The albums that dare not speak their names

[markolas]

We all know how Stevie feels about Street Angel, but in the last several years, she seems to have also disowned Rock a Little and The Other Side of the Mirror. When was the last time she performed songs from either of these albums? The 1990s? It's been mentioned here that Curtis (ontheedgeof17) asked Waddy Wachtel about "Rooms on Fire" at one of her concerts, and he said something like "Oh, Stevie doesn't like that part of her life, so she doesn't do those songs anymore."

Has Stevie mentioned any of this in any interviews? Has anyone else talked to any of her people backstage about it? I'm just curious if anything else has ever been said. It seems so strange for her to write off half of her solo albums this way. Didn't she describe The Other Side of the Mirror as her "magic album" at one point? What changed?

I wish somebody would ask Stevie to elaborate on this.

[APerfectLie]

I wish somebody would ask her about this too! She did perform Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You back in 2008 and she was doing Whole Lotta Trouble for soundcheck during 2007, but other than that she has seemed to wash her hands of these albums. It is quite depressing. She needs to accept these albums as part of her history and make the most of them by embracing the great songs they did contain rather than writing off that whole period altogether.

[mikephxaz]

We all know how Stevie feels about Street Angel, but in the last several years, she seems to have also disowned Rock a Little and The Other Side of the Mirror. When was the last time she performed songs from either of these albums? The 1990s? It's been mentioned here that Curtis (ontheedgeof17) asked Waddy Wachtel about "Rooms on Fire" at one of her concerts, and he said something like "Oh, Stevie doesn't like that part of her life, so she doesn't do those songs anymore."

Has Stevie mentioned any of this in any interviews? Has anyone else talked to any of her people backstage about it? I'm just curious if anything else has ever been said. It seems so strange for her to write off half of her solo albums this way. Didn't she describe The Other Side of the Mirror as her "magic album" at one point? What changed?

I wish somebody would ask Stevie to elaborate on this.

It would seem Street Angel & OSOM never find their way in my cd player or ipod either...Rock a Little is still one of my favorites, but Stevie did go crazy for a long time and it wouldn't surprise me if she doesn't feel that that material is as strong and reminds her of troubled times.....

[iamnotafraid]

I wish somebody would ask Stevie to elaborate on this.


Or just ask Barry.

[tabruns]

I think you're not really reading Waddy's response. He said she doesn't like that part of her *life*, not that she doesn't like those albums or songs. She doesn't perform music from that period just because it reminds her about a part of her life that she doesn't want to remember right now.

That's not at all the same thing as saying flat out that she doesn't like an album, like she did with Street Angel.

[Artemis]

I'm curious, does Lindsey ignore half his solo albums in his solo concerts? I admit that he doesn't particularly fascinate me as a solo artist, so I have no idea what his set list is like. I've never known of anyone like Stevie for ignoring such a large portion of her work. When was the last time she sang a song recorded after 1982 with Fleetwood Mac? It's just odd that she's got 7 albums, yet 3 of them get completely and utterly ignored. It's just so bizarre.

[markolas]

It's just odd that she's got 7 albums, yet 3 of them get completely and utterly ignored. It's just so bizarre.

Well, to be fair, Street Angel does suck. :laugh:

I dunno, I guess I can see certain songs bumming her out once in a while, but to ignore such a large portion of her work for over a decade? It seems that Has Anyone Ever Written is the only song from RAL or TOSOTM that's been part of her set since the late '90s (she performed Rooms on Fire on her Millennium tour in 1999).

[michelej1]

I'm curious, does Lindsey ignore half his solo albums in his solo concerts?

No. He did ignore one album briefly and people kept mentioning the omission to him, so he put something in from OOTC.

I don't like to have Mirage unrepresented in an FM show.

Michele

[markolas]

I was going to mention LB and Out of the Cradle. I went to see him in Austin in 2006 and was shocked that he didn't perform any songs from it, although it was a damn good show.

[markolas]

I wonder if the real issue is that she doesn't feel she can pull those songs off, vocally, any longer. I do think there are probably a lot that she can't, but there are at least an equal number that she can, and that might even be easier for her to do than Edge of Seventeen, for example. Although I know she'd retire before she dropped that one from her set (which is as it should be, I suppose - it is her signature solo song, along with Stand Back).

Rooms on Fire (at the very least) she could still easily pull off, and I know a lot of her fans would love for her to put it back in her set.

[johnnystorms]

Well, to be fair, Street Angel does suck. :laugh:

I dunno, I guess I can see certain songs bumming her out once in a while, but to ignore such a large portion of her work for over a decade? It seems that Has Anyone Ever Written is the only song from RAL or TOSOTM that's been part of her set since the late '90s (she performed Rooms on Fire on her Millennium tour in 1999).

Kick It! that would be an incredible live song!

[APerfectLie]

Kick It! that would be an incredible live song!

So would Love Is Like A River!

[cactusjack]

I'd even settle for Talk To Me for starters (preferably the 'la la la' version :cool: )

[PolishStevieFan]

In my opinion, "Rock a Little", "The Other Side of The Mirror" and "Street Angel" are some of her best albums, no matter what Stevie thinks about them now. "The Other Side Of The Mirror" was my first Stevie album ever and I will never say anything against it. It's just perfect, save for the closing track, which is really downright bad. I can understand that she wasn't at her mentally best during that period of time, but on the other hand she shouldn't dismiss these fans who can appreaciate this music, which in fact is even more personal than on "Bella Donna" or "Wild Heart". Past (even at its worst) is still an unremovable part of our lives and we should accept it...

[TheSorcerer]

I'd love her to bring back "No Spoken Word"- that song is amazing. I also echo the comments about "Kick It" which would be a nice surprise.

