Songs she was offered but rejected

[ricohv]

Anyone ever hear this story before? I hadn't. Kind of interesting...
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/stevie-nicks-prince-purple-rain-lyrics/

[WildHearted]

Yep, I'd heard it. Pretty interesting to think what-could-have-been and all.

[skuncles]

Yep heard it before. Although there is no proof I believe that Stevie had a hand at least in part in writing When Doves Cry. Prince took no credit for his part in Stand Back so I think Stevie did the same on Doves. For awhile during Edge Stevie would sing "I know what it sounds like when doves cry...."

[Rod~A~Little]

Yes! I heard the same story! Supposedly, Prince gave her the music to Purple Rain and wanted Stevie to write the lyrics to the song. Stevie said that she got a little frustrated with this awesome piece of music and ended up giving it back to him. She told him that he should write it himself.

She said she was glad that she did because now there is this awesome Prince song called Purple Rain.

[PenguinHead]

Within the time span of her career, Stevie has inspired a few artists to write songs who were either inspired by her, or intended for her.

A good example of it is "These Dreams," written by Elton John's brilliant lyricist Bernie Taupin. He wrote the song for her, or at least offered it to her, knowing that it was a nice fit, in her style. She rejected it, and the song found its way to Heart, who enjoyed a massive hit with it.

Another song, a long forgotten memory, was remembered just today when I purchased a used copy of Bruce Springsteen's 18 Tracks CD, a compilation of outakes - songs that never found a place on albums. One track ignited my memory : "Janey Don't You Lose Heart."

Early on in Stevie's solo career I recall a note (likely in Rolling Stone), speculating about her recording this Springsteen -written song. Since no evidence of it exists as of now, I assume she never took the offer, and never had any involvement with it.

Anyone know anything about this?

[sleepless child]

I read or heard somewhere that she did record it, but Bruce didn't like that she changed the gender roles around. So he asked her to scrap it.

[FM77]

I personally asked her about this a few years ago. She said she was never offered a song by Bruce. She said she would have "loved" it if he sent her something. I know her memory is often fuzzy from the past but I doubt she forgot being sent a song by Bruce Springsteen, especially during his mega-selling Born in the USA period.

[PenguinHead]

I read or heard somewhere that she did record it, but Bruce didn't like that she changed the gender roles around. So he asked her to scrap it.

That would be a real lame excuse. I think that was someone's supposition that has grown into a "mythical" fact. Usually artists whose songs get covered don't have artistic control over the creative articulation of the song. If Bruce worked directly worked with Stevie in the development of the song, that's another story. But I don't think that was ever the case.

[JimSATX]

I remember around the time of Trouble In Shangri-La, that Macy Gray wrote a song for her called "Smitten" and Courtney Love wrote a song for her called "When It All Falls Apart," but I don't know if she ever recorded either one of them. I think Rod Steward eventually recorded "Smitten."

Wasn't the song "Love Will Find a Way" by Yes originally supposed to be written for Stevie as well?

[KarmaContestant]

I don't know the offical story, but I have heard a few demos of Tied Up In Promises (J.Farrar/L.Ritenour). from a cassette tape in 1989. Olivia Newton John ended up recording this song, but I don't know if Stevie's were intended to be a cover, or if it was offered to her before Olivia.

http://dancpharmd.wordpress.com/2012/08/17/tied-up-in-promises/

[Richard B]

I don't know the offical story, but I have heard a few demos of Tied Up In Promises (J.Farrar/L.Ritenour). from a cassette tape in 1989. Olivia Newton John ended up recording this song, but I don't know if Stevie's were intended to be a cover, or if it was offered to her before Olivia.

http://dancpharmd.wordpress.com/2012/08/17/tied-up-in-promises/

I really love this track and always wished there was a clean, good quality of Tied Up (In Promises) by Stevie. I do know Tied Up released in 1982 on ONJ Greatest Hits vol 2...but according to everything I have read, Stevie's version was recorded during Rock-A-Little sessions...so 1984-1986?

