The Other Side Of The Mirror Appreciation Thread

[sorcerer999]

I scoured all the previous threads, but couldn't find an "OSOTM" appreciation thread.

I really want to discuss this album because for some reason I've been listening to it NONSTOP since the beginning of the year, after I decided to take a break from 24KG. I don't know what prompted me to do so, but one day I was just in the mood to listen to "Alice", which was never one of my favorites. Well after listening to the whole album that day, and continuing to do so a few times a week since then, "Alice" is now one of my favorites. As is "Ghosts", "Cry Wolf" and "Fire Burning" which I never really enjoyed in the past. I would even venture to say, in my opinion, that "Fire Burning" is one of the MOST pretentious songs she's ever written, but for some reason I'm feeling it right now.

I'm feeling ALL of them actually, and really starting to enjoy this album as a whole entity for the first time. Ever since it came out in 1989, I just picked out my absolute favorites ("Rooms", "Long Way", "Ooh My Love" and "Doing The Best...") and pretty much ignored the rest. Probably due to the fact that, for the first time EVER, Stevie's music had wandered into the "Adult Contemporary" category...and I was 13 years old and still very much into Pop, Rock and Soul, and would eventually graduate to Grunge and Alternative just a few short years later. This album didn't speak to me at that time in the way it does now in 2015. Strange.

I posted on some other forum that I thought this is the ONE Stevie album that sounds the most "dated", because even "Wild Heart" and "Rock A Little" still carry textures that have been recaptured in current popular and indie music. Because of that fact, I think most fans (at least a lot of them that I've discussed this album with) consider this one of their least favorite albums. However there are sooooooo many great songs to be found here, and I have a feeling, years and years after Stevie has left us, that THIS album will be a "cult favorite" among generations to come...Like it never seems to be given its due praise among the ranks of her earlier and later solo efforts. It seems to be stuck in the middle and in more of a "time warp" than all the others. Am I making any sense, whatsoever?

I apologize if I am just recycling an "old topic", but since we've been talking a lot lately about TISL, IYD and 24KG, I wanted to read everyone's opinions about this album as well. :D

[Rod~A~Little]

So glad you posted this thread my friend. This was the first time I ever saw Stevie live on this tour. I saw her in Birmingham and this album holds a special place for me.

I've noticed a lot of criticism for TOSOTM, but I've always felt it did not get the credit it deserved.
Some REALLY great songs like Rooms On Fire, Long Way To Go, Ooh My Love, Doing The Best I Can, and Whole Lotta Trouble.

There are some very dark moments on this album that reflect Stevie's life at that time. I appreciate the depths of despair and frustration on Doing The Best That I Can and Alice, with the issues of her drug problems.
I've noticed many people detest Cry Wolf, but it's always been one of my faves as well. It reminds me of Heart's "Nobody Home."

The only negative thing I can say is the photo they used for the cover. She is in an odd squatting position looking like what the hell is she doing. haha

Dated or not, the album is one of my faves of Stevie's...always has been and always will be. Going to listen to it right now as a matter of fact with a glass or two of wine! Cheers!

[On Ice]

A couple of things stand out for me circa 1989 when the album was released: Rooms on Fire generated a ton of radio interest, even an "alt-rock" station in Toronto, 102.1 now the Edge, was playing it and they would comment along the lines "the latest from Stevie Nicks, yes her and we're loving the song". Secondly, I ran into a couple of casual fans who'd bought the record and expressed disappointment, expecting the bar to be set with Rooms, but not quite making it, too many songs to skip. Lastly, there was the tour, which she was in fine voice and had some pretty funky costumes, and I think about 6 songs from the album, which she seemed excited to play. On a personal note, Rooms On Fire is one of my all time favs and if not, her second or third best single behind Edge of Seventeen and Stand Back. The album falls apart after Ooh My Love and is spotty until Doing the Best I Can (which would have made a nice closer tune without the Cash cover, which comes off rather cheesy).

If the high quality of the Rooms track had been weaved throughout , OSTOM would have been a real winner of an album, but Kenny G and Rupert Hine overall, were not a good fit for the Stevie vibe that was needed.

Certainly a vast improvement over Rock a Little, but too many so-so songs drag it down.

[tabruns]

When I first heard "Rooms On Fire" on the radio I thought to myself, "Wow! Nicks sounds focused again!" I was really excited, and I loved the song.