Thing is, even if she couldn't pull of certain tracks vocally, she could maybe rearrange them in a way to present them a little differently so that she could perform them. Take "Sisters of the Moon" for example. The audience would be ecstatic if she came out and did a piano version like the gorgeous demo recording. Same with "Doing the Best I Can". I'm sure she would have no trouble pulling off tracks like "Rooms on Fire", "Ooh My Love", "Rock a Little" and "If I Were You" and "Mirror, Mirror" which would be an absolute delight to hear live. I've always been a little intrigued as to why "Seven Wonders" has been ignored for a good 20 years. Maybe it's because she didn't write it. :shrug: While they're from earlier albums, I'd love "Sable on Blond" to be brought out and "Bella Donna" to make a return.

She obviously has her reasons for not performing, it's just a shame that the same old songs get performed live when others are practically dead and buried and whole eras are ignored.

Fleetwood Mac also frustrate me in regards to ignoring songs. What about Crystal, I Don't Want to Know, Angel, That's Alright, Seven Wonders, Blue Letter, Caroline, etc. Mix it up a little, maybe even add some Buckingham Nicks into the set lists.

[daniellaaarisen]

I think you're not really reading Waddy's response. He said she doesn't like that part of her *life*, not that she doesn't like those albums or songs. She doesn't perform music from that period just because it reminds her about a part of her life that she doesn't want to remember right now.

That's not at all the same thing as saying flat out that she doesn't like an album, like she did with Street Angel.

Waddy tries to get her to sing it live every single tour, but she just refuses. He can convince her to do pretty much anything but she really has her foot down on this one. Shame, it'd be great to hear live.

[markolas]

I remember reading an article (or something) where Waddy Wachtel said they'd actually rehearsed "Bella Donna" for the TISL tour and decided it was too complicated for them to play. I think his comment was something like "I can't believe we actually used to play this."

It was basically the same excuse FM used for keeping "Sara" out of the set for so many years.

I don't mean to turn this into another "Stevie's setlist is so tired" thread, because I was actually thrilled that she included so many songs from IYD on this tour, and only took out one; whereas on the TISL tour, she started out with a boatload of songs from that album, and had dropped most of them by the end of the tour, I think.

I don't see Stevie including any songs from Street Angel, no matter how hard her fans lobby for it (and frankly, I don't think most of us would lobby all that hard to begin with), and I won't hold that against her, even though there are a couple of songs from that album that I really like. But would it absolutely kill her to do "Rooms on Fire" or something from RAL?

[markolas]

Waddy tries to get her to sing it live every single tour, but she just refuses. He can convince her to do pretty much anything but she really has her foot down on this one. Shame, it'd be great to hear live.

I hadn't heard this. Did you hear this from Waddy? Or someone else in the band? Why is she so adamant? Is she like this about "Rooms on Fire" in particular? So many questions!

[skcin]

I'd even settle for Talk To Me for starters (preferably the 'la la la' version :cool: )

Many people think she couldn't pull this off vocally anymore, and that's why she doesn't do it. :shrug: I think she could manage it.

Yes, Waddy told Curtis after one of the Vegas shows in May '05 that he's tried to convince Stevie to do certain songs (I believe Rooms on Fire was specified) but she just won't, because it reminds her of difficult times in her life & she doesn't want to go there. Or something to that effect.

Then in an interview a while back, she implied that she knows that casual fans really want to hear the "hits." I got really upset when I heard that, since TTM, ICW & ROF certainly were hits. Why should they get excluded over Sorcerer? Who knows?

[TheWILDheart]

As far as I'm aware, these were the last times Stevie played anything from RAL - SA:

Rock A Little:

Has Anyone Every Written Anything For You - 2008
Talk To Me - 1994
No Spoken Word - 1994
I Can't Wait - 1986

Otherside Of The Mirror:

Rooms On Fire - 1999
Whole Lotta Trouble - 1999
Two Kinds Of Love - 1989
Alice - 1989
Juliet - 1989

Street Angel:

Rose Garden - 1998
Blue Denim - 1994
Maybe Love - 1994
Docklands - 1994
Destiny - 1994

[TheWILDheart]

Funnily enough, Stevie sound checked "Whole Lotta Trouble" in 2010 for the "this is not a tour" tour. I think in the case of RAL and OSOTM, it's not that she doesn't like those songs, but is maybe lacking in confidence to perform them again after so long.

With Street Angel, we know how unhappy she was with the album and the criticism she got on that tour for her weight (rather than her voice, which was actually pretty amazing that year), so I can understand why she wouldn't want reminding of that. It's a great shame, as there are some great songs on SA that she could really do well today

[MacFan92]

This is the article where he says he "Can't believe" they used to perform Bella Donna.

http://waddywachtelinfo.com/WaddyWachtelInterviewPart2.html

[Dodfather]

Kick It! that would be an incredible live song!

This is the one I really want! Rooms On Fire too and I Can't Wait, Sister Honey or Imperial Hotel.

[markolas]

This is the article where he says he "Can't believe" they used to perform Bella Donna.

http://waddywachtelinfo.com/WaddyWachtelInterviewPart2.html

So apparently the just *listened* to the song and decided it was too hard. I find that a bit annoying, to be honest. It just sounds so lazy.

I love that he doesn't remember the names of any of the songs. "What was the fast one?" "What was the one named after a gin company?" :laugh:

[markolas]

Yeah, there was a bunch of stuff in that interview that I'd forgotten. He really does try to get her to sing different songs. Interesting about him saying that Stevie felt like she couldn't pull off "Talk to Me" vocally anymore. I know it was a big hit, but it's not huge favorite of mine, and the live versions I've heard were just...meh. There are definitely songs that I think would be hard for her to do these days, but like I say...there's at least an equal amount that she'd have no problem with.

"I Sing for the Things" sounds like it'd be right up her alley today, unless that's another one that reminds her of something unpleasant. "Juliet," too.

