Love Is Like A River and Faith Hill

[JazmenFlowers]

2 things:

I have always heard Love Is Like A River in a certain way on Street Angel and even loved the SA demo, but recently I went back and listened to the earlier demo, from like RAL era or so and man, that song rocks so bad!!! I always loved Stevie's vocal breaks and hoarsness during RAL...has anyone heard this and if so, what do you think? I would post it if I knew how to...

I am meeting Faith Hill and Tim McGraw this weekend...if any of you have seen her Behind the Music, you know her best friend Gaye, well, I work with Gaye's sister and we have become close friends and I have even met Gaye 2 or 3 times...we are going to an NBC taping of a special and we got backstage passes...I am not a huge fan, but I would love to actually meet someone that big, you know? I hope to get to ask her lots of Stevie-related questions and get in on that 6 degrees of separation thing!!!

J

[Christopher]

Hey J,
Yes I love that RAL era version. Its totally jammin with those catchy synth licks and groovey beat, nothing like the straight forward rock n roll version on SA.
If its the same one your referring to, most fans/demo collectors refer to that version as "She calls you missing", It had mostly the same lyrics and a totally different musical arrangement.
I also loved Stevie during the RAL era, For me, that album and tour ended an era in Stevies world. She was on the edge and some of us watching closely were not sure if she was going to make it or not!.
Her voice during this period reflect that. When I listen to bootlegs of that tour or her recordings its so heart wrenching...something in her voice when it cracked or trembled was just beautiful. albeit technical vocal snobs just cringe, but this is ART, its comes in many different colors, and one of the many reasons so many connect with her on so many different levels.
I call this era of bootlegs esp the tour ones the Billie holliday era...She was just soooo tragically beautiful.

[Johnny Stew]

I've told this story countless times, so I apologize for repeating it...

In late November of 1985, there was a song being played on the radio that absolutely blew me away.
Well, I should amend that... it wasn't so much the song itself (which I did/do love), but the VOICE singing it.
The more I heard that song on the radio, the more i wanted to hear of that voice.
It was so cool, and unique.

At this point in time, I was a mere 13 years old. Star Wars action figures and Superman comic books were just starting to take a back-seat to music.
Now, I had always loved music... I don't think there was ever a time when the radio was not playing in our house... but I never paid much attention to song titles, or who sang what.
I just liked what I liked, and that was that.
But this was starting to change, and I had begun paying attention to who sang what, and starting to get some albums and cassettes of my very own.

Well, after hearing this song, and learning that the singer's name was Stevie Nicks, I knew I HAD to have her album.
Christmas was coming, and 'Rock A Little' was at the top of my list.

I can't even tell you what else I got that year... all wonderful gifts, I'm sure... but all quickly forgotten, in favor of 'Rock A Little.'

I was really intrigued by Stevie's lyrics... so different than anything else I was exposed to.... and that voice.

When I found out that Stevie had a couple other albums out previously, and that she was a member of Fleetwood Mac, I set out to get each and every one of those releases.
And that's when the "whoa, this is weirrrrrrrrd" thing kicked in.... because I knew, and had loved, many of the songs from those albums.

I remembered waiting in front of the TV to see the Gypsy video on HBO (this was before our cable company added MTV, and back when HBO used to play videos as filler), I also remembered singing "Leather And Lace" to myself, as I'd play in the back yard.
And that was just the tip of the iceberg... I remembered so many of the songs that it was almost unbelievable that i had never before connected the fact that they were performed by the same people.

So, even though I didn't start to really know who "Stevie Nicks" or "Fleetwood Mac" were until 1985/1986, I still consider myself a life-long fan.


Anyway... and I'm sorry for having been so long-winded... but Stevie's 'Rock A Little' period is still my favorite era, in no small part due to the grit and rasp in her voice. She brought so much texture, immediacy, and emotion to those songs.

Even after all these years (and despite the fact that it's changed), I still feel that Stevie's is the most fascinating voice in music.... but I'll always have a soft-spot for those 'Rock A Little' days.


Johnny Stew

[JazmenFlowers]

Hi Christopher:

Thanks for the great reply! While I love I Call You Missing/ She Calls You Missing, that is not the song I am refering to. This is an actual demo of Love Is Like A River, an awesome demo that begins with the line "you must have many things/ to remember" It is awesome...if you don't have a copy, you should get it, it rocks! and I think I agree with Johnny Stew in that RAL has such a magical feel about it...to me, I don't dislike anything Stevie has ever done because there is something in each thing that I relate to and love, whether or not I love the project in its entirety...for instance, I love SA, although I am not fond of some of its Jamaican flares, I love it because it is still heartfelt and true...and to me, that is what a true fan is...supportive...finding the best in everything. I get so tired of people dogging SA or OSOTM when in reality those are some very special songs to other Stevie fans...so the snares were off or the song is 80ish...so what! That stuff gets so old...we, as fans, need to be nothing but supportive of her and not degrade her over stupid stuff...pay attention to the lyrics and her voice...the synthesizers and stuff were just parts of the times...learn to value what it is that should be valued...Stevie's remarkable talent...that's MY 2 cents! How did I get on that subject anyway!!!??? :)