However, both John Farrar and L. Ritenour wrote many songs exclusively for ONJ, with Farrar producing most of her albums. So, I really do not think Tied Up (In Promises) was written for Stevie Nicks in mind. It's well known that Stevie has trouble with hit songs, which is why I think they brought in Tied Up (In Promises) to Stevie.

[BombaySapphire3]

I remember around the time of Trouble In Shangri-La, that Macy Gray wrote a song for her called "Smitten" and Courtney Love wrote a song for her called "When It All Falls Apart," but I don't know if she ever recorded either one of them. I think Rod Steward eventually recorded "Smitten."

Wasn't the song "Love Will Find a Way" by Yes originally supposed to be written for Stevie as well?

Yes offered her the instrumental track that became "Love Will Find a Way" Courtney also reportedly offered Stevie "Malibu" for TISL which ended up the second single from Hole's Celebrity Skin..that one she should have taken.She could have dunped That Made me Stronger for it.:rolleyes:

[SpyNote]

Within the time span of her career, Stevie has inspired a few artists to write songs who were either inspired by her, or intended for her.

A good example of it is "These Dreams," written by Elton John's brilliant lyricist Bernie Taupin. He wrote the song for her, or at least offered it to her, knowing that it was a nice fit, in her style. She rejected it, and the song found its way to Heart, who enjoyed a massive hit with it.

It's probably a good practice for her to turn down these songs. Most fans absolutely hate it when she records other people's songs anyway. The fact that she includes covers in her set lists is a general complaint.

[chiliD]

She was offered "Call Me" but turned it down. Worked well for Blondie.

[Bandon]

I read or heard somewhere that she did record it, but Bruce didn't like that she changed the gender roles around. So he asked her to scrap it.

You are correct.
I read the same article. It was in Rollingstone sometime in 1984 or 1985.

[MikeInNV]

She was offered "Call Me" but turned it down. Worked well for Blondie.

Yes, but only after Debbie Harry completely re-wrote the lyrics. Apparently Giorgio Moroder's English wasn't that great, so his lyrics were awkward. The original title was either "Man Machine" or "Machine Man." The song that Stevie was given was not necessarily a guaranteed hit.

[Fannymac]

Re: Springsteen.....I remember this as well.....and she DID change the title to "BABY, Don't You Lose Heart!"

Re: YES.....they also offered her "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" and she turned it down.

Re: "Call Me".....it ws offered to someone else like Pat Benatar or Martha Davis after Stevie turned it down....that's when Debbie convinced Georgio to let her rewrite it with him!

There's also Warren Zevon's "Reconsider Me", which is such a great song. I really think Stevie could have done a killer version of this song if A) she had put her heart and soul into it, and B) Jimmy hadn't pushed it on her at a point when they were either just breaking up or just not really getting along (can't remember what it was at that point....I THINK they had already broken up.....or were breaking up!)

[Christopher]

Yes offered her the instrumental track that became "Love Will Find a Way" Courtney also reportedly offered Stevie "Malibu" for TISL which ended up the second single from Hole's Celebrity Skin..that one she should have taken.She could have dunped That Made me Stronger for it.:rolleyes:

You're correct that Courtney and Billy Corgan set out to write a song(s) for Stevie, But when they finished "Malibu", Courtney loved the song so much she ducked out and decided to keep it for Hole instead (she admitted this on twitter last year). Supposedly they also wrote a song for her called When It Falls Apart. Stevie recorded a bunch of material for TISL during 1996 for her next solo album, but put it all on hold when The Dance came together. Afterwards came "Enchanted", then she went to work on a whole new set of songs in late 98' through late 2000. It would be interesting to to hear what was recorded pre-"Dance" era.

[GarboSpeaks!]

During the whole Corgan & Hole supposed writing campaign for Stevie, there was also another group called "Blinker The Star" that was either recording with her, for her or something. I just came across the article not to long ago-and looked up the band, who is still around, but haven't made much of a splash.
I also thought there was a Dave Koz song FOR Stevie. Seems I'm missing a few people. I had no idea about YES though. SN doing Owner Of A Lonely Heart w/ Waddy tearing up the guitar solo...I can see it.