I picked up the album and liked the album cover a lot. I liked the mirror imaged album title, and the logo they did for her name. I got the concept what with a song called "Alice" on the album.

When I listened to it I thought it was much more focused than RAL had been. Besides "Rooms On Fire" I thought "Long Way To Go", "Ghosts", "Ooh My Love", "Alice", "Doing the Best I Can", and "Whole Lotta Trouble" were all good. "Two Kinds of Love" I liked, but it sounded REALLY Adult Contemporary. There wasn't a song on the album that I didn't like, although "I Still Miss Someone" sounded out of place. Much of OSOTM is fairly dark and mystical, so that countryish hiccup just sounded odd.

I thought the fact that OSOTM returned Nicks to the album Top 10 was a sign that people heard it and thought that yes she'd refocused after RAL. But then "Rooms On Fire" stalled at #16 - when I first heard it I was certain it would go Top 10. And unlike her previous albums, there weren't 2nd and 3rd Top 40 hits off the album.....that *could* be accounted for by wrong single choices. "Two Kinds of Love" sounds way too AC, and "Long Way To Go", even though a decent song, is a bit too pedestrian-sounding of a rock song. I think maybe "Ooh My Love" and "Whole Lotta Trouble" would have been better 2nd and 3rd singles choices.

But the singles not doing as well showed the inevitable "meh, you're not the IT thing anymore" attitude that comes from pop and rock radio. When "Sometimes It's A Bitch" failed to make the Top 50 when her hits album came out, that sealed the deal that radio was pretty much "over" her.

[PenguinHead]

The Rock A Little album was such a marked difference in style from her two previous albums. The Other Side of the Mirror album seemed more like a return to form. I suppose, in hindsight, it was the difference between cocaine and klonopin.

I witnessed a vast contrast in her demeanor and vocals from the shows I attended on those respective tours. The Rock A Little show: hyper and messy. The Mirror/Whole Lot of Trouble show: controlled and listless, yet I was happy she performed a decent amount of new songs (I got to see Juliet performed before it was dropped from the set).

Now that I'm more aware of the context/back story in which both albums were made, I can appreciate Rock A Little a little more. The Other Side of the Mirror had more of an instant appeal to me. Some of her other albums rank higher on my list, but that album references a particular side of Stevie.

[The Juggler]

The album is very solid but doesn't hit the high's of her previous three albums for me.

Saying that, the album picks up at the end and everything from Alice on is amazing. However I think Two Kinds Of Love, Fire Burning and Cry Wolf are pretty bad.

[PenguinHead]

The album is very solid but doesn't hit the high's of her previous three albums for me.

Saying that, the album picks up at the end and everything from Alice on is amazing. However I think Two Kinds Of Love, Fire Burning and Cry Wolf are pretty bad.

It is surprising that Two Kinds of Love was issued as a single. I did hear it on the radio at the time. I liked the song then, but it has not aged well, as it is among the dreck that wallows around in some of her writing and song choices. Fire Burning and Cry Wolf are good examples.

Still, when I play her albums now, I don't mind those odd songs at all. They don't assault my ears, and they are a part of the album. They are well executed despite being miscalculations. I don't over-analyze them anymore.

[sorcerer999]

Fire Burning and Cry Wolf are good examples.

Still, when I play her albums now, I don't mind those odd songs at all. They don't assault my ears, and they are a part of the album. They well executed despite being miscalculations. I don't over-analyze them anymore.

^^^ THIS!!! This is totally how I feel about these songs now. Couldn't have said it better!

[MikeInNV]

I thought the fact that OSOTM returned Nicks to the album Top 10 was a sign that people heard it and thought that yes she'd refocused after RAL. But then "Rooms On Fire" stalled at #16 - when I first heard it I was certain it would go Top 10. And unlike her previous albums, there weren't 2nd and 3rd Top 40 hits off the album.....that *could* be accounted for by wrong single choices. "Two Kinds of Love" sounds way too AC, and "Long Way To Go", even though a decent song, is a bit too pedestrian-sounding of a rock song. I think maybe "Ooh My Love" and "Whole Lotta Trouble" would have been better 2nd and 3rd singles choices.

Not sure where you are, but in the U.S. "Whole Lotta Trouble" WAS the 3rd single.

