Sandy Stewart question
 

Hello everyone, I have a question about Sandy Stewart. Does anyone know what she's doing lately? Other than the obvious (Cat Dancer LP, Blue Yonder LP) does anyone know of any other projects she's worked on (Besides the stuff with Stevie)? I heard a long time ago about a demo "Too attached to you" existed, anyone heard of it? Kinda hard to find out anything about her. Any help is appreciated.

Whats 'Catdancer' like? I want it, for the obvious reasons, but is it any good?

It's a great album, I bought it the day it was released in Feb.1984, it never came out on CD. Several songs with SN, the best being the duet with SS called "I Pretend". Sandy was from Houston TX, lived in Riveroaks area (anyone from Houston out there?) and had a falling out with SN and the LP was never promoted the way it should have been by Modern Rec. - it had one 45 single "Saddest Victory" (Prophetic, Irony...) and one video for that song. I happened to tape it off MTV at the time, never to be seen again. SS called me (I've still got the ans. machine tape with the message) and I never heard from her again. Her sophomore effort "Blue Yonder" LP without SN wasn't as good, but not bad either. Just wondering if anyone else knows what happened to SS, seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth!

Hi Demoguy,

I really don't have any new info on Sandy, but it appears that her career is now focused on songwriting, as opposed to also recording.

Since 1984, Stevie has recorded several songs that Sandy has written or co-written ("Seven Wonders," "Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind," "Unconditional Love," and "Too Far From Texas")... so whatever falling out they may have had, must have been patched up.

Besides Stevie, she's also worked with Tina Turner, Phil Collins, and Belinda Carlisle, among others.


Sorry I don't have more info!



Johnny Stew

Thanks for the info, Johnny. I don't think SS ever got her due for her talent. Hopefully she will make a new CD sometime and we can hear something new from her. The Blue Yonder LP came out in 1985 and she hasn't had any solo stuff since, that I know about. Too Bad! Thanks again for the info.

Sandy Stewart fan
 

Hi
I read your message with great interest. I also bought the 'Cat Dancers' album all those years ago, the day it was released (I remember paying £9.99 for it, as a US import! and still have it in pristine condition!) It is one of my all time favourite albums and I have also searched for info about SS with little success (amazing to think that she actually called you though!). I also bought the Blue Yonder album on its release and love that album too!
The only real thing I can add to the other messages is that her songwriting partner David Munday now writes and records with Natalie Imbruglia, and I tried that avenue too, with no success!
I also love some of Sandy's work with other artists, such as Belinda Carlisle, Tina Turner, etc (i have a few others but can't think of them at the minute!)
I do hope somebody manages to get some news about what SS is up to, because I love her voice and songwriting skills!
(I heard from somenbody that she spent a while living in London, not sure if this is true!)
Anyone???????
DaveUK
oh, i just remembered something
Sandy sang on a song on Shea Segar's last album, called 'Blind situation', which is amazing.

Wow i didn't realize she was on Shea's album...and that is one of my favorite songs too...I am gonna have to grab the cd and listen to it on the way to work npw..thanks for the info...

Word was at the time that Stevie sang all over Sandy's tracks, but Sandy decided to cut Stevie's vocals back to just a couple of tracks for the final album & this caused the rift.

I figured the rift was patched up once Stevie told the press in 1987 that her "good friend" Sandy Stewart sent her a song to do & Stevie submitted it for Fleetwood Mac's album.

Sandy made a dumb move. I wish that "Cat Dancer" album had Stevie Nicks all over it. I listened to it again a year or two after it was released, & thought it sounded terribly dated & the production is not very interesting.