[senseformiles]

I don't have anything to add to this discussion except to say that I love this thread. I think it's so interesting that Stevie didn't record "These Dreams," because it's such a great song. I always think that Stevie was offered "Black Velvet," but I know that's not true. That would have been cool, too.

[PenguinHead]

Re: Springsteen.....I remember this as well.....and she DID change the title to "BABY, Don't You Lose Heart!"

Re: YES.....they also offered her "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" and she turned it down.

Re: "Call Me".....it ws offered to someone else like Pat Benatar or Martha Davis after Stevie turned it down....that's when Debbie convinced Georgio to let her rewrite it with him!

There's also Warren Zevon's "Reconsider Me", which is such a great song. I really think Stevie could have done a killer version of this song if A) she had put her heart and soul into it, and B) Jimmy hadn't pushed it on her at a point when they were either just breaking up or just not really getting along (can't remember what it was at that point....I THINK they had already broken up.....or were breaking up!)

"Baby, Don't You Lose Heart" is a reasonable and modest gender-neutral change to the title, making more appropriate if a woman is to sing it. I just don't buy the story - that the song did not come to fruition because Bruce had issues with the gender switch. What is so damn precious about an innocuous song, where a few words are changed? I don't think Bruce is that fickle.

Also, if this song was ever officially considered, was Bruce going to be involved in some manner, as this news tibbit implied? Stevie makes small changes to almost all of songs she's covered. I don't thing the publishers of the song don't have artistic veto power if the writer has issue with a particular rendition; this is strictly a business transaction.

Does anyone know if the the song had any development in Stevie's camp? I suppose it amounts to nothing more than speculative comments. No song, just a little press.

Was the song ever officially slated to be recorded? Did any recording take place. It was likely a non-starter,

[Johnny Stew]

During the whole Corgan & Hole supposed writing campaign for Stevie, there was also another group called "Blinker The Star" that was either recording with her, for her or something. I just came across the article not to long ago-and looked up the band, who is still around, but haven't made much of a splash.

Jordon Zadorozny, from Blinker The Star, wrote a song with Courtney that was intended for Stevie. According the US copyright site, the only song Courtney & Jordon have submitted jointly for copyright was "Reasons To Be Beautiful" -- which was released on Hole's 'Celebrity Skin' in 1998.
Hard to say if that was the song they wrote for Stevie, however.

[elle]

Jordon Zadorozny, from Blinker The Star, wrote a song with Courtney that was intended for Stevie. According the US copyright site, the only song Courtney & Jordon have submitted jointly for copyright was "Reasons To Be Beautiful" -- which was released on Hole's 'Celebrity Skin' in 1998.
Hard to say if that was the song they wrote for Stevie, however.

ha, cool! there's a vid of Blinker The Star and LB noodling around in the studio that was uploaded by the band some time last year - since the song they were recording with LB made their last year's album, i believe. looking at LB it must have been some time in maybe 2001-2002 (so that must have been after the time when they were writing song(s) for SN?) -
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/1bzt-VhirIA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Jordon Zadorozny seems to be a really nice guy and he is around on FB, so you guys can probably ask him about the song you are wondering about.

[michelej1]

It was around 1997 that they were writing for Stevie. At the time Zadorozny said:

"Courtney and I wrote a song together to give to Stevie Nicks. It was very California, very Stevie. It was a total collaboration and the song was written pretty quickly."

"We wrote it quite quickly, actually. She's definitely an extraordinary person. I found her quite easy to work with and hang out with. Her mind moves quickly and so does mine, so it was fun ... We just sat down with acoustic guitars actually. We worked really well together. I've actually never sat down one-on-one with acoustic guitars and written. With her, it was great because we both have little patience and she was very quick to say, 'That sucks,' and I was very quick to say, 'Don't sing that.'"


Here's a Dance article that mentions the song, in passing.

http://bla.fleetwoodmac.net/index.php?page=index_v2&id=604&c=18

[FM77]

"Baby, Don't You Lose Heart" is a reasonable and modest gender-neutral change to the title, making more appropriate if a woman is to sing it. I just don't buy the story - that the song did not come to fruition because Bruce had issues with the gender switch. What is so damn precious about an innocuous song, where a few words are changed? I don't think Bruce is that fickle.