[StreetAngel86]

LOVE TOSOTM

it's a very dark album
under the guise of all the "fairytale" fluff

named my cat after it :D


the only song that sucks and i skip every time is Blue Eyes ... >>insert puking emoji<<

[sorcerer999]

Yep. The record should have ended with "Doing The Best I Can".

"I Still Miss Someone", with it's staccato carousel synth and emotionless vocal, was a misfire. I love the Johnny Cash version, though. It's just a song that shouldn't be covered by anyone else.

[louielouie2000]

OSOTM is an album I listen to for a brief stint about once a year- usually for a week at most. The rest of the year, I just can't get into it. But for that week, I just devour it. It's hazy dreaminess during that week is magical- I dig the dark fairytale theme and really feel the escapism from troubled times the album is trying to impart; during the rest of the year it's just frustratingly airy fairy. Something that irks me about this album is it's utter lack of bass (with a few exceptions). If the sound for the entire album was more rounded and full I might be able to get into it more.

[StreetAngel86]

Yep. The record should have ended with "Doing The Best I Can".


by far my fave track on the record
not a good idea to listen to the whole album if you're already in a dark place

but sometimes, i totally get in a TOSOTM mood and listen to it endlessly.
it's probably overall my favorite Stevie album but i have to be in the mood.

alice, rooms on fire, dtbic, lwtg are all gold.
Ooh my love, WLT, ghosts, cry wolf, fire burning are all silver :D

i love Juliet but i prefer the crazy Tango version

Two Kinds of Love i used to be addicted to, can take or leave it now.

[Rod~A~Little]

Agreed! Probably not the best album to listen to if you're already in a dark place.

Yes, the album should have ended with this song. I always stop at this song and never really listen to Blue Eyes.

Love the funky little groove of Juliet! I didn't know there was a "crazy Tango version." Looks like I'll be on YouTube searching for this one! :)

[DauphineMarie]

I got into an OSOTM phase too last year. For some reason, all of the songs just resounded with my soul like I had never experienced before, even the ones that I don't ever normally listen to. Alice is one of my all-time favourite songs now, as well as Ooh My Love and Juliet, is Alice. The darkness of this album is sometimes overwhelming... There is a friendly facade, but underneath is the darkness... You can see it, hear it, and feel it.

To me this is Stevie's only concept album, which creates the feeling of being in a dark old castle surrounded by a dark old forest, trying your hardest to escape the castle. Yes, there are some brighter moments, but for the most part it is just a descent down the grande staircase of this castle trying to find your way back home, back to the other side of the mirror.

[teedeerocks]

Agreed! Probably not the best album to listen to if you're already in a dark place.

Yes, the album should have ended with this song. I always stop at this song and never really listen to Blue Eyes.

Love the funky little groove of Juliet! I didn't know there was a "crazy Tango version." Looks like I'll be on YouTube searching for this one! :)

So funny you said that - I just wrote a little note to remind myself to check YouTube for the Tango version!GMTA! Happy searching and I hope you enjoy it:D

[PenguinHead]

Agreed! Probably not the best album to listen to if you're already in a dark place.

Yes, the album should have ended with this song. I always stop at this song and never really listen to Blue Eyes.

Love the funky little groove of Juliet! I didn't know there was a "crazy Tango version." Looks like I'll be on YouTube searching for this one! :)

Fleetwood Mac's b-side Book of Miracles is the instrumental track that would have been their version of Juliet.

[sorcerer999]

Is this the one that everyone's talking about?

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iP4yNWAgIhI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I love how at 3:42 it starts to sound like Michael Jackson's "Black Or White". :laugh:

[PenguinHead]

Is this the one that everyone's talking about?

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iP4yNWAgIhI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I love how at 3:42 it starts to sound like Michael Jackson's "Black Or White". :laugh:

You're so right about that!

This could have been a great song on Tango. But on this work-in-progress is a mess. And this was post-rehab? Why does she sound so manic? It appears she doesn't have the lyric structure nailed down. She's just wailing out various lines at random. And her ad-lib phrasing is so messy.

The band sounds solid. I wonder at what point they decided to give up on this song. Is the Book of Miracles b-side instrumental exactly the backing intended for Juliet? Or did Lindsey decide to salvage the song and finished it for release. Is Book of Miracles credited to Stevie?

[DauphineMarie]

You're so right about that!

