Stevie Solo Reviews by David Bowling

[Nikolaj]

^
A review other Ledgies like.

[michelej1]

[Bowling is continuing with his series of FM reviews. He has now moved on to the solo artists].

David Bowling for Blogcritics.org December 7, 2010

http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-stevie-nicks-bella-donna/

Stevie Nicks has had the best solo career of any member of Fleetwood Mac from their classic pop years. That career got off to a good start, July 27, 1981, when she released Bella Donna. It would top The United States album charts, produce four top forty single hits, and sell in the neighborhood of five million copies.

She used her Fleetwood Mac sound as a jumping off place. During her time with the group, they were a band that treaded the line between rock and pop. Nicks contributions may have had lyrics that were at times personal and even mythical upon occasion; her music would be in the Fleetwood Mac mainstream. She moved her solo sound in a rock direction, and this was particularly true with the hit singles. It all added up to a rock album that maintained the polish of her former work. It remains her best and most consistent solo album.

She called upon an array of friends and musicians to assist her. Tom Petty, who also co-produced the album, Don Henley of The Eagles, Roy Bittan of The E Street Band, guitarist Waddy Wachtel, bassist Donald “Duck” Dunn, drummer Stan Lynch, and a dozen more were all on hand.

She recorded a volume of material for the album which was reduced to the ten tracks that comprise the original release. A number of those tracks have appeared in an extended form down through the years. There were also a number of songs recorded in very stripped down versions including solo piano versions of then unreleased demos of “China Doll,” “Christian (Spinning Wheel),” and “Stay Away.” Legend has it there is still a treasure trove of unreleased material that was recorded at the time.

The album is centered on the songs that were issued as singles. “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” with Tom Petty, “Leather and Lace” with Don Henley, “Edge Of Seventeen,” and “After The Glitter Fades” are all considered milestones in her career and form one of the better group of songs issued by a female artist on one album.

There were a number of other excellent tracks in addition to her well known hits. “Kind Of Woman” is a moody track with a haunting beauty. “Outside The Rain” is melodic and rocks. The title track is a Stevie Nicks epic. “Think About It” was written for Christine McVie who was considering leaving the group at the time.

Bella Donna remains the masterpiece of her career. While she would continue to produce solo material in the future, it would never be as consistent as here. It presents the rock side of Stevie Nicks at her best.

http://blogcritics.org/music/article...s-bella-donna/
__________________

[AliceLover]

Ball-sy of them to mention the unreleased demos. I would never consider "china doll" a bella donna outtake (unless I'm missing something). I always considered "china doll" to be from 76' or 77'.

[TerraRhiannon]

[
“Think About It” was written for Christine McVie who was considering leaving the group at the time.

Bella Donna remains the masterpiece of her career. While she would continue to produce solo material in the future, it would never be as consistent as here. It presents the rock side of Stevie Nicks at her best.

http://blogcritics.org/music/article...s-bella-donna/
__________________

I did not know this. Now it kind of makes sense, I had no idea who she was talking about before. I kind of like that I know this now. "Even when you feel like your life is fading, I know that you'll go on forever You're that good."

[michelej1]

December 13, 2010 by David Bowling for Blogcritics.org

http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-stevie-nicks-the-wild/

Stevie Nicks released her second solo album close to two years after her first. The Wild Heart may not have had the consistent highs of Bella Donna, but when it was good, it was very good.

She was riding a wave of personal popularity during 1983. Her 1981 Bella Donna solo debut and Fleetwood Mac’s 1982 Mirage album both reached number one on the American album charts and sold millions of copies. The group’s concerts and her solo appearances continued to sell out before huge audiences. It was against this background that she went into the studio to record her second solo album.

The album has a list of guest musicians that seem to go on ad infinitum. Tom Petty, Mike Campbell, Mick Fleetwood, Steve Lukather, Wendy Wachtel, Don Felder, Roy Bittan, David Foster, and dozens of others make appearances. Even his purple highness, Prince, makes an uncredited stop.

She continues in the rock vein of Bella Donna. The sound is updated to what was popular at the time, as synthesizers and percussion move to the forefront to share space with the guitars. The main problem was that the lyrics tended to be fairly obscure on a number of the songs.

As with her previous album, it was the top forty hit singles that formed the foundation of her music and are the most accessible tracks. “Stand Back” is one of the better creations of her career. It is a rocker with catchy hooks and the vocal is powerful as well.