Also, if this song was ever officially considered, was Bruce going to be involved in some manner, as this news tibbit implied? Stevie makes small changes to almost all of songs she's covered. I don't thing the publishers of the song don't have artistic veto power if the writer has issue with a particular rendition; this is strictly a business transaction.

Does anyone know if the the song had any development in Stevie's camp? I suppose it amounts to nothing more than speculative comments. No song, just a little press.

Was the song ever officially slated to be recorded? Did any recording take place. It was likely a non-starter,

As I stated before, Stevie said Bruce never sent her the song. It's the dumbest myth ever.

[Japhry]

While a very beautiful song.... I think that "These Dreams" seems far more well suited for Nancy Wilson or even Pat Benatar. I would have to re-imagine this in an entirely different key to "hear" Stevie sounding right for this one-or is it just me?:shrug:

[rhiannondontgo]

Besides Malibu and When It All Falls Apart, I know Courtney also wrote Pacific Coast Highway for Stevie to sing originally. I think the problem is when Courtney wrote these songs for her, it just so happens to have been right when Stevie had no real album in the works. Malibu is basically from during the Dance, and PCH was on Hole's album Nobody's Daughter that was recorded in 09. If Stevie was ever actively working on an album when Courtney had a song for her, i'm sure it would've come into fruition, but since CL doesn't know when Stevie's next album will be, she probably gets impatient and just records them herself.
Here's the PCH demo if you've never heard it (I prefer it to Hole's studio version), I actually love this song and Malibu. Courtney did them both amazingly when I saw her live. I love that she's such a Stevie fan and even has pictures of SN framed in her living room. Too cute.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/EJD66QswyiM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[gssmith]

Didn't tom petty offer her I Won't Back Down?

[welcomechris]

Prince offered her to WRITE 'Purple Rain'

[sleepless child]

Regarding the Bruce song, I read it in one of the Dreams fanzines that were popular back in the late 80's, early 90's. I'll look through my stash to see which issue it was and the exact quote.

[Christopher]

Regarding the Bruce song, I read it in one of the Dreams fanzines that were popular back in the late 80's, early 90's. I'll look through my stash to see which issue it was and the exact quote.

It was also reported in Rolling Stone during spring/summer of 1984, that Bruce had submitted the song "Don't Lose Heart" for Stevie's forthcoming release. They also mentioned it wasn't confirmed whether the song would be used at press time, or something like that. I should dig out the old RS.
So whether or not Stevie remembers - which would not be surprising, considering RAL was among the craziest & druggiest eras of Stevies career - The Bruce Springsteen song was at least more than a passing thought, likely put in place via Jimmy Iovine & his close relationship with Bruce.

[michelej1]

It was also reported in Rolling Stone during spring/summer of 1984, that Bruce had submitted the song "Don't Lose Heart" for Stevie's forthcoming release. They also mentioned it wasn't confirmed whether the song would be used at press time, or something like that.

Here's an old thread of people discussing the song on The Ledge.

http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?t=14859

[michelej1]

I was reading about Roger Daltry and it discussed "Let Me Down Easy." Jim Vallance said, "Adams and I originally wrote "Let Me Down Easy" for Stevie Nicks, but I don't know if she ever heard the song? Regardless, I thought Roger did a superb job."

[nightbird28]

I kind of wish Stevie would do a cover album and go back and pick all the songs that she passed on that later became hits. I think I would love to hear her interpretations of these songs.

[Sanne2]

Bumping this old thread because this week I learned that Bono from U2 wrote a song for Stevie (I guess it was intended for The Wild Heart). I was digging through the online archives of a Dutch newspaper when I came across this interview with Bono, from March 1983: http://leiden.courant.nu/issue/LLC/1983-03-19/edition/0/page/19?query=stevie%20nicks&period=1983&sort=relevance
Translation of the interesting bits:
Stevie Nicks (from Fleetwood Mac) called us a while ago and asked us if we wanted to write a song for her. We send her a composition but she wasn't satisfied. I think it was too good for her. We wrote that song in Holland during a soundcheck, it was done is just 5 minutes. Maybe that sounds crazy but I have a tape to prove it. We send Stevie a copy of that tape but I guess it wasn't wat she was looking for, it's a beautiful love song and that's not what she wanted.