This could have been a great song on Tango. But on this work-in-progress is a mess. And this was post-rehab? Why does she sound so manic? It appears she doesn't have the lyric structure nailed down. She's just wailing out various lines at random. And her ad-lib phrasing is so messy.

The band sounds solid. I wonder at what point they decided to give up on this song. Is the Book of Miracles b-side instrumental exactly the backing intended for Juliet? Or did Lindsey decide to salvage the song and finished it for release. Is Book of Miracles credited to Stevie?

I think this was pre-Rehab, because honestly post-Rehab Stevie couldn't have pulled off those vocals in such a manic, drugged-out fashion... I believe Book of Miracles is credited to Stevie and Lindsey.

[sorcerer999]

I remember both Mick and Stevie mentioning somewhere that they had started to work on demos and pre-production for "Tango" even before the "Rock A Little" tour started, and judging from her erratic vocals here, I would speculate that, yes indeed, this recording is "pre-rehab".

My bff Diana saw Stevie at Jones Beach during the RAL tour and got to go backstage. She said that Stevie was so "out of it" after the show that she had to have two security guards on both sides of her helping her stand. She also said Stevie was holding a small tape recorder that was playing "Family Man" and that when they brought her out to greet the fans, she was singing along to the call and response part, "I am what I am, I am what I am..." which also suggests that Tango was continuing to progress as Stevie was on tour.

[Macfan4life]

So love this thread. TOSOTM is not appreciated enough. I did not care for Rock A Little. Stevie hardly wrote any of the songs and was so messed up. When I heard Rooms on Fire, I was like WOW, Stevie is writing again, real drums and real guitars.... so happy. Some of her best written songs are on this album besides Bella Donna. Stevie rented a mansion and paid $100k per month to record it there. It surely was her "magic" album. According to Stevie luckily most of the album was already written because it was just after its release the lights went out on her. She claims she cant remember much of the tour. I saw her live in Pittsburgh Sept 1, 1989 and the lights were definitely out at this point. She had no interaction with the audience and the newspaper the next day commented why she moved so little on stage.
But some songs are amazing. I agree Blue Eyes seems out of place. While I like Cry Wolf, its very demo like. Laura Brannigan sang the song a few years earlier. It seemed Stevie was desperate for a few songs to finish the album.
LOVE
Rooms on Fire
Long Way To Go a real rocker
Two Kinds of Love
Ghosts (great writing)
Whole Lotta Trouble
Doing the Best that I can AKA Escape from Berlin (remember the Berlin wall had not fallen yet) Once you know the context of the song.... Escape from Berlin makes sense. Stevie ran away from Betty Ford. I know today she claims she finished the complete stint. But I remember on MTV news it claimed she ditched the place and said it was really stupid.

Anyway....... IMHO Stevie did get back on her feet for this album and it was the last of her great writing for many years to come.

[sorcerer999]

Stevie ran away from Betty Ford. I know today she claims she finished the complete stint. But I remember on MTV news it claimed she ditched the place and said it was really stupid.

Wow. Really? I've never heard this.

[Macfan4life]

Wow. Really? I've never heard this.
yes the story has changed over the years. In Micks 1990 book he claims Stevie completed the successful 30 day detox or something. When I read that I was like wow, that is not was reported several years ago. I think she left only a few days before she was supposed to. Not implying she relapsed or anything.
But the lyrics from Escape from Berlin say it all. If you left rehab happy and changed, I doubt you would call the song Escape from Berlin LOL
"I just played the part, I did not win or lose....... I just threw the cards"
IMHO those lyrics sort of hint of giving up and getting out

[Rod~A~Little]

yes the story has changed over the years. In Micks 1990 book he claims Stevie completed the successful 30 day detox or something. When I read that I was like wow, that is not was reported several years ago. I think she left only a few days before she was supposed to. Not implying she relapsed or anything.
But the lyrics from Escape from Berlin say it all. If you left rehab happy and changed, I doubt you would call the song Escape from Berlin LOL
"I just played the part, I did not win or lose....... I just threw the cards"
IMHO those lyrics sort of hint of giving up and getting out

I read the same thing somewhere. Your theory about (Escape From Berlin) would make sense. I've always wondered about the (Escape From Berlin) in the title.

