Questions I wish reporters would ask Stevie

[bwboy]

It seems like every FM or Stevie interview does a long recap of the drama in the band but I wish reporters would cut to the chase and ask more questions. Can someone tell me if Stevie has ever answered the following?

1) Whose idea was it to have Lindsey sing Crystal? Why did they rerecord it for the FM white album?

2) Why haven't they ever performed I Don't Want to Know live? Especially on the tours when Christine wasn't there? Seems like that song would have been a natural.

3) How were you able to put Long Distance Winner on your Enchanted box set? If you were able to do that, can you do it for your other songs on Buckingham Nicks?

4) What kind of control or say do you have in making videos? For example, Gypsy looks like it cost a fortune and it's like watching a movie. Did the director do that all on his own, or was it the band's idea?

5) How does the band coordinate photo shoots and album covers? Do you all show up and just hope for the best, or are the fashions all determined ahead of time? The photos from Tango, for example, always looked so classy.

6) Do you ever listen to your earlier albums, or do you tend to put them away once they're completed and move on to the next project?

Does anyone know if she's ever been asked these questions? And what questions would you love to ask Stevie?

[Phil]

All great questions. I would also ask if the 2006 Melbourne Symphony Concert recording might get an eventual release, particularly since both "Landslide" and "Edge Of Seventeen" have already been issued. I'd also be curious as to whether she has any definite plans to record the 'Rhiannon Project' songs, possibly with a full orchestra.

[BLY]

It seems like every FM or Stevie interview does a long recap of the drama in the band but I wish reporters would cut to the chase and ask more questions. Can someone tell me if Stevie has ever answered the following?

1) Whose idea was it to have Lindsey sing Crystal? Why did they rerecord it for the FM white album?

2) Why haven't they ever performed I Don't Want to Know live? Especially on the tours when Christine wasn't there? Seems like that song would have been a natural.

3) How were you able to put Long Distance Winner on your Enchanted box set? If you were able to do that, can you do it for your other songs on Buckingham Nicks?

4) What kind of control or say do you have in making videos? For example, Gypsy looks like it cost a fortune and it's like watching a movie. Did the director do that all on his own, or was it the band's idea?

5) How does the band coordinate photo shoots and album covers? Do you all show up and just hope for the best, or are the fashions all determined ahead of time? The photos from Tango, for example, always looked so classy.

6) Do you ever listen to your earlier albums, or do you tend to put them away once they're completed and move on to the next project?

Does anyone know if she's ever been asked these questions? And what questions would you love to ask Stevie?


All great questions..........I would also ask who decides when these expanded editions with unreleased material gets released. I also would like to know her thoughts on the release of Fritz recordings.

[nicolasjz]

It seems like every FM or Stevie interview does a long recap of the drama in the band but I wish reporters would cut to the chase and ask more questions. Can someone tell me if Stevie has ever answered the following?

1) Whose idea was it to have Lindsey sing Crystal? Why did they rerecord it for the FM white album?

2) Why haven't they ever performed I Don't Want to Know live? Especially on the tours when Christine wasn't there? Seems like that song would have been a natural.

3) How were you able to put Long Distance Winner on your Enchanted box set? If you were able to do that, can you do it for your other songs on Buckingham Nicks?

4) What kind of control or say do you have in making videos? For example, Gypsy looks like it cost a fortune and it's like watching a movie. Did the director do that all on his own, or was it the band's idea?

5) How does the band coordinate photo shoots and album covers? Do you all show up and just hope for the best, or are the fashions all determined ahead of time? The photos from Tango, for example, always looked so classy.

6) Do you ever listen to your earlier albums, or do you tend to put them away once they're completed and move on to the next project?

Does anyone know if she's ever been asked these questions? And what questions would you love to ask Stevie?

All great questions!

1) Don't know who had the idea, but I do remember Keith Olsen saying that "Lindsey always had the right timbre voice for that song", so maybe he took part in the decision.

3) Regarding Long Distance Winner's inclusion on Enchanted, I think it was pretty straightforward as the original label, Anthem, which owned half the album, folded many decades ago, so Stevie and Lindsey have pretty much all the rights for the BN album. Presumably the only person Stevie had to reach out to put LDW on Enchanted was Lindsey himself.
Apparently, a few years ago Universal (then Polygram, which bought the old Polydor label that signed BN) tried to release BN on CD but ran into copyright problems, maybe caused by Lindsey.

4) Based on on Stevie's audio commentary in the Crystal Visions DVD, she didn't have much of a say in the videos. It seems that the Scarlett video of Stand Back is the only one where Stevie really had creative input.
Speaking of Gypsy, if you haven't seen it already, check out this behind the scenes footage of the music video: https://mynewboyfriend.com/tag/russell-mulcahy/ (scroll to the bottom of the page).