[Phil]

Originally posted by michelej1:

I was reading about Roger Daltry and it discussed "Let Me Down Easy." Jim Vallance said, "Adams and I originally wrote "Let Me Down Easy" for Stevie Nicks, but I don't know if she ever heard the song? Regardless, I thought Roger did a superb job."

Roger Daltrey's and Bryan Adams' released versions (on the Reckless 30th Anniversary reissue) sound very much in the vein of the Rock A Little mid-80's pop/rock period. Check out Bryan Adams' acoustic version on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgfpdZXJphw

[lilyfee]

We found out during the MSG show that Stevie once recorded a cover of It's Raining Men. Not exactly a song she rejected but as long as we're talking about covers, I really hope this sees the light of day someday. :nod:

[bombaysaffires]

SN doing Owner Of A Lonely Heart w/ Waddy tearing up the guitar solo...I can see it.

:distress: :distress: :distress: :sorry:

[BombaySapphire3]

:distress: :distress: :distress: :sorry:

No worries they never offered her that song. it was "Love Will Find a Way"

[24karatstevie]

I always like to think about what Stevie's versions of these songs could have sounded like. Call Me or These Dreams (both some of my favorite songs) could have took a different direction if Stevie had sang them.

[ahafan02]

Re: Springsteen.....I remember this as well.....and she DID change the title to "BABY, Don't You Lose Heart!"

Re: YES.....they also offered her "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" and she turned it down.

Re: "Call Me".....it ws offered to someone else like Pat Benatar or Martha Davis after Stevie turned it down....that's when Debbie convinced Georgio to let her rewrite it with him!

There's also Warren Zevon's "Reconsider Me", which is such a great song. I really think Stevie could have done a killer version of this song if A) she had put her heart and soul into it, and B) Jimmy hadn't pushed it on her at a point when they were either just breaking up or just not really getting along (can't remember what it was at that point....I THINK they had already broken up.....or were breaking up!)



I think we really need not spread misinformation. The above is incorrect. He did not offer it to Benatar or Davis. You are thinking of Giorgio's "Take My Breath Away" which Martha Davis (and possibly Benatar) was asked to record it before Berlin (Terri Nunn). Martha's awkward version of that song was released on The Motels/Martha Davis' "Anthologyland". "Tied Up" was cowritten by Farrar for ONJ who recorded the original in late '81 for inclusion on her '82 Greatest Hits Volume 2 LP. Iovine was desperate to find Nicks a hit for RAL and thought this song would be suited for her voice. The song itself is decent but nothing about it screams major hit (ONJ's version only made it to #38). "Call Me" was sent to Nicks in '79 (right after she signed with Modern Records). It was a bare instrumental demo Moroder was hoping Nicks could finish the melody and write lyrics to it. Her new recording contract prevented her from working with other labels so nothing came of it (this is well documented). The demo didn't have "awkward" lyrics...it had NO lyrics at all and Stevie never did anything with the demo. As stated the demo had the working title of "Man Machine". He then asked Debbie to write a melody and lyrics, which she did in two hours and she called it "Call Me". As for the Yes song "Owner of a Broken Heart"..no it was not given to Stevie to record. "Love Will Find a Way" was offered to her in 1986. When she rejected it they wrote lyrics to it and recorded it themselves. "Owner" was originally recorded as an instrumental demo by YES member Trevor Rabin who was going to release it as a single as a solo artist, which never happened. He instead shelved the song until Trevor Horn (who produced 90125, the album from which it is featured on) heard the demo and told them it would be a hit for them. The band re-worked the demo and added lyrics. As far as Bruce Springsteen there really wasn't any verifiable proof one way or another. If it's true Stevie said she didn't, I don't think she would lie about it because what would be the point? It wouldn't make sense.