[Macfan4life]

I read the same thing somewhere. Your theory about (Escape From Berlin) would make sense. I've always wondered about the (Escape From Berlin) in the title.
Exactly. I was a HUGE fan at the time. I remember the MTV news announcing Stevie went to the Betty Ford Clinic and when she left and I remember the quote was "it was really stupid."
Escaping from Berlin was probably the toughest thing to do since it was like a prison with barbed wiring on the inside with guards instructed shoot to kill.
I think that could be a reason for the Klonopin. Her friends could have been concerned that she left or "escaped" (lol) and needed better professional help. Who knows. But the story has completely changed and it all started with Micks 1990 book. But that was so long ago. Even if she left early on her own it still impacted her with getting off cocaine. But maybe if she would have competed everything successfully maybe the Klonopin era would not have happened.

[UndoingTheLaces]

I was still forming my music tastes at the time and I've always embraced all types of music so the adult contemporary feel of the album didn't bother me at the time. I'm a huge fan of the Alice books so I loved that Stevie used that imagery. I always thought the bridge in Alice was so telling of Fleetwood Mac even before reading Mick's biography. "Each had their own charm, buried beneath of solid piece of armor or a steel plated vest, some carry a stiletto in their garter along with everything else that they carry". Although looking back I suppose that's more about the men in her life rather than her band members, but I can certainly see how it could be either.

The song Ghosts is always on my iPod even when other songs come and go. It's just so haunting and that ethereal part near the end with the backwards vocals always gives me chills.

[PenguinHead]

I think this was pre-Rehab, because honestly post-Rehab Stevie couldn't have pulled off those vocals in such a manic, drugged-out fashion... I believe Book of Miracles is credited to Stevie and Lindsey.

Stevie went to rehab after the Rock A Little tour. So she was fresh out of rehab during the Tango sessions. Her singing was still manic post rehab. But it's still possible that she cut the demo pre- rehab.

[johnnystorms]

I just think (escape from Berlin) is her whacky way of inserting herself into the historical "Fall of the Berlin Wall" since FM was touring Europe and in Germany at the time

[Macfan4life]

I just think (escape from Berlin) is her whacky way of inserting herself into the historical "Fall of the Berlin Wall" since FM was touring Europe and in Germany at the time
Have you read the lyrics to Doing the best that I can?
Its all about the Betty Ford experience. The Berlin wall did not fall until late 1989. TOSOTM was released much earlier in 1989. Fleetwood Mac was not touring Europe during the fall of the wall. Stevie was on tour in the United States promoting TOSOTM.

[sorcerer999]

"Each had their own charm, buried beneath of solid piece of armor or a steel plated vest, some carry a stiletto in their garter along with everything else that they carry".

This is probably some of the most telling, chilling and brilliant lyrics she has ever written! And some of my favorite! :nod:

[Macfanforever]

I love the album and the tour.I always enjoy 80's synth music also sax in music.Also her big hair too.

[Macfan4life]

This is probably some of the most telling, chilling and brilliant lyrics she has ever written! And some of my favorite! :nod:
Doing the best that I can has amazing lyrics too.
Of course this is my interpretation of the song but its pretty clear.

It was one for you but three for me (shows how much of an addict she was in doing so much more...one for you but 3 for me)
It was very nice it was everything (cocaine is one hell of a drug)
So here it is in little pieces (can mean literally cocaine in little pieces or your world shattered in little pieces)
I just played the part, I didn't win or lose (can mean she did not try and went through the motions at Betty Ford)
Maybe next time I'll think about how I'm feeling (meaning if you ever get the urge again to do coke, remember this time and how you feel)
And the whispered secrets go on and on(Stevie Nicks is in rehab)
You watch after her and your word is law (meaning how much they watch your every move at rehab no privacy)
She thought she was out there but no one saw (meaning her fantasy to be outside this place)
I did not win or lose, I just threw the cards (meaning giving up and just getting out of rehab)
But I paid a price for it (price literally its not a cheap place to go and the price of scorn she gets)
I was silent, I was locked away, but I covered my tears, silent all day (nuff said)
Its out of my hands here
In my distress I wanted someone to blame me. In my devastation I wanted so to change


You get the point...... its such a heart wrenching song with no beating around the bush with meaning. When I would get in a rut or have a tough time with life.... I would put this song on with headphones and crank it

Its alright baby cause I'm doing the best that I can. I'm trying hard to change, I'm doing it the best that I can.