[KarmaContestant]

So would Love Is Like A River!

So would Street Angel. I love the guitar work in that song so much.

[KarmaContestant]

As far as I'm aware, these were the last times Stevie played anything from RAL - SA:
Street Angel:

Rose Garden - 1998


I had forgotten that - Rose Garden was so good performed live, too.

[Johnny Stew]

It's been mentioned here that Curtis (ontheedgeof17) asked Waddy Wachtel about "Rooms on Fire" at one of her concerts, and he said something like "Oh, Stevie doesn't like that part of her life, so she doesn't do those songs anymore."

Not only does Stevie no longer perform "Rooms On Fire" on stage, but she doesn't even discuss it in the liner notes for 'Crystal Visions!' She's really trying to forget that song. :distress:

[markolas]

Not only does Stevie no longer perform "Rooms On Fire" on stage, but she doesn't even discuss it in the liner notes for 'Crystal Visions!' She's really trying to forget that song. :distress:

Is it the only song she doesn't discuss? I wonder if it's because the song is about Rupert Hine - wasn't there speculation that the two of them were boning while he was married? Maybe she's horrified that she did that and wrote a song about it. I can sort of understand her not wanting to sing it, in that case - even if the majority of her fans would have no idea of the history behind it.

Frankly, that's why I don't particularly care to know who or what Stevie writes her songs about. I don't want to think about Stevie bonging Rupert Hine when I listen to ROF; I don't want to think about Mick Fleetwood or Stevie's aborted baby when I listen to "Sara" - I like for the song to be meaningful to *me*, not just the musical equivalent of an article in Star magazine.

[UndoingTheLaces]

I remember when she did the whole "Uplugged" section of her Enchanted show. I'd love to see something like that. Cyndi Lauper has totally reinvented some of her classics. She Bop now sounds like a sultry torch song you'd hear in a french coffee shop and Girls Just Want To Have Fun has gone through many changes. I could totally see Stevie reinventing some of her songs into something new. Look how much fun the Deep Dish version of Dreams was. Can you imagine a stripped down Rooms On Fire with just a big grand piano. Or a remake of I Sing For The Things with a string quartet.

[PenguinHead]

I remember when she did the whole "Uplugged" section of her Enchanted show. I'd love to see something like that. Cyndi Lauper has totally reinvented some of her classics. She Bop now sounds like a sultry torch song you'd hear in a french coffee shop and Girls Just Want To Have Fun has gone through many changes. I could totally see Stevie reinventing some of her songs into something new. Look how much fun the Deep Dish version of Dreams was. Can you imagine a stripped down Rooms On Fire with just a big grand piano. Or a remake of I Sing For The Things with a string quartet.

Nice ideas, but I don't think Stevie will ever venture into those creative ways of reinvention. A good example of that is her misadventure with the Melbourne Symphony. That show, I think, was recorded and was intended to be a DVD/CD.
I surmise that one of the reasons it was shelved was because it wasn't approached properely, and the results were inefficient. A huge mistep and missed opportunity.

Listening to the bootleg recording (and reading the reviews), it was clear that not a lot of thought was put into adapting her songs to work with the orchestra. Instead, her band just played the songs as usual , drowning out the orchestra. No creative arrangments were developed, and her set list was not changed. She could have picked more appropriate songs to suit the setting.

Elton John was very successful with it. He made the effort.

[Nathan]

^^^
true.

fantastic ideas.
vvv

I remember when she did the whole "Uplugged" section of her Enchanted show. I'd love to see something like that. Cyndi Lauper has totally reinvented some of her classics. She Bop now sounds like a sultry torch song you'd hear in a french coffee shop and Girls Just Want To Have Fun has gone through many changes. I could totally see Stevie reinventing some of her songs into something new. Look how much fun the Deep Dish version of Dreams was. Can you imagine a stripped down Rooms On Fire with just a big grand piano. Or a remake of I Sing For The Things with a string quartet.

[AliceLover]

For what its worth, Stevie recently said to an Aussie reporter that she hasn't seen such a good reaction to a record (IYD) since OSOTM.

Also, 3 years ago she did an interview for Crystal Visions and commented on OSOTM saying: "I loved the way those songs turned out, and still do, actually."

[Artemis]

Funnily enough, Stevie sound checked "Whole Lotta Trouble" in 2010 for the "this is not a tour" tour. I think in the case of RAL and OSOTM

Woah. Really? Does any recording of this one exist? That would be amazing.

Isn't Whole Lotta Trouble the song that Sharon/Lori said made them feel like a dork when they sang it? :laugh: Maybe Stevie isn't to blame afterall.

[markolas]

For what its worth, Stevie recently said to an Aussie reporter that she hasn't seen such a good reaction to a record (IYD) since OSOTM.

Also, 3 years ago she did an interview for Crystal Visions and commented on OSOTM saying: "I loved the way those songs turned out, and still do, actually."

Well, that's heartening. If it's just "Rooms on Fire" she has a problem with, there are 11 other songs from that album she could pick from.

I'm glad to hear that she at least mentioned the album and that she still has a favorable opinion of it.

[skcin]

Funnily enough, Stevie sound checked "Whole Lotta Trouble" in 2010 for the "this is not a tour" tour. I think in the case of RAL and OSOTM, it's not that she doesn't like those songs, but is maybe lacking in confidence to perform them again after so long.

With Street Angel, we know how unhappy she was with the album and the criticism she got on that tour for her weight (rather than her voice, which was actually pretty amazing that year), so I can understand why she wouldn't want reminding of that. It's a great shame, as there are some great songs on SA that she could really do well today

1) God, I HATE Whole Lotta Trouble. I have no desire to hear it live ever again.
2) I think that's the main reason - she just really does NOT like the way that album turned out. Remember she said it was done, then she went to rehab & listened to it when she got out & hated it? Then she tried to fix it but couldn't? Something like that. TBQH, I don't think that any casual fans would care to hear any SA material live. Just us crazies. :p

So apparently the just *listened* to the song and decided it was too hard. I find that a bit annoying, to be honest. It just sounds so lazy.

