like a Fleetwood Mac song but of course solo could be great, too.

Great choice, forgot about that one. But I suspect Stevie voice could not tear into it the way she does in the outtake, so I'd be let down...wah wah.

As far as She Loves Him Still, do we have confirmation that Knofler wrote the music and played on the outtake? I wonder if he objected to her releasing the song in any form, even if she used another guitar player in place of his alleged performance.

[skuncles]

I totally agree that the demos in and of themselves are special, and probably shouldn't be tampered with. However, there is always potential for improvement. I absolutely LOVE Candlebright, Sorcerer, and Running Thru The Garden! I like Smile At You (it was never my fav demo to begin with) - I certainly don't think it's bad.

I think the problem with "Smile At You" when it was originally done, Stevie was REALLY pissed at whoever the song is about. There are several demos out there of it with varying degrees of anger. I think by doing the song 20 years or so after it was written dulled Stevie's anger. Also I don't Lindsey ever really liked the song to begin with (maybe it's about him?).
Same goes for "The Tower", I don't think "Goodbye Baby" is bad, but the demo is better. Again "The Tower" to me is a very sad heartbroken song, but with "Goodbye Baby" the scar has healed quite a bit.
There's something to be said for recording in the heat of the moment.

[sorcerer999]

There's something to be said for recording in the heat of the moment.

Totally! Which is why I still think she could get away with recording songs like "Watch Devil", "Lady From The Mountain" or "Blue Water". They really don't evoke being "in love" or "angry" with anyone in particular.

[Jondalar]

1. Three Birds of Rhiannon
2. Lady from the Mountain
3. Beautful Worlds
4. Forest of Black Roses
5. Is Anybody There
6. China Doll

[CreepingDeath]

1. Forest Of The Black Roses
2. All The Beautiful Worlds
3. Lady From The Mountain
4. Julia
5. China Doll
6. Joan Of Arc

[SapphireSister]

I'm in a better mood so here are my choices:
1. All the Beautiful Worlds
2. Space Needle
3. Chanel Chnnel
4. City of Hope
5. Joan of Arc
6. Christian (aka Spinning Wheels)
7. Night Gallery

And how could I possibly have forgoten the masterpiece that is OOH OOH BABY!

[DestinyRules]

personally, I think that demo is crap, utter CRAP!!)

I'm going to have to disagree with that. I think Stevie's emotion really carries the "flaming, flaming" version and does it well.

I'll agree with the assessment that the SYW version is watered down, but I actually like it. I'm not as in love with it as I am with the "flaming, flaming" version, but the vocal has a different kind of anger. Instead of the blinded by rage in the moment anger, this is someone who's had years to reflect on everything and is telling off the antagonist one last time before moving on.

As far as "Planets Of The Universe" is concerned, I think John did a really nice job of helping channel Stevie into a more mature direction with the lyrics and the delivery. I *love* the extended album version more so than the album version, though.

To me, that "you will remember, but I will die a slow death" is so much better in the extended album version because it's delivered with the sense of a woman who's moved on and is not the weepy little girl of the demos. The demo is a girl trying (and failing) to sound brave when she sings "I wish you gone and I don't care." The extended album version of that line is someone who really doesn't give a flying frig what happens to the guy she's singing about.

[skuncles]

To me, that "you will remember, but I will die a slow death" is so much better in the extended album version because it's delivered with the sense of a woman who's moved on and is not the weepy little girl of the demos. The demo is a girl trying (and failing) to sound brave when she sings "I wish you gone and I don't care." The extended album version of that line is someone who really doesn't give a flying frig what happens to the guy she's singing about.

It's funny you say that, in a review I wrote for TISL at the time of it's release, I compared the album to Dorothy's journey in "The Wizard Of Oz". I said the the songs on TISL are from a woman who's been thru the rock and roll mill and lived to tell about it. The wide eyed girl who recorded "Bella Donna" could not have recorded TISL. "Bella Donna" was recorded by a girl who was still very naive to what lay ahead. TISL was recorded by a woman who went thru the darkness and returned to tell the story. To me that's also what the album cover shows, her return from her journey.

[Nikolaj]

In my opinion, what ruined 'Smile At You' was the unfortunate production and arrangement- I can agree that the heat of the moment in the 80s made her sing it so well, but on the Say You Will cd, the ahh-ahhhs unintentionally sounded like Alvin and The Chipmunks, and the damned 'ahhh-ahhhs' are all over the song and ruin it. LB or SN or anyone with ears should have noticed how 'chipmunkish' the song sounded before including it- It had been a scorcher in each of the demos I had heard of it, even the weakest. I think it was Christopher who may have implied it would have been better not to have it had been on 'SYW' at all, and I'd have to agree.
It'd be unfair to say it was intentional sabotage by LB, but, in my opinion, to take a great song and make it horrible is a minor tragedy, as far as tragedies go. The song got ruined. In my opinion. That's why I hope there isn't a ton of tinkering and post-production on SN's coming cd. What is great sometimes gets lost by working on it too long.