And that is all you can ask of someone really. Rupert Hine is a genius for how robotic and hypnotic the music is for this song. The lyrics would not flow in a normal rock n roll song. He created a masterpiece especially the way she fades out in the end.

That is why I get so defensive of this song when people trash it. IMHO its one of her best written songs. Sometimes Stevie writes in code and between the lines (no pun intended). She was not afraid to tell us exactly how she felt during this time in her life.

[peer_gynt10]

Doing the best that I can has amazing lyrics too.
Of course this is my interpretation of the song but its pretty clear.

It was one for you but three for me (shows how much of an addict she was in doing so much more...one for you but 3 for me)
It was very nice it was everything (cocaine is one hell of a drug)
So here it is in little pieces (can mean literally cocaine in little pieces or your world shattered in little pieces)
I just played the part, I didn't win or lose (can mean she did not try and went through the motions at Betty Ford)
Maybe next time I'll think about how I'm feeling (meaning if you ever get the urge again to do coke, remember this time and how you feel)
And the whispered secrets go on and on(Stevie Nicks is in rehab)
You watch after her and your word is law (meaning how much they watch your every move at rehab no privacy)
She thought she was out there but no one saw (meaning her fantasy to be outside this place)
I did not win or lose, just threw the cards (meaning giving up and just getting out of rehab)
But I paid a price for it (price literally its not a cheap place to go and the price of scorn she gets)
I was silent, I was locked away, but I covered my tears, silent all day (nuff said)
Its out of my hands here
In my distress I wanted someone to blame me. In my devastation I wanted so to change


You get the point...... its such a heart wrenching song with no beating around the bush with meaning. When I would get in a rut or have a tough time with life.... I would put this song on with headphones and crank it

Its alright baby cause I'm doing the best that I can. I'm trying hard to change, I'm doing it the best that I can.

And that is all you can ask of someone really. Rupert Hine is a genius for how robotic and hypnotic the music is for this song. The lyrics would not flow in a normal rock n roll song. He created a masterpiece especially the way she fades out in the end.

That is why I get so defensive of this song when people trash it. IMHO its one of her best written songs. Sometimes Stevie writes in code and between the lines (no pun intended). She was not afraid to tell us exactly how she felt during this time in her life.

This is a very interesting and well-written interpretation. Thank you! And what a great thread - it makes me want to go and revisit this underestimated album. Doing The Best I Can has always been one of my favourite Stevie songs; it's so dark and haunting. It really is too bad that she left it off the Enchanted box set (maybe because it was too painful?). I wonder if we'll ever get a remastered version of those gorgeous tracks from the 1980s.

[brad975]

Stevie didn't go to rehab until the latter part of 1986. So she was likely partaking of substances on the Rock a Little tour (whether or not it was up her rear, as rumour would have it). She said in her Behind the Music special that she had to be very careful with the coke on that tour because she knew about her "blow hole," but the drug was not out of her life yet.

While on the road, she recorded demos of some of the songs that she sent to FM for consideration for FM. So the demos of "Juliet," "Whole Lotta Trouble" and "What Has Rock & Roll Ever Done For You" were likely recorded with her touring band.

I saw an interview of her talking about a "Landslide"-style ballad she'd recorded as a "duet" for Tango that would have dated before rehab (surely "When I See You Again"). She thought it was "really, really pretty." Also I believe "Seven Wonders" predated rehab. And of course, "Welcome to the Room...Sara" was post-rehab, given the subject matter. Her insistence on that song bumped "Whole Lotta Trouble" off Tango.

Which I think is a good thing. Because it would have gotten a synthetic, cheesy treatment on Tango (not the powerful, horn-driven bluesiness of the TOSOTM version). While I would love Stevie to have had another strong song like "Juliet" on Tango, I'm glad that one got saved as well. Bruce Hornsby adds a lot to the tune. It's probably my favorite on TOSOTM.

I was nervous about the state of Stevie's voice before TOSOTM came out. "No Questions Asked" from the previous year had given me hope that her vocals had recovered and that she wouldn't hit many flat notes.

But she still sounds off to me in places on just about every song (i.e. that jarring wailing in "Fire Burning," a song I otherwise like okay). "Ooh My Love" is good, but it keeps going on and on well past its expiration date.

There are a lot of solid songs on this set, but none of the material quite reaches "classic" level to me. In that regard, it's a lot like RAL to me. Few strikeouts, but no home runs.