I love that he doesn't remember the names of any of the songs. "What was the fast one?" "What was the one named after a gin company?" :laugh:

Seriously. Like, didn't even bother to attempt it?

Yeah, there was a bunch of stuff in that interview that I'd forgotten. He really does try to get her to sing different songs. Interesting about him saying that Stevie felt like she couldn't pull off "Talk to Me" vocally anymore. I know it was a big hit, but it's not huge favorite of mine, and the live versions I've heard were just...meh. There are definitely songs that I think would be hard for her to do these days, but like I say...there's at least an equal amount that she'd have no problem with.

"I Sing for the Things" sounds like it'd be right up her alley today, unless that's another one that reminds her of something unpleasant. "Juliet," too.

I LOVE Juliet. :nod: But it was nowhere close to a hit, so forget it.

Is it the only song she doesn't discuss? I wonder if it's because the song is about Rupert Hine - wasn't there speculation that the two of them were boning while he was married? Maybe she's horrified that she did that and wrote a song about it. I can sort of understand her not wanting to sing it, in that case - even if the majority of her fans would have no idea of the history behind it.

Frankly, that's why I don't particularly care to know who or what Stevie writes her songs about. I don't want to think about Stevie bonging Rupert Hine when I listen to ROF; I don't want to think about Mick Fleetwood or Stevie's aborted baby when I listen to "Sara" - I like for the song to be meaningful to *me*, not just the musical equivalent of an article in Star magazine.

Good guess.

I remember when she did the whole "Uplugged" section of her Enchanted show. I'd love to see something like that. Cyndi Lauper has totally reinvented some of her classics. She Bop now sounds like a sultry torch song you'd hear in a french coffee shop and Girls Just Want To Have Fun has gone through many changes. I could totally see Stevie reinventing some of her songs into something new. Look how much fun the Deep Dish version of Dreams was. Can you imagine a stripped down Rooms On Fire with just a big grand piano. Or a remake of I Sing For The Things with a string quartet.

She did that - the piano version of Rhiannon on Storytellers. So she's done now. :lol:

A good example of that is her misaventure with the Melbourne Symphony. That show, I think, was recorded and was intended to be a DVD/CD.
I surmise that one of the reasons it was shelved was because it wasn't approached properely, and the results were inefficient. A huge mistep and missed opportunity.

Listening to the bootleg recording (and reading the reviews), it was clear that not a lot of thought was put into adapting her songs to work with the orchestra. Instead, her band just played the songs as usual , drowning out the orchestra. No creative arrangments were developed, and her set list was not changed. She could have picked more appropiate songs to suit the setting.

Elton John was very successful with it. He made the effort.

I agree. So disappointing.

[markolas]

The only 2 songs from Street Angel I can say that I really like are the title track (and I prefer the version on Enchanted) and maybe Love Is Like a River. I really couldn't care less if she never mentions this album's name again, honestly. RAL and TOSOTM are another story, however.

[LilyRose]

Not only does Stevie no longer perform "Rooms On Fire" on stage, but she doesn't even discuss it in the liner notes for 'Crystal Visions!' She's really trying to forget that song. :distress:

Or maybe she's trying to forget the man that helped her with those songs, Rupert. "The ghosts are gone..."

[GoldDustGypsy]

Honestly I think Stevie could go on-stage and rap and I would still be like "bravo, encore, I love you!" :lol:

Even though SA isn't one of my favorite albums, I still love it and would love to see it represented sometime, somewhere on her set list. I love Docklands and Blue Denim and Greta...... and don't even get me started on how much I would LOVE to see Stevie belt out Rooms on Fire!!!

[johnnystorms]

i think, could be great live, along with Fire Burning!

[APerfectLie]

i think, could be great live, along with Fire Burning!

Ooh My Love would be great with her voice now! It isn't too much of a stretch vocally! I think she could really pull it off without much effort.

[Spoinny]

Listening to the bootleg recording (and reading the reviews), it was clear that not a lot of thought was put into adapting her songs to work with the orchestra. Instead, her band just played the songs as usual , drowning out the orchestra. No creative arrangments were developed, and her set list was not changed. She could have picked more appropiate songs to suit the setting.

Elton John was very successful with it. He made the effort.[/QUOTE]



I thought Beauty and the Beast sounded amazing with the orchestra, as did Edge of 17. I think they definately added an element to those 2 songs.

[StevieNicksfann]

My brother would KILL to hear Listen To The Rain and Long Way To Go and feels those songs are much more representative of what he feels Stevie is - rockers. I agree with him and that is why I think Whole Lotta Trouble is an excellent concert song. For those reasons, I wish she'd consider doing I Can't Wait but I suspect she feels she can't pull it off and that whole we don't do it because it was a train wreck the first time we did it is just an excuse.

I would personally love TISL, Greta, Ooh My Love, New Orleans, and Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind added as well.

[Hawkeye]

I dont see why any of us are stressung over her playing songs from RAL, OSOTM and Street Angel especially on her current tour. Her priorities are playing songs from In Your Dreams which is 6 songs AFTER all the inevitable dropping of a few new songs. So she played 8 IYD songs. What do we want her to not play in order to play Rooms On fire or Whole Lotta Trouble or No Spoken Word. Shes doing Love Is instead of HAEWAFY. Stand Back and Edge can't be dropped. The only real variable in her set is Leather and Lace. Which is ironically a suprise song for this set despite being one of her biggest hits. I don't want it in the set and feel Rooms on fire would be the perfect pre-Edge song.