As a side note...Benatar only worked with Giorgio once, on the god awful "Here's My Heart" from his 1983 scoring of "Metropolis". She hated it and did not get along with him at all. I met her during her 2001 Summer Vacation tour and asked her about it. She said she hated it and Moroder was "a jerk". She said the record company snuck it onto her compilation "Synchronistic Wanderings" at the last minute after she told them she didn't want it on the comp (notice she writes notes about every song on there in the booklet except "Here's My Heart").

[pryderi]

Thank you for this.

[SisterNightroad]

How we made Prince's Purple Rain
‘We recorded it in a jampacked Minneapolis club. It was sweaty and smoky and vibey as hell’

Lisa Coleman, keyboards
Being in Prince’s band was like getting in a sports car with a racing driver. Even though you felt a bit scared – why is he going so fast? – he could handle it, and it brought so much joy. I first met him in 1979. He was looking for a girl keyboard player and I happened to be one. One of my best friends got a job at Prince’s management agency. She called me about him, and I didn’t know who he was. I made a tape of myself playing a couple of songs and I flew to Minneapolis and he picked me up at the airport. We were both very shy, so it didn’t go well at first – but we ended up hitting it off.

The audition was pretty immediate. It was eight or nine at night when we got to his place. He told me there was a piano down the stairs, and I took that as a hint he wanted to hear me play. He came down a few minutes later and picked up a guitar. I was checking him out just as much as he was checking me out. He had a poster on his wall of Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand in A Star Is Born. I thought that was kind of young. Me being from LA and my father being a musician meant I was around the music business, but it was a different feeling with Prince. He had the vibe of living music – his house smelled like a recording studio.

It took a handful of years for us to work up to being that completely fabulous Purple Rain band, so tight and good. I think we lived up to the flamboyant image because we worked so hard. When Wendy Melvoin joined to play guitar, it made a big difference. I was happy because she was my girlfriend, and Prince was so excited – she was like a new kitten to him, the way that he was precious about her. You could feel a new beginning. I think he chose each of us for very simple reasons, not because we were virtuosos – although we were very good. There was another quality he needed to have around him: a blend of loyalty, a spirit of young hunger and a musical quality he didn’t have. Every one of us had something he didn’t have, even though he had it all.

Purple Rain was one of the songs we were working on before we decided what the film was going to be. At first he wasn’t sure Purple Rain was actually a Prince song. It was kind of a country number and he gave it to Stevie Nicks, but she felt intimidated by it. So one day he decided to fool around with it at rehearsal. Wendy started hitting these big chords and that rejigged his idea of the song. He was excited to hear it voiced differently. It took it out of that country feeling. Then we all started playing it a bit harder and taking it more seriously. We played it for six hours straight and by the end of that day we had it mostly written and arranged.

In 1983, we performed at a benefit show at the First Avenue club in Minneapolis. This is where the song was recorded live, though at the time we didn’t know that was the plan. Prince was really excited and kept pumping us up: “We’re making history tonight.” It all makes sense now: if you’re going to record something, make sure you’re as badass as you can be. Don’t **** around.

It was Wendy’s first show. To have that be her anointing was a lot to live up to. But he was so supportive of her. He took her under his wing. He helped her relax and not be too nervous. We were unsure what was going to happen, but we hit the stage with such conviction that it didn’t really matter. The crowd were with us. It was hot, it was August, it was jampacked in the club. It was sweaty and smoky and vibey as hell.

Afterwards, I went into the studio in Los Angeles with Prince to work on it [the live recording had string overdubs added, and was edited from 13 minutes to 8 minutes 41 seconds]. I did the string arrangement – we didn’t hire session players, it was me calling my brother: “Can you get a couple of friends and come do some strings?” Prince made the decision to lose the third verse, making it more concise. He was completely right. The third verse didn’t really match the other two – it was a different spirit and it didn’t belong in the song.

Bobby Z, drums
In 1978, I was at Moon Sound Studios in Minneapolis, working with a different band. Prince was in Studio A making his first tape. It was dynamite, gunpowder. I heard it walking across the hallway one morning. I went in and I saw the afro.

I was working for his manager as a delivery driver, and my job became driving Prince. We spent seven months basically alone together. We were bonded as friends, which eventually made getting the job of drummer harder. I was very grateful that he hired me and very grateful that he took me for the whole ride.