“Nightbird” was a dark tribute ballad for her old friend Robyn Anderson, who had passed away. “If Anyone Falls” may be a little dated today as the synthesizers are front and center. On the other hand, it was part of the best of the eighties sound as it was very danceable and the harmonies were perfect.

There are a number of other tracks that are still worth exploring, including the title song, which is another in your face rocker. “Enchanted” can best be described as country/rock, as her vocal combines with Bruce Springsteen & The E Street band member Roy Bittan’s piano with good effect. Another highlight is “Nothing Ever Changes," which is an angry and powerful rocker.

The unusual track is “Beauty and The Beast,” which comes complete with a 23-person string section. She also recorded the song live. While I prefer her rock material, this was a good attempt at trying something different.

The Wild Heart was an upbeat outing for Stevie Nicks. While it may not have been as good as her solo debut, it was still an excellent release. It proved that she was a formidable solo artist in her own right.

[APerfectLie]

I did not know this. Now it kind of makes sense, I had no idea who she was talking about before. I kind of like that I know this now. "Even when you feel like your life is fading, I know that you'll go on forever You're that good."

"I wrote that for Chris when she and John were seriously getting divorced and on the road which is one of your larger, unpleasant times. And Lindsey and I were sorta the same thing, except that you know, when somebody else is going thru it too, one person get strong and the other person gets weak, so Chris and I would be constantly like 'Okay I'm going to be strong now and you can fall apart and then she'll be strong and I'll fall apart' and that was on a particular time when she was falling apart and I was being strong and I didn't want her to quit. So I was trying in my little philosophic way to give her some strength and hold her up a little bit. I don't know why I... you know, people are asking me about these dedications and I just really wanted everybody to know that I wrote that for my friend Chris when she was sad."

[michelej1]

Ooh, I'm confused.
Two threads for the same terrible writer? You have the exact same Bella Donna review 16 topics below, near the bottom of this page, that you posted 2 days ago. It's still a horrible read!
Thanks, again, he's the worst writer in the history of the world! Put it up again tomorrow, won't you :)

Nikolaj I merged two threads. Since the post is not only linked by me, but quoted in full by me, I don't think anyone thinks that you linked the thread.

You pointed out that there were 2 threads with the same review. I remembered posting it, but I also saw that Viv posted it in Stevie Nuggets and I thought that I deleted my post when I saw Viv's. But then Viv deleted his post, so I reposted and didn't know that my original post remained. When you pointed out that there were 2 threads, I merged them, to eliminate the duplication, not to create the impression that you linked the review. I have been posting David Bowling's reviews in all of the forums, starting with Pre-Rumours, then Rumours, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. I don't think anyone believes anyone is posting these reviews but myself.

Michele

[vivfox]

Nikolaj I merged two threads. Since the post is not only linked by me, but quoted in full by me, I don't think anyone thinks that you linked the thread.

You pointed out that there were 2 threads with the same review. I remembered posting it, but I also saw that Viv posted it in Stevie Nuggets and I thought that I deleted my post when I saw Viv's. But then Viv deleted his post, so I reposted and didn't know that my original post remained. When you pointed out that there were 2 threads, I merged them, to eliminate the duplication, not to create the impression that you linked the review. I have been posting David Bowling's reviews in all of the forums, starting with Pre-Rumours, then Rumours, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. I don't think anyone believes anyone is posting these reviews but myself.

Michele

I deleted my post after I realized that Michele had posted the same review just a few hours earlier than I did.

[TerraRhiannon]

"I wrote that for Chris when she and John were seriously getting divorced and on the road which is one of your larger, unpleasant times. And Lindsey and I were sorta the same thing, except that you know, when somebody else is going thru it too, one person get strong and the other person gets weak, so Chris and I would be constantly like 'Okay I'm going to be strong now and you can fall apart and then she'll be strong and I'll fall apart' and that was on a particular time when she was falling apart and I was being strong and I didn't want her to quit. So I was trying in my little philosophic way to give her some strength and hold her up a little bit. I don't know why I... you know, people are asking me about these dedications and I just really wanted everybody to know that I wrote that for my friend Chris when she was sad."

Thanks for the quote!:) That's so sweet on Stevie's part ♥

[Nikolaj]

^^^
Good points, Michelej1. I'm sorry about what I wrote.

[michelej1]

^^^
Good points, Michelej1.

I should have merged it the other way around, so the older thread would be the top one, but I wasn't thinking at the time. Anyway, all's well that ends well:).