But other then that, i dont get the "Why aren't her 3 mediocre middle albums represented in her IYD tour set list." Who cares.

[KarmaContestant]

I dont see why any of us are stressung over her playing songs from RAL, OSOTM and Street Angel especially on her current tour. Her priorities are playing songs from In Your Dreams which is 6 songs AFTER all the inevitable dropping of a few new songs. So she played 8 IYD songs. What do we want her to not play in order to play Rooms On fire or Whole Lotta Trouble or No Spoken Word. Shes doing Love Is instead of HAEWAFY. Stand Back and Edge can't be dropped. The only real variable in her set is Leather and Lace. Which is ironically a suprise song for this set despite being one of her biggest hits. I don't want it in the set and feel Rooms on fire would be the perfect pre-Edge song.

But other then that, i dont get the "Why aren't her 3 mediocre middle albums represented in her IYD tour set list." Who cares.

I'd like her to drop all the Fleetwood Mac material to make room for Rooms on Fire, Love Is Like A River, Street Angel, I Sing For The Things, etc.. I agree with your other comment, Stand Back and Edge cannot be dropped, but the FM material can and should be. Save it for a Mac tour so maybe we're excited to hear it again when they tour.

And who cares? The people posting in this thread, obviously! :nod:

[Dodfather]

I dont see why any of us are stressung over her playing songs from RAL, OSOTM and Street Angel especially on her current tour.

But other then that, i dont get the "Why aren't her 3 mediocre middle albums represented in her IYD tour set list." Who cares.

Ummm.. calm down. We're not stressing. It's just a general discussion about what songs we'd like to hear sometime.

[drzubritsky]

I always thought that ROF would make a great concert opener...not her biggest hit but one that would be familiar to casual fans and a pleasant surprise for die-hard fans. It also has a great "Stevie" vibe that would perfectly set the stage for her show.

Of course, her setlist has always been a real curiosity. She has stated that she avoids new and/or unfamiliar songs because they don't get a very good reaction. Yet a good portion of her setlist has always been allocated to the same strange collection of non-hits and cover versions while avoiding some of her actual hits that would play well to both casual fans and die-hards.

I can understand why she wouldn't draw on album cuts from RAL, TOSOTM or SA these days, but how about the singles from those albums? I'm sure there would be a way to rework "I Can't Wait" that retains its rhythmic excitement while avoiding the complex production trickery that made it so hard to pull off live back in 1986. And it would be interesting to hear a dramatically recast "Talk To Me", maybe with a more acoustic-based arrangement. Something along these lines would generate excitement (and ticket sales) across all layers of her fan base.

For whatever reasons, these songs will likely never be performed live again.

[THINKABOUTIT]

I love the other side of the mirror!

[markolas]

Thanks for quoting Hawkeye's post, everyone, so I can be reminded of why I've had him on ignore for the past five years. :laugh:

[APerfectLie]

I dont see why any of us are stressung over her playing songs from RAL, OSOTM and Street Angel especially on her current tour. Her priorities are playing songs from In Your Dreams which is 6 songs AFTER all the inevitable dropping of a few new songs. So she played 8 IYD songs. What do we want her to not play in order to play Rooms On fire or Whole Lotta Trouble or No Spoken Word. Shes doing Love Is instead of HAEWAFY. Stand Back and Edge can't be dropped. The only real variable in her set is Leather and Lace. Which is ironically a suprise song for this set despite being one of her biggest hits. I don't want it in the set and feel Rooms on fire would be the perfect pre-Edge song.

But other then that, i dont get the "Why aren't her 3 mediocre middle albums represented in her IYD tour set list." Who cares.


Well she didn't replace In Your Dreams or Sorcerer with anything when she dropped them. And this isn't contained simply to her current tour. For years she went out and did cover after cover but only ONE song from those three albums. Even on Soundstage, she did 4 songs that weren't hers, but none from RAL, TOSOTM, or SA. It isn't that any of us think she should revamp her whole setlist to accommodate for these albums, but it is striking how she clearly chooses to neglect these albums when creating her setlists.

[PenguinHead]

I'd like her to drop all the Fleetwood Mac material to make room for Rooms on Fire, Love Is Like A River, Street Angel, I Sing For The Things, etc.. I agree with your other comment, Stand Back and Edge cannot be dropped, but the FM material can and should be. Save it for a Mac tour so maybe we're excited to hear it again when they tour.

And who cares? The people posting in this thread, obviously! :nod:

Yes! Drop the Fleetwood Mac songs. She needed to rely on those songs when she began her solo career. But at certain point in her long, productive/successful solo career, you would think that she would only feature her Fleetwood Mac songs sparingly (especially since she could still perform them with Fleetwood Mac). By keeping them as staples in both her solo career and the band, she's worn them into the ground. They aren't as special anymore: they are overly expected: they are tedious; they are slightly boring now.

Most artists I know who were in famous bands and have solo careers don't depend so much on their band-era in their shows. A drastic example of that is one of my favorite singer/songwriters, Aimee Mann. She had a really big hit "Voices Carry" with her band Til' Tuesday. When she went solo. she has never performed any of the great songs from her band era - not even the song that made her famous! Only many years later did she perform Voices Carry on one tour - acoustically. Then it was gone again!

[markolas]

I don't mind the Fleetwood Mac songs in her solo set, although I could honestly do without Gold Dust Woman. And probably Landslide.

[mikephxaz]

I always thought that ROF would make a great concert opener...not her biggest hit but one that would be familiar to casual fans and a pleasant surprise for die-hard fans. It also has a great "Stevie" vibe that would perfectly set the stage for her show.

Of course, her setlist has always been a real curiosity. She has stated that she avoids new and/or unfamiliar songs because they don't get a very good reaction. Yet a good portion of her setlist has always been allocated to the same strange collection of non-hits and cover versions while avoiding some of her actual hits that would play well to both casual fans and die-hards.