But I'm glad people enjoy this album. It deserves to be heard.

[bombaysaffires]

Stevie ran away from Betty Ford. I know today she claims she finished the complete stint. But I remember on MTV news it claimed she ditched the place and said it was really stupid.

I don't recall this either! I do recall clearly that she did NOT go of her own volition as she also now claims. There was very definitely an intervention to get her to go. Her management at the time, Frontline Mgmt (Irving Azoff) was part of it, and she was so pissed about it (a la "no one has the balls to tell me what to do!") that she fired them. The line in Welcome to the Room, Sara is about them "Frontline baby/well you held her prisoner/ even after all of these years/as well as you knew her/in the never-forgotten words/of another one of your friends/when you hang up that phone/well you cease to exist"

[wheart]

I love the album and the tour.I always enjoy 80's synth music also sax in music.Also her big hair too.

please don't tell me you loved those hideous satin coats she wore with the enormous shoulder pads. I'd actually welcome them now because they were at least colorful but definitely not my favorite look of hers.

[wheart]

Doing the best that I can has amazing lyrics too.
Of course this is my interpretation of the song but its pretty clear.

It was one for you but three for me (shows how much of an addict she was in doing so much more...one for you but 3 for me)
It was very nice it was everything (cocaine is one hell of a drug)
So here it is in little pieces (can mean literally cocaine in little pieces or your world shattered in little pieces)
I just played the part, I didn't win or lose (can mean she did not try and went through the motions at Betty Ford)
Maybe next time I'll think about how I'm feeling (meaning if you ever get the urge again to do coke, remember this time and how you feel)
And the whispered secrets go on and on(Stevie Nicks is in rehab)
You watch after her and your word is law (meaning how much they watch your every move at rehab no privacy)
She thought she was out there but no one saw (meaning her fantasy to be outside this place)
I did not win or lose, I just threw the cards (meaning giving up and just getting out of rehab)
But I paid a price for it (price literally its not a cheap place to go and the price of scorn she gets)
I was silent, I was locked away, but I covered my tears, silent all day (nuff said)
Its out of my hands here
In my distress I wanted someone to blame me. In my devastation I wanted so to change


You get the point...... its such a heart wrenching song with no beating around the bush with meaning. When I would get in a rut or have a tough time with life.... I would put this song on with headphones and crank it

Its alright baby cause I'm doing the best that I can. I'm trying hard to change, I'm doing it the best that I can.

And that is all you can ask of someone really. Rupert Hine is a genius for how robotic and hypnotic the music is for this song. The lyrics would not flow in a normal rock n roll song. He created a masterpiece especially the way she fades out in the end.

That is why I get so defensive of this song when people trash it. IMHO its one of her best written songs. Sometimes Stevie writes in code and between the lines (no pun intended). She was not afraid to tell us exactly how she felt during this time in her life.

Doing The Best That I Can is an amazing song but the production sucks. It needs to be re-recorded or at least done solo on piano. That's when the power of the song could really shine. Those weak snyths and fake drums sound bloody awful and do absolutely nothing to elevate the song.

[Macfan4life]

Doing The Best That I Can is an amazing song but the production sucks. It needs to be re-recorded or at least done solo on piano. That's when the power of the song could really shine. Those weak snyths and fake drums sound bloody awful and do absolutely nothing to elevate the song.
I respectfully disagree. Listen to the song with headphones on. You will hear amazing stuff. No one hates fake drums more than me. But the song is woven with almost a hypnotic, robotic trance that fits the lyrics so well. This is the ONE time I say the programming works. Just like the repetition of the chorus over and over in the end. Not sure how you could do this song another way. I think it is a masterpiece from beginning to end. There are full 15 minute demo versions on youtube that are pretty good too. I have seen her play it live on the piano on that OTSOTM special and it was awesome. But it loses its trance appeal which I think the song needs.
But to each their own.
I like TOSOTM so much better than RAL because Stevie got back to writing and almost all the songs were written by her. On RAL she hardly wrote any of the songs. RAL lacks passion IMHO with all the programmed drums, programmed bass, etc. TOSOTM has very deep writing and most time real instruments playing which adds so much passion. Its supposed to be rock n roll after all ;)
But everyone likes something different I suppose ;)

[greendaze5]

please don't tell me you loved those hideous satin coats she wore with the enormous shoulder pads. I'd actually welcome them now because they were at least colorful but definitely not my favorite look of hers.