There were people in the Revolution who weren’t committed to staying forever, and you can’t build a band like that, but by summer 1983 we had a special chemistry. He was always kind of a solo artist, but the fact that the Revolution were able to give him the colours on a palette made me proud.

Purple Rain was brought in at the end of a rehearsal. We had just gone through the set twice and he said: “I want to try something before we go home. It’s mellow.” For me it was natural: I could give it the big rock beat and be John Bonham. But when it starts, it’s really a country song.

The soundtrack recording began in 1983, when he used a mobile recording truck to capture Purple Rain, I Would Die 4 U, Baby I’m a Star and the workings of a couple of others. Documenting what we did was commonplace, and he used it as a tool to improve. We would watch videos as part of our rehearsals, and it caused a dramatic improvement. When you see yourself look stupid, you fix yourself a lot better. All he had to do was show it to you.

That day at First Avenue, it was 90 degrees – a humid wet August, cigarette smoke everywhere. It was a battle to get through, and it was kind of forging metal in hot conditions. But he got the performances out of people who were just for one minute to his level, and it was a beautiful thing.

We ended up losing the third verse. To edit it the way he did was genius. He was an incredible editor, and this was back in the days when we were splicing tape. Another feather in his hat. Because Prince was such a great musician, he was able to find pieces of music in his head, and then with Scotch tape put them together into something completely different – there were some real gutsy moves back then. He had a vision in his head for everything from fashion to the sound of the snare drum to the catering truck. He knew everything.

Purple Rain Deluxe (Expanded Edition) is out now on Warner Bros Records.



https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jul/24/how-we-made-princes-purple-rain-interview

[SisterNightroad]

Legendary Producer Giorgio Moroder Talks DJ'ing Advice From David Guetta and His Love For The Weeknd

“Take My Breath Away,” recorded by Berlin for Top Gun, won both the Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Original Song in 1986. Is that your favorite song you’ve ever done?

Yes. “Flashdance” is the other one. “Take My Breath Away” has a great sound (hums the opening notes). The melody is good. It reminds me a little bit of a romantic Italian traditional [song.]. Thank God the way Terri [Nunn] sang it was like a modern singer. If I had recorded it with a typical Italian guy, it would have been very dramatic, crying. She did a good job.

Didn’t several other singers took a crack at it before Terri?

Several. [The Motels’] Martha [Davis] did one. It came out nice, but [producers] Jerry and Don [Simpson] didn’t think it was right. We gave it to [B]Stevie Nicks. I don’t think she said she doesn’t like it, [but] she passed. There was a male British singer, Paul Young, and then I think we had somebody else.


http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7817625/giorgio-moroder-djing-david-guetta-weeknd

[StreetAngel86]

I also thought there was a Dave Koz song FOR Stevie. Seems I'm missing a few people. I had no idea about YES though. SN doing Owner Of A Lonely Heart w/ Waddy tearing up the guitar solo...I can see it.



i utterly LOVE this song
the fact that Stevie could nail it ... oh my :eek::nod:
she needs to do a poll
top 12 cover songs she should do
we put forth our submissions
the top 30 or whatever compete in battle rounds :lol:

[TheWildHeart67]

Fun fact:
"Talk to me" was already in the Billboard top 10 when MTV premiered the video. The video was shot very late after the song was already to radio.
I never understood why Stevie says she has trouble writing hit songs, as the only hit she didn't write that hit the Billboard top 10 was "Talk to me." I guess you can also count "Whenever I call you friend."

[bwboy]

Bumping this old thread because this week I learned that Bono from U2 wrote a song for Stevie (I guess it was intended for The Wild Heart). I was digging through the online archives of a Dutch newspaper when I came across this interview with Bono, from March 1983: http://leiden.courant.nu/issue/LLC/1983-03-19/edition/0/page/19?query=stevie%20nicks&period=1983&sort=relevance
Translation of the interesting bits:
Stevie Nicks (from Fleetwood Mac) called us a while ago and asked us if we wanted to write a song for her. We send her a composition but she wasn't satisfied. I think it was too good for her. We wrote that song in Holland during a soundcheck, it was done is just 5 minutes. Maybe that sounds crazy but I have a tape to prove it. We send Stevie a copy of that tape but I guess it wasn't wat she was looking for, it's a beautiful love song and that's not what she wanted.