I can understand why she wouldn't draw on album cuts from RAL, TOSOTM or SA these days, but how about the singles from those albums? I'm sure there would be a way to rework "I Can't Wait" that retains its rhythmic excitement while avoiding the complex production trickery that made it so hard to pull off live back in 1986. And it would be interesting to hear a dramatically recast "Talk To Me", maybe with a more acoustic-based arrangement. Something along these lines would generate excitement (and ticket sales) across all layers of her fan base.

For whatever reasons, these songs will likely never be performed live again.

i agree with everything you said....when i bring my friends (that are not avid Stevie fans) to her concerts they always go expecting to hear Talk To Me....she needs to rework that song..the key boards were awful during the taped Red Rocks concert. Let Waddy rework it...I don't think that I Can't Wait will ever find its self back in the set....

[PenguinHead]

i agree with everything you said....when i bring my friends (that are not avid Stevie fans) to her concerts they always go expecting to hear Talk To Me....she needs to rework that song..the key boards were awful during the taped Red Rocks concert. Let Waddy rework it...I don't think that I Can't Wait will ever find its self back in the set....

Lindsey took his song Trouble and effectively recasted it with a slower, acoustic treatment. Talk to Me could be transformed in that manner. In fact, if I do say so myself, it's a f*cking brilliant idea... for what it's worth.

(and the la la las from early version of the song that were replaced with the sax solo can be reinstated)

[APerfectLie]

I don't mind the Fleetwood Mac songs in her solo set, although I could honestly do without Gold Dust Woman. And probably Landslide.

^This. I don't know how well her shows would do if she took out all the FM songs since most of the people who go there want to hear her hits. Sure they may know ROF, but more people would rather hear Dreams over ROF any day. That being said, she could drop most of the FM songs and leave one or two in there to keep the casuals happy.

[johnnystorms]

what FM songs are in the set list? dreams? rhiannon? gold dust woman? i don't think she could dump any of those! rhiannon is her "signature"; it encapsulates her persona!, dreams; only #1, gold dust woman is one of her best lyrics EVER! why dump those??? dump a cover and add an obscure solo! look at the incredible response beautiful child and storms got when they were brought back into FM set.

[LilyRose]

She could dump every FM song from her solo set except GDW. If she ever dumps GDW I will actually give birth to a cow.

[cactusjack]

I know a lot of casual fans who love Rooms On Fire - for some of them it was their introduction to Stevie Nicks. I've educated them about the other amazing things she's done, but I know they would have secretly liked to have had it performed live when I dragged them along to the tour that just finished here!

[Artemis]

Really, the only Fleetwood Mac songs Stevie needs to perform on her solo tours are Rhiannon and Dreams. Possibly Landslide too. Although, saying that... how many Fleetwood Mac songs does she actually do solo? I thought it was just those three + GDW... none of which I'd want to see dropped.

[mezzoforte]

Personally, I'd love to see her drop "Landslide" and replace it with "Rooms on Fire" or "Doing the Best That I Can" (which I'm convinced her modern voice would sound fantastic on). But I don't think the 10,000 non-Ledgie fans would love that. Hey, they paid for "Landslide"--I get it. I think La Nicks does too, and she feels more obligated to those fans than we sometimes realize.

Anyway, on this tour I don't think she could have trimmed a single song for a track from one of the forgotten three. I get complaining about it on other tours (and if she tours again with four covers I'll be right with you guys), but this was all about playing her absolute biggest hits, so she could get away with playing so many new songs. It worked for me!

[markolas]

Like I said, I'm over Gold Dust Woman...and didn't she drop Landslide for the first couple of shows of this tour? I was sort of impressed with her for doing that. I'd rather she drop GDW than Sorcerer, to be honest. I'm glad I got to see her perform it in Dallas; I think that was the last show before she took it out of the set. I probably would've been a little upset if I hadn't gotten to hear it - GDW, not so much.

[icinglover1995]

You guys really don't like Street Angel?? I love that album! Blue Denim, Greta, Street Angel, Destiny, Rose Garden, Just Like A Woman!!

[markolas]

You guys really don't like Street Angel?? I love that album! Blue Denim, Greta, Street Angel, Destiny, Rose Garden, Just Like A Woman!!

It has a few decent songs on it, but the vast majority of Stevie fans think it sucks, as does Stevie herself. The songs you listed are among the decent ones (Greta and Rose Garden are okay, but not her best), but about half the album is pure garbage. There are a couple of Ledgies who really like it, though, so you're not the only one.

[mikephxaz]

You guys really don't like Street Angel?? I love that album! Blue Denim, Greta, Street Angel, Destiny, Rose Garden, Just Like A Woman!!

Im not a fan of Street Angel...Blue Denim, Greta and Love Will Change Your Mind are okay but Kick it, Docklands, Rose Garden, Love is like a river, Destiny and etc are painful:sorry:

[olive]

You guys really don't like Street Angel?? I love that album! Blue Denim, Greta, Street Angel, Destiny, Rose Garden, Just Like A Woman!!

I like god's garden I don't know why it was not on the american cd.

[mezzoforte]

You guys really don't like Street Angel?? I love that album! Blue Denim, Greta, Street Angel, Destiny, Rose Garden, Just Like A Woman!!

There are some major Street Angel defenders around here, in a way that I don't think there are for TOSOTM. But yeah, generally most people aren't huge fans of the album.

Personally, I adore "Blue Denim," "Greta," and "Kick it," and can enjoy "Love is Like a River" and "Docklands."I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan of the album, though. Most of the mixes feel a little off to me. Even though the RAL demos of LILAR and "Greta" are low-quality, I'd think the mixes are better. The aggressive backup singing on LILAR is a pretty good example--that sort of ish runs all through Street Angel.