Questions that I would ask:

1) Listening to it now, what are your impressions of the Mirage album?
2) Who is Christian/Spinning Wheels about? (I'm obsessed with that song okay!!)
3) What are the songs that you wrote on the guitar rather than the piano? How do you compare the songwriting process with the two instruments?
4) How did the idea to play Gold and Braid on the BD tour come up? Why wasn't it included in BD?
And most importantly:
5) Is it true that Bruce Springsteen wrote Janey Don't You Lose Heart for you and that you guys recorded a duet/demo in 1984? If yes, can I raid your vault in Phoenix and listen to it?

[lilyfee]

Regarding Crystal, Stevie definitely said at some point that the reason Lindsey sang it was because "he sang it better.":p

I would most like to hear when Buckingham Nicks will be released digitally/on CD and why it hasn't been already!

I'd also love to hear generic questions about her life, like what's on her bucket list or things she's most excited for in the coming years.

Mostly, in terms of interviews, I just want to hear anything new. Any question about Stevie personally, anything unscripted is fine by me.:nod: Please interviewers, do some research about this woman, beyond her discography, before you ask the same old questions over and over!

[StreetAngel86]

I want to know

if Stevie watches Once Upon a Time
if any of her songs have been inspired by characters on TV that she watches
is there anyone she wants to meet that she would go crazy fan!girl over
if she was to do a cover CD from all the songs in a musical, which one would it be
does she still have an aversion to bb carrots :D
when the actual eff is BN gonna be released digitally

[Macfan4life]

I don't want to know was performed a few times during the Say You Will tour. I never understood why the band did not do the songs that could do without Christine. They should have embraced the front duo and do the songs the duo does best. I don't want to know is one of them. How about Frozen Love too. That song is what landed Stevie and Lindsey in the band. Crystal would be another one to do.

[bwboy]

All great questions!

1) Don't know who had the idea, but I do remember Keith Olsen saying that "Lindsey always had the right timbre voice for that song", so maybe he took part in the decision.

3) Regarding Long Distance Winner's inclusion on Enchanted, I think it was pretty straightforward as the original label, Anthem, which owned half the album, folded many decades ago, so Stevie and Lindsey have pretty much all the rights for the BN album. Presumably the only person Stevie had to reach out to put LDW on Enchanted was Lindsey himself.
Apparently, a few years ago Universal (then Polygram, which bought the old Polydor label that signed BN) tried to release BN on CD but ran into copyright problems, maybe caused by Lindsey.

4) Based on on Stevie's audio commentary in the Crystal Visions DVD, she didn't have much of a say in the videos. It seems that the Scarlett video of Stand Back is the only one where Stevie really had creative input.
Speaking of Gypsy, if you haven't seen it already, check out this behind the scenes footage of the music video: https://mynewboyfriend.com/tag/russell-mulcahy/ (scroll to the bottom of the page).

Questions that I would ask:

1) Listening to it now, what are your impressions of the Mirage album?
2) Who is Christian/Spinning Wheels about? (I'm obsessed with that song okay!!)
3) What are the songs that you wrote on the guitar rather than the piano? How do you compare the songwriting process with the two instruments?
4) How did the idea to play Gold and Braid on the BD tour come up? Why wasn't it included in BD?
And most importantly:
5) Is it true that Bruce Springsteen wrote Janey Don't You Lose Heart for you and that you guys recorded a duet/demo in 1984? If yes, can I raid your vault in Phoenix and listen to it?

Thanks for the answers! Sounds like the Buckingham Nicks CD continues to be a mess. First I read that Lindsey was the hold up, then Stevie, then Keith Olsen. I wonder if Stevie just included Long Distance Winner and hoped no one would have a fit?

Re your questions- I was especially intrigued by Christian/Spinning Wheels. An unreleased demo, I presume? Same thing with Janey Don't You Lose Yourself Heart- a possible duet with the boss and unreleased? Holy Moley! I mentioned in a thread once that a duet with John Mellencamp would be awesome, but one with Bruce would be even better! I can't help but think a duet with these two would actually generate radio play whereas alone, they wouldn't.

Thanks, nicolasjz!

[bwboy]

I don't want to know was performed a few times during the Say You Will tour. I never understood why the band did not do the songs that could do without Christine. They should have embraced the front duo and do the songs the duo does best. I don't want to know is one of them. How about Frozen Love too. That song is what landed Stevie and Lindsey in the band. Crystal would be another one to do.