This is interesting, and Billy Burnette wrote in his memoir that Stevie hosted a party for Bono and U2 sometime around 1988, so that would lend credence to this story. If only Stevie had recorded that song... it may or may not have ended up being a hit, but it certainly would have been impressive to have a Bono/U2 song in her song catalog.

[bwboy]

Fun fact:
"Talk to me" was already in the Billboard top 10 when MTV premiered the video. The video was shot very late after the song was already to radio.
I never understood why Stevie says she has trouble writing hit songs, as the only hit she didn't write that hit the Billboard top 10 was "Talk to me." I guess you can also count "Whenever I call you friend."

Don't forget Stop Dragging My Heart Around :)

[TheWildHeart67]

https://youtu.be/fdb_miRetOU

Here's ONJ's "Tied up." Man she sure looked so adorable in the day. The video is beyond goofy though. I used to LOVE this song. Still do.

[TheWildHeart67]

Translation of the interesting bits:
Stevie Nicks (from Fleetwood Mac) called us a while ago and asked us if we wanted to write a song for her. We send her a composition but she wasn't satisfied. I think it was too good for her. We wrote that song in Holland during a soundcheck, it was done is just 5 minutes. Maybe that sounds crazy but I have a tape to prove it. We send Stevie a copy of that tape but I guess it wasn't wat she was looking for, it's a beautiful love song and that's not what she wanted.

Bono is so in love with himself.
LOL! He sounds so butt-hurt that she didn't record it.
I remember when he made a quote to Rolling Stone saying he was Jesus.

[TheWildHeart67]

Don't forget Stop Dragging My Heart Around

BWBOY, I don't know how I forgot that one! I just worked a 12 hour shift and getting ready to work another one.:distress:

[TheWildHeart67]

But isn't it strange how she always says she has trouble writing "HIT" singles when she has written over 10 top 20 hits?

[lilyfee]

But isn't it strange how she always says she has trouble writing "HIT" singles when she has written over 10 top 20 hits?

But I think she is right that the songs that became hits did not fit the mold for "hit"songs when they were released. They were innovative in their own way. IMHO her best hit material is when she is not trying to write a hit. For instance, Say You Will was written to be a hit...:distress:

[snroxman]

Funny thing - when I first read this thread and read the title "Love Will Find a Way", the first song that started playing in my head was a song of the same name from another artist, Amy Grant. Even though I like the Yes song "Love Will Find a Way", a Stevie track would have been great too.

I learned something new from this thread - that work on TISL was in progress in 96, before "The Dance". I would love to hear some other unreleased material intended for TISL from that era. "If You Ever Did Believe" for the soundtrack was phenomenal. To me, "Sorcerer" from TISL, sounds like it may have been recorded during the same timeframe - 96. I used to like to put both songs back to back in playlists.

[SisterNightroad]

I learned something new from this thread - that work on TISL was in progress in 96, before "The Dance". I would love to hear some other unreleased material intended for TISL from that era. "If You Ever Did Believe" for the soundtrack was phenomenal. To me, "Sorcerer" from TISL, sounds like it may have been recorded during the same timeframe - 96. I used to like to put both songs back to back in playlists.
The work for what would eventually become TISLA started from right after the end of the Street Angel Tour in late 1994, then it was paused due to her commitments for The Dance and Enchanted and resumed again after that.
Sorcerer is one of the tracks she did with Sheryl Crow in 1998, if you want to read a report on the album sessions you can find it here: http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?t=56017

[snroxman]

The work for what would eventually become TISLA started from right after the end of the Street Angel Tour in late 1994, then it was paused due to her commitments for The Dance and Enchanted and resumed again after that.
Sorcerer is one of the tracks she did with Sheryl Crow in 1998, if you want to read a report on the album sessions you can find it here: http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?t=56017

Thanks SisterNightRoad!