Just my opinion, as always.

[mezzoforte]

Like I said, I'm over Gold Dust Woman...and didn't she drop Landslide for the first couple of shows of this tour? I was sort of impressed with her for doing that. I'd rather she drop GDW than Sorcerer, to be honest. I'm glad I got to see her perform it in Dallas; I think that was the last show before she took it out of the set. I probably would've been a little upset if I hadn't gotten to hear it - GDW, not so much.

She didn't do "Landslide" at the Wiltern or at Red Rocks; I'm pretty sure it was added in right after that.
I think that goes to show just how little she wants to sing that song these days. I mean, for her to cut her best known song, it must make her throw up in her mouth a little bit.

[markolas]

I went to the Dallas show, which I think was the 3rd show of the tour or something, and she'd put Landslide back in. When she started it, I was like "Eh," but I liked the keyboards (I'm sure it has a name) on it rather than the guitar. Did she ever do a released version of the song like that? I was thinking the original studio version had the keyboards on it, but it doesn't.

[UndoingTheLaces]

I went to the Dallas show, which I think was the 3rd show of the tour or something, and she'd put Landslide back in. When she started it, I was like "Eh," but I liked the keyboards (I'm sure it has a name) on it rather than the guitar. Did she ever do a released version of the song like that? I was thinking the original studio version had the keyboards on it, but it doesn't.

Fleetwood Mac Live has the one with the keyboards. The one from the Tusk era, not Live in Boston. It's one of my favorite versions because it's not like any other one. Her voice is hoarse and she's very emotional. It's incredibly beautiful in a very non-standard way.

[PenguinHead]

It has a few decent songs on it, but the vast majority of Stevie fans think it sucks, as does Stevie herself. The songs you listed are among the decent ones (Greta and Rose Garden are okay, but not her best), but about half the album is pure garbage. There are a couple of Ledgies who really like it, though, so you're not the only one.

I'm among the minority who will defend the battered and defenseless Street Angel!
Clearly, compared to some of her other albums, it's not her best work. But it's been demonized as an offending piece of trash.

It's Stevie's bastard child, but it has an off-beat charm to it--for the fact that it is flawed. Within those flaws, it still has all the unique elements of Stevie's essence. I enjoy listening to the entire album ( I have the version that has God's Garden and Inspiration). It has a strange, quirky aura to it, so I can fully appreciate it for what it is, and not castigate it for what it is not.

I like to equate Street Angel with People Like Us, the album the Mamas & Papas were contractually forced to make, four years after they broke up and wanted nothing to do with each other. It is generally considered to be their Street Angel, because the group members dismissed and derided it, as did many fans. But it still has a certain charm and quality to it, even though it can't compare to their prior work.

[mezzoforte]

I'm among the minority who will defend the battered and defenseless Street Angel!
Clearly, compared to some of her other albums, it's not her best work. But it's been demonized as an offending piece of trash.

It's Stevie's bastard child, but it has an off-beat charm to it--for the fact that it is flawed. Within those flaws, it still has all the unique elements of Stevie's essence. I enjoy listening to the entire album ( I have the version that has God's Garden and Inspiration). It has a strange aura to it, so I can fully appreciate it for what it is, and not castigate it for what it is not.

I like to equate Street Angel with People Like Us, the album the Mamas & Papas were contractually forced to make, four years after they broke up and wanted nothing to do with each other. It is generally considered to be their Street Angel, because the group members dismissed and derided it, as did many fans. But it still has a certain charm and quality to it, even though it can't compare to their prior work.

Well, ****--I can't think of the last time I saw a People Like Us mention. And a (fairly) positive one! :xoxo:

Yup, it has its moments ("Pearl," most notably), and the Street Angel comparison is apt.

[markolas]

Street Angel is the only SN album with songs that I absolutely hate. I listen to it and think of it as a huge missed opportunity. It's probably the most "rock & roll" of any of her albums since Bella Donna. But the songs are just....ugh. And then there's the timing of the release, which couldn't have been worse. It sounds like it should've been released 2 or 3 years before it was.

[PenguinHead]

Well, ****--I can't think of the last time I saw a People Like Us mention. And a (fairly) positive one! :xoxo:

Yup, it has its moments ("Pearl," most notably), and the Street Angel comparison is apt.

:laugh: A fellow Mamas & Papas fan! I had faint hope that any Ledgie would understand the hell I was talking about!

(Yes, Pearl is a standout track!)

[StevieNicksfann]

Street Angel is the only SN album with songs that I absolutely hate. I listen to it and think of it as a huge missed opportunity. It's probably the most "rock & roll" of any of her albums since Bella Donna. But the songs are just....ugh. And then there's the timing of the release, which couldn't have been worse. It sounds like it should've been released 2 or 3 years before it was.

I agree with this completely. And if it had to be released when it was, it was a mistake not to lead off with Listen To The Rain or Greta. In the midst of the grunge movement, Maybe Love was too weak for a "rocker" (although I think a great follow-up single) and Blue Denim although it is more rock, has one of the more monotone vocal deliveries she's submitted on tape.

[drzubritsky]

I agree with this completely. And if it had to be released when it was, it was a mistake not to lead off with Listen To The Rain or Greta. In the midst of the grunge movement, Maybe Love was too weak for a "rocker" (although I think a great follow-up single) and Blue Denim although it is more rock, has one of the more monotone vocal deliveries she's submitted on tape.

The other problem with "Blue Denim" as a single was that the title itself sounded stale and old-fashioned in 1994. That's an unfair way to judge a song, to be sure, but I couldn't see a song from Stevie Nicks with that title having much commercial potential at that time. Sometimes it's all about perception when it comes to pop radio, although BD is one of the strongest cuts on SA (particularly in its radio remix form, which had more punch).