I hated the hats she wore on this tour! :distress:

[tabruns]

Stevie ran away from Betty Ford. I know today she claims she finished the complete stint. But I remember on MTV news it claimed she ditched the place and said it was really stupid.

I don't recall this either! I do recall clearly that she did NOT go of her own volition as she also now claims. There was very definitely an intervention to get her to go. Her management at the time, Frontline Mgmt (Irving Azoff) was part of it, and she was so pissed about it (a la "no one has the balls to tell me what to do!") that she fired them. The line in Welcome to the Room, Sara is about them "Frontline baby/well you held her prisoner/ even after all of these years/as well as you knew her/in the never-forgotten words/of another one of your friends/when you hang up that phone/well you cease to exist"

Yeah, I always took "Frontline baby" as a dig at them for forcing her to go.

[tabruns]

Is this the one that everyone's talking about?

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iP4yNWAgIhI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I love how at 3:42 it starts to sound like Michael Jackson's "Black Or White". :laugh:

It's really too bad that Nicks seems so out of it. This could have been a great bluesy stomper, better than the version on OSOTM, if it were more focused.

[PenguinHead]

Doing the best that I can has amazing lyrics too.
Of course this is my interpretation of the song but its pretty clear.


I agree. It's one of her most emotionally explicit songs, addressing her state of mind and experiences after she rocked a little too much. Here is my general take on what she is inferring.


It was one for you but three for me
It was very nice, it was everything
(overindulgence)

So here it is, in little pieces
(emotionlly falling apart)

I just played the part, I didn't win or lose
(retaining image/par for course)

Maybe next time I'll think about how I'm feeling
(trusting intuition)

And the whispered secrets go on and on
(circulated rumors of personal issues)

You watch after her and your word is law
(necessary enforced discipline )

She thought she was out there but nobody saw
( lacking awareness of the crisis)

I didn't win or lose, I just threw the cards
(unpredictable outcome)

But I paid a price for it
(sacrifices and losses suffered)

I was silent, I was locked away, but I covered my tears, silent all day
Its out of my hands here
(loss of control )

In my distress I wanted someone to blame me.
In my devastation I wanted so to change
(shame and hope)

In my way, disaster was the only thing I could depend on
(self- annihilation)

[starshine]

I respectfully disagree. Listen to the song with headphones on. You will hear amazing stuff. No one hates fake drums more than me. But the song is woven with almost a hypnotic, robotic trance that fits the lyrics so well. This is the ONE time I say the programming works. Just like the repetition of the chorus over and over in the end. Not sure how you could do this song another way. I think it is a masterpiece from beginning to end. There are full 15 minute demo versions on youtube that are pretty good too. I have seen her play it live on the piano on that OTSOTM special and it was awesome. But it loses its trance appeal which I think the song needs.
But to each their own.
I like TOSOTM so much better than RAL because Stevie got back to writing and almost all the songs were written by her. On RAL she hardly wrote any of the songs. RAL lacks passion IMHO with all the programmed drums, programmed bass, etc. TOSOTM has very deep writing and most time real instruments playing which adds so much passion. Its supposed to be rock n roll after all ;)
But everyone likes something different I suppose ;)I agree with you about Mirror, it'll always be a special LP to me as well. For me it was when I started collecting Stevie stuff. (Well started in prob. 1988 with Mac than Stevie). I also think Mirror was a more cohesive LP/cd than RAL just because it had only ONE producer compared to RAL whom had many producers etc. Now if the RAL had been what it was originally planned that being Mirror, Mirror it would've been much better. Esp. if Jimmy Iovine had stayed but we know there break in there relationship and Stevie's addiction just didn't make that possible. I actually like alot of what wasn't on RAL than what was on it officially sad but true. I think Mirror is misunderstood , yeah there are some things I don't like like the LP cover photo. I do think there were more pretty photos than the one chosen or the outfits worn on the tour. But at least they did have some COLOR to them. It seems now Stevie is afraid to wear anything but black which is a total shame . I do love Mirror and it has many wonderful songs if only people will give them a chance. Love Long Way to Go, Doing the Best That I Can, Alice, Whole Lotta Trouble, Ghosts etc. :shrug::D