Thanks for the info. I Don't Want to Know has always been one of my favorites, and it's certainly underrated. I saw Say You Will on opening night, I think, in Columbus, Ohio, and I'm certain they didn't sing it then.

I would have flipped if they had sang Crystal. There's something about Lindsey singing those words that makes the song magic... he would never write a song like that. I wish the band could have done that more often, switched vocals on their songs. Imagine Christine singing Oh Diane, or Lindsey singing That's Alright, or Stevie singing Brown Eyes. Of course, I like the originals, but outtakes would have been cool.

[bwboy]

Regarding Crystal, Stevie definitely said at some point that the reason Lindsey sang it was because "he sang it better.":p

I would most like to hear when Buckingham Nicks will be released digitally/on CD and why it hasn't been already!

I'd also love to hear generic questions about her life, like what's on her bucket list or things she's most excited for in the coming years.


Thanks, lilyfree! I would agree, Lindsey sang Crystal beautifully. And he must have liked the song, to record it twice.

I agree, the bucket list question would be fun, especially for someone who's had the money to do almost anything! Has she ever went skydiving, for example? I know on the show where she sang Leather and Lace, she said she hadn't driven since 1978 or something like that. Wow, that surprised me because she's dependent on a driver for transportation. I mean she just can't jump in a car to get away from it all.

[StevieNicksfann]

I don't want to know was performed a few times during the Say You Will tour. I never understood why the band did not do the songs that could do without Christine. They should have embraced the front duo and do the songs the duo does best. I don't want to know is one of them. How about Frozen Love too. That song is what landed Stevie and Lindsey in the band. Crystal would be another one to do.

I Don't Want To Know was never performed live on the Say You Will Tour not even once. In fact, it has never been performed live by Fleetwood Mac or Stevie Nicks. Buckingham Nicks did it a couple of times during their farewell shows in Alabama in '75 but that is it. Sadly, enough. I would also love to know why they never do it.

[Macfan4life]

I Don't Want To Know was never performed live on the Say You Will Tour not even once. In fact, it has never been performed live by Fleetwood Mac or Stevie Nicks. Buckingham Nicks did it a couple of times during their farewell shows in Alabama in '75 but that is it. Sadly, enough. I would also love to know why they never do it.
OMG
You may be correct. I swear I also swore up and down the song was never performed and someone here posted it was practiced for the Unleashed tour or Say You Will tour but only performed once on stage. I swear someone posted a video of it here.
Maybe it was a dream :eek:

[BLY]

I would ask her when is she going into the studio to do her part for the Fleetwood Mac album that's all but completed.

[michelej1]

Thanks, lilyfree! I would agree, Lindsey sang Crystal beautifully. And he must have liked the song, to record it twice.


John wanted the song. I don't know if Lindsey wanted to record it again and Stevie definitely wanted to have a new song of hers in its place.

Michele

[bwboy]

Really, John wanted it on the album? That's interesting he would voice that. Thanks for the info.

[bwboy]

I Want to Know why I Don't Want to Know was never performed live!

Sorry, couldn't resist!

[Macfanforever]

Tired of the same old questions about her past relationships and her past drug issues.This probably good and work on a fashion channel .I would love to ask her about her hair and have her give out tips on taking care of it over the years .

[KarmaContestant]

Questions I would ask:

*Have you found a publisher for the HWWIII photo book you've recently talked about, and have you started the process of selecting photos for the book?

*Are you sitting out a new Fleetwood Mac album, and is that the reason for the extensive delay regarding new album news?

*What are the names of some of your Rhiannon songs that fans may not realize are Rhiannon songs?

*You've talked about performing title tracks on your upcoming tour. Does that mean we might hear Street Angel in some shows?

*Do you have a current contract for new material, and have there been any sessions or recordings done for a new album?

[Macfan4life]

Stevie, you have stated before that you were disappointed and burned by Lindsey when you learned he never opened and played your Bella Donna album you gave him? Have you ever listened to Lindsey or Christine's solo albums? If so, what are your favorite songs? Are they in your record collection?

Since you kept the peace with Bob Welch. Why was he snubbed at the Rock N Roll Hall of fame? What was the group's beef with allowing him to be the ONLY Fleetwood Mac member not inducted.

Who's idea was it to release Nightbird as a single? Have you ever thought of playing Nothing Ever Changes live?

I feel you were dissed by Rod Stewart on the Heart and Soul tour. You went on his stage but he would not come out on your stage. Tell me your thoughts.

Tell me about How Still My Love. You once said it was your favorite song to perform live.