There weren't really any cuts with strong single potential on SA. While I like SA more than most folks, it was really out-of-step with the times in 1994. Ironically, female singer-songwriters who were clearly influenced by Stevie were quite at the time (e.g. Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Natalie Merchant, Lisa Loeb, etc.). Perhaps with a different producer and some more contemporary arrangements, Stevie might have made a bigger commercial splash with SA.

[markolas]

Didn't Stevie start working on Street Angel in 1992? I think that might be at least part of the reason why it sounded dated when it was finally released in '94. Like I said, it sounds like it should've been released a couple of years earlier.

[THINKABOUTIT]

My humble opinion is.....I'd have to agree with Street Angel here :) I do like it....I love most of it, though a few I rarely listen to. Funny things is...I LOVE her voice on it..I think it was changing for the better! :) I feel Stevie's best albums are; the ones that define/represent her best are:
Bella Donna, Wild Heart, The Other Side of the Mirror, Trouble in Shangri-La and In Your Dreams. Yes, I left two albums out and I do like some songs on them both. I told her at the Amoeba signing that I felt In Your Dreams was so phenomenal, I'd say it's another Bella Donna. ;)

[Nicks Fan]

I find that Stevie's set have become stale and stagnant. She needs to revamp the setlist. At her age why is she still trying to please the casual fan? They are likely not the one's rushing out to buy everything she releases.

I would love to see Stevie do a tour where she starts off with an acoustic set featuring just her and and a small quartet or something then she could add the full band for some slightly unplugged numbers and then she could rock the house at the end.

Here would be a great setlist

1. Bella Donna
2. Dreams
3. Enchanted
4. For What It's Worth
5. In Your Dreams
6. It's Only Love
7. Sleeping Angel
8.Twisted
9. Crystal
10. Love Is

Full Band Comes out

11. Secret Love
12.. New Orleans
13. Rhiannon Piano/Rock Version
14. Talk To Me
15. Rooms on Fire
16. Moonlight
18. Annabell Lee

Full Rock on mode
19. Blue Denim
20. Stand Back
21. Fall From Grace
22. Edge of 17

23. Sisters of The Moon
24. Rock and Roll
25. Has Anyone Ever Written

I think this setlist would please many people. Has some of her staples, some deep cuts and some new material.

I have always wondered why allot of her sets are under 14-18 songs when you consider she has enough material to play for much longer.

[mezzoforte]

I find that Stevie's set have become stale and stagnant. She needs to revamp the setlist. At her age why is she still trying to please the casual fan? They are likely not the one's rushing out to buy everything she releases.

This doesn't really make sense to me. Yes, most of the casual fans aren't buying albums, but she does have to keep them coming back for the next tour.
I know many people here would prefer Stevie embrace small crowds, but honestly, Stevie loves being a rock star. And I think she (and her people) realize that being a rockstar entails catering to the largest fan base possible.

I would love to see Stevie do a tour where she starts off with an acoustic set featuring just her and and a small quartet or something then she could add the full band for some slightly unplugged numbers and then she could rock the house at the end.

Here would be a great setlist

1. Bella Donna
2. Dreams
3. Enchanted
4. For What It's Worth
5. In Your Dreams
6. It's Only Love
7. Sleeping Angel
8.Twisted
9. Crystal
10. Love Is

Full Band Comes out

11. Secret Love
12.. New Orleans
13. Rhiannon Piano/Rock Version
14. Talk To Me
15. Rooms on Fire
16. Moonlight
18. Annabell Lee

Full Rock on mode
19. Blue Denim
20. Stand Back
21. Fall From Grace
22. Edge of 17

23. Sisters of The Moon
24. Rock and Roll
25. Has Anyone Ever Written

I think this setlist would please many people. Has some of her staples, some deep cuts and some new material.

Many of these would be great to see, yeah. It will never happen, and this set is almost twice as long as it should be, but it would be cool, sure.

Of course, I think many of these songs aren't played simply because they'd be too difficult live. I know that's why "Talk to Me" and "Bella Donna" aren't in there, at least.


I have always wondered why allot of her sets are under 14-18 songs when you consider she has enough material to play for much longer.

Because she's 63 and performing on her own is draining?
I think the schedule is very hard on her. She seems to often cancel when she plays too many dates too close together. I can't imagine that adding ten songs to the set would be a great thing for her.

[KarmaContestant]

You guys really don't like Street Angel?? I love that album! Blue Denim, Greta, Street Angel, Destiny, Rose Garden, Just Like A Woman!!

I love Street Angel - the song and the album. When ranking all of Stevie's albums it's definitely heads and tails above TOSOTM, but it doesn't hold up well to her better material.

However, as a stand-alone album I think it's really quite good and has some songs that would be excellent on the road.

[bluefox4000]

You guys really don't like Street Angel?? I love that album! Blue Denim, Greta, Street Angel, Destiny, Rose Garden, Just Like A Woman!!

I like about 4 songs on it.

Not good by my count. all IMO of course

Blue Denim
Greta
Destiny
Rose Garden

Mick

[skcin]

Personally, I'd love to see her drop "Landslide" and replace it with "Rooms on Fire" or "Doing the Best That I Can" (which I'm convinced her modern voice would sound fantastic on). But I don't think the 10,000 non-Ledgie fans would love that. Hey, they paid for "Landslide"--I get it. I think La Nicks does too, and she feels more obligated to those fans than we sometimes realize.


I agree completely. :angel:


I have always wondered why allot of her sets are under 14-18 songs when you consider she has enough material to play for much longer.

Because she's 63 and performing on her own is draining?
I think the schedule is very hard on her. She seems to often cancel when she plays too many dates too close together. I can't imagine that adding ten songs to the set would be a great thing for her.

What she said.