My thoughts about TISL and the fact she's done recording
 

I think that her purpose and motivation for recording "Trouble in Shangri-la" was to get everything out of her chest. I think that it was a final album, and she trully poured her heart out to us. She herself said that it was 'everything that she wanted to say for the past 7 years'

The whole disc takes you on an emotional path, and her angst.. her pain is kinda controlled on "Love Is"... her anger is gone, and she accepts her destiny. This IS what love probably is in her life. Not being with the person you love, but knowing that the love is mutual (although it may or may not be the same kind of love).

I guess what i'm trying to say is.. she's said everything she's wanted to and needed to say about love. Her muse is married, happy and with children. She COULD record a few new songs like she did for "Say You Will".. she could write about Hurricane Katrina, Walter Reed, Her Father's death...

And re-record some old demos (again, like how she did "Say You Will").. but its really not "what she wants to say"... and I think that if she records a whole new album, she'd want to say something about her current life. Perhaps there isn't much going on, and the money from touring, and performing itself, makes HER trully happy.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, you don't tend to get inspired to write when you're happy.

I could not agree more. Stevie doesn't do happy. So she doesn't do new songs. It's as easy as that.

Right on!
Imagine her singing U2's "Beautiful Day"?!
Wait, actually, I can...and she'd probably sound pretty good too.

She is not "blissed out" just yet. Stevie has alot of fear about putting it back out there with new material again. She said she always wanted to do a LIVE album and Viola..Crystal Visions arrives next month. She is not finished just yet. Winding down..YES!

I think you are completely correct about Stevie being afraid. Before trouble in Shangri-la she was really kind of becoming an "80's" act. At that time I think she didn't feel like she would ever have commercial or critical success again. Trouble in Shangri-la reignited her career. I don't remember reading many, if any bad reviews. Critics as well as her musical peers were coming out of the wood work to praise her. I think she is afraid to release another album and it not be as well recieved as TISL. I think she would prefer, like Seinfeld, to go out with what she feels was some of her best work. Her "masterpiece" as she has refered to it.

:nod: :nod: :nod: :nod: :nod:

If she wants to go out on top, she's got a lotta work to do. TISL is far, far from a "masterpiece".

Well, that's how she sees it. Whatever anyone feels about the record personally, the truth is it did thrust her back into the publics eye and in a favorable light. It became acceptable and even cool to sing Stevie's praises when just a few years earlier she was mostly joked about. When I say she wants to go out on top, that's what I mean.

:nod: :nod: :nod: :nod:

TISL is a solid album. I still enjoy it today. My only disappointments are the usual ones... too much production, too many different songwriters, too many producers.

I don't see very much more output as her career enters its twilight years. She's already accomplished everything on the American Dream list of music fame...mega money, hit songs, respect from her peers, Grammy recognition, R&R Hall of Fame status.

Joni Mitchell & Rickie Lee Jones still put out great product!
They are fearless....and my true heroes.

I pretty much agree with you. But then I wonder why is choosing to "go out" by touring with more or less a nostalgia act setlist with only two TISL songs.

And Stevie needs to know that she could record an album with 10-12 of those songs on Nixxed's bootleg thread (with a good producer) and it will be well-received.

AMEN!

And dont forget the Wilson Sisters...

rbs

f.e.a.r...

Jesus, she needs to get over it. Surely one benefit of reaching 60 and living a full and interesting life could be loss of fear?

Gemini....is the "eternal child".
Getting older is more difficult.

Hence..her never changing image.

the fact is that TISL debuted in the top ten so I cant really say I agree with "fear"... I really think its more denial -thinking that people dont want to hear a new album... like she said in Destiny Rules (doc)...people arent sitting around smoking dope waiting for the next album to come out...(MOST ARENT AT LEAST :laugh: ) I myself, as well as most people on here would love a new album, but we constitute a small amount of people out there, so I think I agree with her in a way, but I think that she should just get over herself and do it for the fans

Um... Joni hasn't put out an original song since 1998. :shrug:

Rickie Lee, absolutely! :nod:. But then again, she's not as old as Stevie, and she hasn't been around as long. And she has gone through some dry spells... like 1997-2003. But at least she is inspired enough every now and then to put out new songs. Her 2003 album was phenomenal, and I hear that her new album is the best thing she's ever done. I kinda doubt anything will surpass Flying Cowboys, but I will always love anything Rickie puts out.

I think the reason she has stopped recording is rather simple, actually. As everyone knows, she could just walk into the studio, drop off a disc full of demos, walk away, come back in a couple of months, lay down the vocals, and have a new album. Of course we all know that Stevie would never do that because she is too much of a perfectionist, and she is very involved with the production aspects of her recordings. That being said, I think Stevie no longer feels that the months and months of spending time in the studio, spending money on studio time and equipment and the stress and politics is something that she wants to deal with at this time in her life.

With TISL, Stevie really managed to pull off the unthinkable- to completely undo the Klonopin mess she created with OSOTM and Street Angel.. No, she did not sell millions of copies, but she earned the critical accolades that had eluded her throughout her career. She now finally had the jewel in her crown, and she really did not have anything left to prove. SYW was more of an afterthought... probably something she did in the spirit of being a "team player." Alas, the recording of it was very unpleasant and ultimately she probably ended up touring for 18 months to help recoup the costs of recording that album.