[brad975]

Some of the questions I would ask would relate to her vocal problems through the years. No interview I've ever read (of course I haven't read them all) has really addressed them as a medical issue, except one in People in late '77 that mentioned her vocal nodules and how she was living clean (no smoking, a little wine) to avoid surgery. So I would ask:

* Have you ever had surgery to remove nodules from your vocal cords like Robert Plant reportedly did in '74 and Elton John in '87? If so, when and did you require any followup surgery?
* How have you dealt with the changes in your vocal range through the years?
* Did you ever consider getting professional vocal training (beyond Robin's speech therapy) before you started working with a singing coach before The Dance in '97? If not, were you afraid it would change your singing style?

I also have some questions about her collaborations and solo career:
* There are many demos circulating from the Rock a Little era. Was there a fully completed album, with a different track list, ready to go by late 1984, or was it still a rough work in progress by that point?
* Are there any Rock a Little outtakes that, in hindsight, you feel should have been the album?
* Why didn't you receive co-billing on the "Whenever I Call You 'Friend'" single, even though it is clearly a full-fledged duet? Were you surprised by the lack of credit, or was that what you wanted?
* It's clear to my hears that the widely circulating demo "All Over You" involves neither you nor Prince, but could you please clarify this for your fans?
* The first 3 singles from The Wild Heart all made the top 40, and a few other songs won rock airplay. Was a 4th single ever considered or planned? If so, which song?
* How did you feel about Lindsey's original production of "Twisted" as you've since released a demo version and a remake?


Questions about her work with Fleetwood Mac:
* I've heard mentions that you were dissatisfied with the SYW album. Is that true? If so, how would you have preferred the album and certain songs to be?
* Why was "Fireflies" omitted from the boxed set and the Very Best of Fleetwood Mac? How do you feel about this song today?
* Why aren't you featured on background vocals on more songs by Lindsey and Christine on the albums Tusk, Mirage and Tango?
* Did you ever push for an equal number of songs as Lindsey and Christine on Fleetwood Mac albums as you emerged as a star attraction?
* There's a demo version of "Juliet" you sent the Mac for consideration for Tango, and the b-side instrumental "Book of Miracles" that incorporates elements of the song. Did you record a completed version with the Mac that almost made the album? Any other songs of yours that almost made the Tango album in versions recorded with the band itself (not just your own musicians)?

[KarmaContestant]

Who's idea was it to release Nightbird as a single? Have you ever thought of playing Nothing Ever Changes live?



Paul Fishkin. Stevie wanted to release Enchanted as her third WH single, and Paul didn't agree - he wanted Nightbird. Years later he supposedly said that had he listened to Stevie and released Enchanted instead of Nightbird, Modern might have moved a million more copies of the album.

I literally just read this a few days ago - the info is from another board member with a connection to Paul Fishkin: http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?t=56442&page=4

[brad975]

Some of the questions I would ask would relate to her vocal problems through the years. No interview I've ever read (of course I haven't read them all) has really addressed them as a medical issue, except one in People in late '77 that mentioned her vocal nodules and how she was living clean (no smoking, a little wine) to avoid surgery. So I would ask:

* Have you ever had surgery to remove nodules from your vocal cords like Robert Plant reportedly did in '74 and Elton John in '87? If so, when, and did you require any followup surgery?
* How have you dealt with the changes in your vocal range through the years?
* Did you ever consider getting professional vocal training (beyond Robin's speech therapy) before you started working with a singing coach before The Dance in '97? If not, were you afraid it would change your singing style?

I also have some questions about her collaborations and solo career:

* There are many demos circulating from the Rock a Little era. Was there a fully completed album, with a different track list, ready to go by late 1984, or was it still a rough work in progress by that point? If it was ready, what was the original track list?
* Why didn't you receive co-billing on the "Whenever I Call You 'Friend'" single, as it is clearly a full-fledged duet? Were you surprised by the lack of credit, or was that what you wanted?
* It's clear to my hears that the widely circulating demo "All Over You" involves neither you nor Prince, but could you please clarify this for your fans?
* The first 3 singles from The Wild Heart all made the top 40, and a few other songs won rock airplay. Was a 4th single ever considered or planned? If so, which song?
* How did you feel about Lindsey's original production of "Twisted" as you've since released a demo version and a remake?


Questions about her work with Fleetwood Mac:

* I've heard mentions that you were dissatisfied with the SYW album. Is that true? If so, how would you have preferred the album and songs to be?
* Why was "Fireflies" omitted from the boxed set and the Very Best of Fleetwood Mac? How do you feel about this song today?
* Why aren't you featured on background vocals on more songs by Lindsey and Christine on the albums Tusk, Mirage and Tango?
* Did you ever push for an equal number of songs as Lindsey and Christine on Fleetwood Mac albums as you emerged as a star attraction?
* If you'd been allowed one more song on Tango, what would it have been? Are there finished outtakes recorded with the band (perhaps "Juliet," the basis for the instrumental "Book of Miracles") that could have been included?