David Bowling's reviews have not been very accurate as to FM's history, so they aren't a favorite with anyone here. On the other hand, I do admire his decision to go back and review all FM albums. So, in a way, I look forward to the new, flawed entries.

Since he's moved onto solo albums now and already started with Lindsey, Stevie and Mick, I wonder why he hasn't reviewed a Christine solo album yet.

Michele

[michelej1]

David Bowling Rock a Little Review, 12-21-2010 for Blogcritics.org

http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-stevie-nicks-rock-a/

Stevie Nicks released her third solo album on November 18, 1985. Rock A Little was recorded during a difficult time in her life. Her addictions were in full flower and her relationship with producer Jimmy Iovine had ended. Iovine would leave in the middle of the recording sessions.

After a tour to support the album, she checked into the Betty Ford Center. It all added up to a somewhat inconsistent release, though it did hit platinum status within months of its release.

Nicks created a musical journey through her life at the time. The overall quality of the material may not have been her best but the intent was solid. It was also an album of the eighties, which was heavy on the synthesizers and bass, which dates it a little. Sometimes I wish she would re-record this album in a stripped down version.

While there are not a number of signature songs, some of the material does have an upside. “Talk To Me” was the biggest hit, reaching number four on the pop charts and number one on the rock charts. It was also a memorable MTV video. The album's best track was “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You.” It is an emotional ballad with piano and orchestra sections.

If you are willing to search, there are several other representative tracks. “I Can’t Wait” is a hard driving guitar-based song that is also danceable if you are so inclined. It was perfect radio fare for the time period and was a top 20 single hit. “Sister Honey” is another catchy dance track that is just a little too heavy on the drums. “I Sing For The Things” may not be the strongest music but the lyrics are poetic and memorable. “Imperial Hotel” is another strong rocker.

On the other hand, the rest of the tracks are average at best and seem to stem from her problems in life at the time. She managed to put together an album under trying circumstances, and while some of the material may not have met her previous standards, she did accomplish the task with grim determination.

In retrospect, Rock A Little is certainly listenable but does not compare with her best work. The technology of today allows a person to pull off the better tracks, with the leftovers better consigned to the mists of time.



Read more: http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-stevie-nicks-rock-a/#ixzz1901UkVwe

[michelej1]

Music Review: Stevie Nicks - The Other Side Of The Mirror
Part of: The Discographer Share , by David Bowling, December 28, 2010 for Blogcritics.org

Read more: http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-stevie-nicks-the-other/#ixzz19XzZD0ri


The 1980s were coming to an end when Stevie Nicks released her fourth solo studio album May 11, 1989. It would reach number ten on the Billboard Magazine album charts and achieve platinum status for sales in The United States.

The Other Side Of The Mirror invites her listeners down the rabbit hole with her again to explore her magic world. While it is a place that had been visited a number of times, it is still interesting when she is at her creative best. There are highs and lows but when she is good, she is very good. On the real positive side, her voice is in much better condition than on her previous solo release.

“Rooms On Fire” was the lead song and big hit. It reached number 16 on The American Pop Singles Chart and rose to the number one position on the Mainstream Rock Chart. It was a pop/rock track similar to the Fleetwood Mac sound of the day. It is immediately familiar in a good way.

“Alice” sets the tone and theme of the album. It is a personal journey that is both dream and reality. Sometimes her lyrics can be obscure and difficult to understand, but here she treads the line between reality and myth well. The Kenny G solo is an added bonus.

There are a number of strong or at least interesting tracks. “Doing The Best I Can” is solid musically, but the lyrics deal with her substance abuse which gives the song a dramatic quality. “Whole Lotta Trouble” was one of three tracks she co-wrote with Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers fame, and is solid rock ‘n’ roll. “Ooh My Love” is one of those Stevie Nicks songs that is haunting and casts a spell. “Two Kinds Of Love” contains a nice duet with Bruce Hornsby plus some nice late 80’s era keyboards.

The album does contain what can be considered filler. “Cry Wolf” is a song written by Jude Johnstone and does not really fit her style. “I Still Miss Someone” is a Johnny Cash composition, and while it was not terrible, the space could have been put to better use.

The Other Side Of The Mirror does not have the consistent highs of her first two solo releases, but is still worth a visit now and then. The lyrics are a bit eccentric in places but all in all it is a presentable album.