In the end, it has become a combination of closure and finances. With rampant illegal downloading of music, falling sales of CDs and the further marginalization of her peers in the music business, she probably feels that, given the financial, emotional and political costs of recording, it's probably not worth it. My feeling is that she will only consider recording again if Crystal Visions becomes a monster hit and she starts feeling "wanted" again.

Don't beat around the bush..:eek: :lol:

I still tend to think that we all have our panties in a bunch over nothing. At the moment when she was asked about recording a new album, Stevie said she didn't see a point -- but people do change their minds.

There was also a time when she said that there was "no way in hell" she'd ever work with Fleetwood Mac again, and yet she did.

It may take a few years, but I still think she'll come around again. In the meantime, we just have to satisfy ourselves by listening to the great music she's already recorded over the years. Fans of less-productive artists have to do that -- sometimes for decades at a time -- so I'm sure we can too. :)

Honey, what are you smoking tonight? :wavey:

I agree. I think once she's done touring this spring, she's gonna surprise us all.... *keeping fingers crossed*

Stevie best songs came out of turmoil. Mostly relationship related. Unhappiness, angst, longing lead to great writing for Stevie. Happiness, contentment, serenity, bliss... equal no new songs.
She forced four songs out in a month for SYW....it has been years since she really wrote great songs for herself. The last ones were on the Dance tour.

I still believe the comment about there being 'no point to putting out new music' was a smokescreen. She cannot say she "just doesn't want to anymore" People will have a **** fit and say "What else does she have in her life, her MUSIC is her life". Obviously, music and writing are NOT her entire life. Yea, she enjoys touring and making money. Who wouldn't?

Anne and Nancy...or Carnie and Wendy? I love both sets.

I wish I could just sit around smoking dope and waiting for her next album. You're right about Stevie needing to do an album for her fans. She's really stuck in the old mindset of -- make an album, have lots of hits etc...
The whole music industry is going through huge changes now. It's not like it used to be...it's a new world.

Hopefully she's not basing her decisions not to record soley for business reasons. Lot's of great artists still consistantly release great albums, knowing full well that they will likely not have any radio hits. (not to mention that radio is essentially dead, by the way). Yet, their music still receives acclaim and is enjoyed immensely by their fans. So what if it doesn't sell millions and millions??

If budgets are an issue, then par done Stevie! Do an acoustic album! Use your own home studio. Hire less musicians. Get rid of your annoying personal assistant Karen. I mean, gee, where did the passion go?

I have a feeling she penned one or two after the second leg of the SYW tour if not after the Atlanta show on the third leg, because, as you know, that show was filled with huge tension. So, maybe we will see some of that angst in a song - perhaps one called "Get out of my face with your baby --- Beeyotch!" or "If you want a new house and more jewels, you'll let me sing because I am the money maker - Beeyotch!" :cool:

As for TISL, I think she thinks it was her greatest thing since BD. In many ways, it was. It ceratainly put here back on top in the sense that it was new material and it sold pretty well - not to mention the working with adoring muscians who grew up listening to her and had nothing but respect for her, despite the male critics bashing her for something they could never understand.

Or we can have a thread every six months in which we bitch about the lack of recording and once again provide our theories on why she isn't writing new music.

The latter is more fun. :laugh:

Every six months? Try every six hours! :laugh:

I guess I'm not too worried because, as much as I want new music right now, I trust that Stevie's going to come around again.
Plus, this isn't the first period of low/no productivity that I've weathered as a fan.

So, who'd be against her recording a whole album of covers? It seems to be the trend.

She's could finally do studio versions of those Etta James tunes...a studio version of "Rock & Roll", there's three songs...just 8 more and you've got an album.

Or a "Duets" album. Would THAT appease you?

The most logical thing, if she really IS "through" with recording albums herself, is that she just do a Fleetwood Mac album every couple of years. Simple enough. She'll only have to come up with 7 or 8 tunes instead of 12-15. She's got enough of a backlog of demos that she'd only have to WRITE 3 or 4 songs for a new FMac album. She could probably do that in a weekend.

can anyone say "Lindsey Buckingham"

she needs to follow his example!!!

[QUOTE=strandinthewind;654268]I have a feeling she penned one or two after the second leg of the SYW tour if not after the Atlanta show on the third leg, because, as you know, that show was filled with huge tension. So, maybe we will see some of that angst in a song - perhaps one called "Get out of my face with your baby --- Beeyotch!" or "If you want a new house and more jewels, you'll let me sing because I am the money maker - Beeyotch!" :cool:

LMFAO!! Those are SO the working titles! Were you at that show? I think I remember reading another post of yours about it and having seen some off-stage or on-stage happenings. I'd love to hear more about it as well as your take on it all. If this is not the appropriate thread, we can chat about it in another thread or you can pm me, if you want.

No one stays happy forever. That's a fact. Stevie will write, and record again. What else would she do??? And I don't need to see any smart ass answers. :p