[KarmaContestant]

* It's clear to my hears that the widely circulating demo "All Over You" involves neither you nor Prince, but could you please clarify this for your fans?


:laugh: I love this one.

[KarmaContestant]

* If you'd been allowed one more song on Tango, what would it have been? Are there finished outtakes recorded with the ban (perhaps "Juliet," the basis for the instrumental "Book of Miracles") that could have been included?

My personal opinion/speculation:

Book of Miracles is the instrumental put together by Lindsey for Juliet. Stevie likely hated it because it barely sounds like her demo, and said no. For whatever reason, it was used as the b-side to Seven Wonders, either as a conciliatory gesture to Lindsey, or just picked by someone at the label who liked it, from the masters turned in by the band.

Great question - I'd love to know more about what was done with Juliet for Tango In The Night, and why Book of Miracles exists as a b-side instrumental.

[Macfan4life]

Paul Fishkin. Stevie wanted to release Enchanted as her third WH single, and Paul didn't agree - he wanted Nightbird. Years later he supposedly said that had he listened to Stevie and released Enchanted instead of Nightbird, Modern might have moved a million more copies of the album.

I literally just read this a few days ago - the info is from another board member with a connection to Paul Fishkin: http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?t=56442&page=4
Oh wow. If that is not the truth.

[nicolasjz]

Some of the questions I would ask would relate to her vocal problems through the years. No interview I've ever read (of course I haven't read them all) has really addressed them as a medical issue, except one in People in late '77 that mentioned her vocal nodules and how she was living clean (no smoking, a little wine) to avoid surgery. So I would ask:

* Have you ever had surgery to remove nodules from your vocal cords like Robert Plant reportedly did in '74 and Elton John in '87? If so, when, and did you require any followup surgery?


Re. the nodules, she kind of implied she had surgery in the American Songwriter interview.

"If you’re just playing in a little band and you do three gigs a week, you do your little tape a few hours before you go on and you’ll never have vocal problems; you’ll never get nodes, you’ll never get the nodule things, you’ll never have to have surgery. It’s like a gift. And if somebody had told me that in the first 15 years of Fleetwood Mac, man."

I'm pretty sure she was referring to herself. Could be wrong though.

[nicolasjz]

Paul Fishkin. Stevie wanted to release Enchanted as her third WH single, and Paul didn't agree - he wanted Nightbird. Years later he supposedly said that had he listened to Stevie and released Enchanted instead of Nightbird, Modern might have moved a million more copies of the album.

I literally just read this a few days ago - the info is from another board member with a connection to Paul Fishkin: http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?t=56442&page=4

Nightbird was such a dumb choice for a single. Fishkin really dropped the ball on this. Enchanted would have worked so much better, and I'm certain Nothing Ever Changes would have worked better as well.

[Nick]

I liked "Nightbird", but always thought it sounded like an album cut. I'm surprised it made the Billboard Top 40 (#33).

This is from Wikipedia:

"Nightbird", a track that Nicks has said was her favorite on the album, was performed live on Solid Gold and Saturday Night Live.

Oh Stevie......

[nicolasjz]

I liked "Nightbird", but always thought it sounded like an album cut. I'm surprised it made the Billboard Top 40 (#33).

This is from Wikipedia:

"Nightbird", a track that Nicks has said was her favorite on the album, was performed live on Solid Gold and Saturday Night Live.

Oh Stevie......

Yea she said that on MTV when the album first came out. I totally get why it would be her favorite song given what it is about. I just don't get how Paul Fishkin could possibly have thought it'd be a good single :lol:

[bwboy]

I bet Nightbird is no longer her favorite song on the Wild Heart, it was at the time, but probably not anymore. Not a lot of obvious singles on this album, but I would agree with Nothing Ever Changes for the 3rd single and Enchanted as the 4th.

[StevieNicksfann]

OMG
You may be correct. I swear I also swore up and down the song was never performed and someone here posted it was practiced for the Unleashed tour or Say You Will tour but only performed once on stage. I swear someone posted a video of it here.
Maybe it was a dream :eek:

You may be thinking of Running Through The Garden? The story you mention sounds like what happened with that song where it was rehearsed for the Say You Will Tour and indeed performed on opening night (my brother was there) and then subsequently dropped thus being only being performed one time ever live.