Read more: http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-stevie-nicks-the-other/#ixzz19XzSqybO

[michelej1]

By David Bowling for Blogcritics.org, January 3, 2011

http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-stevie-nicks-street-angel/

If you are a fan of Stevie Nicks, you can probably find something worthwhile about Street Angel. If you are not familiar with her work, this is not the album to provide an introduction.

Street Angel is one of those albums that’s okay but pales when compared to the rest of her catalogue. It was recorded during a difficult time in her life and career. She was not a part of Fleetwood Mac at the time and her dependence upon prescription drugs had worsened. She would enter rehab at the end of the recording process. It was against this background that she put together this May 23, 1994 release. The album would produce no big single hits and only reach number 45 on The United States album charts.

The album is not as mystical or magical as are most of her solo releases and especially some of her material with Fleetwood Mac. She remains grounded which makes the approach different from the rest of her work, which in this case was not necessarily a good thing. Another issue is the production was not as slick as one would expect from a Stevie Nicks album. Finally her voice is a little lower or huskier than on most of her material of the time period.

What it all adds up too is the weakest solo album in her catalogue. All is not lost, however, as there are some good performances scattered throughout the album. “Rose Garden” is a simple but haunting country type song that is free from the clutter of much of what surrounds it. “Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind” is a nice gentle rock song. “Love Is Like A River” is a representative Nicks rocker. “Unconditional Love” may be the best track as it is an emotional ballad. The title track has some problems but the harmonies with David Crosby are first rate.

On the other hand, her cover of Bob Dylan’s “Just Like A Woman” never takes off and the Trevor Horn/Betsy Cook composition, “Docklands,” is pointless. Songs such as “Listen To The Rain,” “Greta,” and “Destiny” all fall into the average range at best.

Street Angel is an album for Stevie Nicks or Fleetwood Mac collectors who want everything. There are some nice stand alone performances, but if you want to listen too Stevie Nicks, your time can be better spent elsewhere. It all ended well, hoever, as there were better times and music ahead for Stevie Nicks.



Read more: http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-stevie-nicks-street-angel/#ixzz1A3RZA5xg

[michelej1]

David Bowling, Jan 05, 2011 at Blog Critics.org

Read more: http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-stevie-nicks-trouble-in/#ixzz1ADiF5S4Z

Stevie Nicks, the rocking witch queen of music, made a nice comeback during 2001 with the release of Trouble In Shangri-La. She had returned to Fleetwood Mac and had just completed a successful tour with the band.

The singer's career retrospective box set, Enchanted, had been well received and her 1994 mundane release, Street Angel, was now seven years in the past. Her fans welcomed her back as the album reached number five on the Billboard Magazine Pop chart and number one on the Internet Albums chart.

There were multiple (eight) producers listed on the album, which is always a warning sign. Plus, there is an almost endless list of studio and guest musicians.

It somehow all worked out for the best, as Trouble In Shangri-La is a consistently excellent album throughout. While it may not have the well known songs of her earliest solo releases, it more than makes up for it in quality as a whole.

There are songs that reach back to Stevie Nicks' mystical aura, such as “Sorcerer,” which takes her fans back to the magical universe of her past. Plus, she hits some high notes that she had not visited in a number of years, proving her voice had recovered from its problems of the past. “Planets Of The Universe” is a song that builds and projects a funky/sexy feel along the way.

There are personal songs, like “That Made Me Stronger” and “Fall From Grace,” which are both autobiographical, as they bring her life journey up to date. The second of the two is a rocker equal to the best of any in her catalogue.

There are duets as well. “Too Far From Texas” is a country rocker that features Natalie Maines of The Dixie Chicks, while “Bombay Sapphires” has some nice background vocals by Macy Gray.

There are tracks that cannot be put into any category. The title song is a solid rocker with a haunting chorus, while “Candlebright” is a nice, gentle acoustic piece.

“It’s Only Love” is a Sheryl Crow composition, who also produces and participates in the song, which is a simple and powerful track. “Love Is” is the album closer and features Sarah McLachlan on piano and backing vocals.

Trouble In Shangri-La brought Stevie Nicks into the 21st century and rejuvenated her career. It remains an excellent stop in her solo catalogue and is always worth a listen.



Read more: http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-stevie-nicks-trouble-in/#ixzz1ADhrTYUM

[Josh2003]

"The Kenny G solo is an added bonus."

Bye.

[Oooh Missionary]

"The Kenny G solo is an added bonus."

Bye.

:laugh: My thoughts exactly.