To DaveUK
 

Hi Dave,
Wow! I can't believe there are other SS fans out there. A little story: After hearing the Cat Dancer LP and loving it, I wrote a letter to SS C/O Modern Records, telling her that I heard about the rift between her and SN (it had just happened at the time, and few knew about it), and I guess she was surprised that some stranger knew about something personal that had happened between her and Stevie. That's probably why she called me, to find out who the heck I was and how I knew this! Unfortunately, I wasn't home when she called and my answering machine picked it up, and when I came home, there was this message from her. I was shocked to say the least. She said she'd call back, but never did. I even wrote another letter, but never heard from her again. Ah, the disappointment...
I think she's talented (and very cute)...ever see the video for "Saddest Victory"? Wow.
I listened to the Cat Dancer cassette in my car every day on my way to work for almost a year. Must have heard it over 500 times...never got tired of it. I made a CD out of it last year and still listen to it occasionally. Blue Yonder wasn't quite as good, but still very good.
I had some Cat Dancer Posters I sold a few years ago, they were rare, but not a lot of demand.
Of course I still have the Cat Dancer LP and Original Cassette, as well as the Saddest Victory 45 with Picture Sleeve, and the Blue Yonder LP, all in perfect condition.
I'd like to stay in contact with you! Maybe between us we can find out where SS is and get in touch with her and let her know she does have some fans out there still. Anyone else out there a fan? Let's hear from you!

Re: Sandy Stewart fan
 

Wonderful, I didnt realise anyone else knew who Shea was :D

Do u know what Shea is up to Dave?

demoguy,
that's a great idea, i would love to stay in contact.
I disagree about the Blue Yonder album, though. I think it is a step forward, and out from under Stevie's wings. I used to have the cassette of that album, but sent it to someone, so they could put it onto CD for me (which they did! but didn't return the cassette).
Maybe we could compare the stuff we have. I will have to rack my brains to think of the stuff i have (have you heard Stevie's demo '0ne more tomorrow'?). Did you know about the Shea Segar track (i think that is the latest thing - i also have a track by a singer called victoria matthews - i think is her name - called 'Friday's child). What did Sandy say when she rang you?
I love the sound of Stevie's and Sandy's voices together - i don't think i have ever heard Stevie sing with anyone more suited to her voice.
I have never seen the 'Saddest victory' video. What happens in the vid? Is Stevie in it?
Have you heard the version of Are you mine - where Stevie sings with Sandy and, i think lori or Sharon?
Send me you r e mail and we will keep in touch.
Dave

sorry forgot to reply to iamstevienicks' question!!
I sent a couple of messages to Shea's message board to try to trace some info about Sandy Stewart, but didn't get any replies. I know she has a fairly good website, so you should check it out for the latest news.
Cheers

To DaveUK
 

Hi Dave, thanks for your reply. The Blue Yonder LP was also very good, don't get me wrong, but I just liked the Cat Dancer LP more. Maybe cause it was drilled into my head by playing it so many times, I dunno. I was able to squeeze both LP's onto one CD so I can hear it all without stopping. Great!!
Never heard of Shea Segar, so I'll be scouring Grokster to find a copy of it. To be honest, I've been out of the FM "limelight", basically out of circulation for about 6 or 7 years, and we didn't have the internet back then to stay in touch with others. So until recently, I haven't done much, and now I'm curious about what's happening with a new generation of FM fans. Meanwhile, I am happy to find another SS fan to share tidbits with.
I didn't know about Victoria Matthews either! I know she (SS) was involved with the "White Nights" soundtrack years ago, but can't remember the name of the song she was on (memory getting weak now...) at least, I think she was on a song there. Geez, I should've written some of this down!!!
When SS called me, as I recall (gotta find that answering machine tape!) she said "Hello, ___, this is Sandy Stewart. I got your letter today and I just wanted to call and thank you. I'm sorry you're not home, I'll call back later, but I was wondering..." and the lousy machine cut her off (it was an old model that would only record 20 seconds of message, and I've cursed it a thousand times since- sent it to an early grave). Never heard back from her. Subsequent attempts to contact her were fruitless. Couldn't use my FM connections, either, because her and SN weren't talking (due to aforementioned rift), so no one inside FM could help, not even John or Mick. I'm still disappointed all these years later that she never called me back!
As for the Saddest Victory Video, it starts with SS standing in the rain in the dark, then a scene of her sitting with the white haired guy from the band (D. Munday?) at a table in a restaurant, scenes of her playing the synth, DM in a phone booth with SS outside leaning against it, ends with a pan out shot of her standing in the rain again with arms outstretched "I'm laying on the ground, I'm laying on the ground...." Great Video, not high concept, but nice to watch (love those pouty lips!!). I haven't been able to watch it in a while but that's what I remember from it. Fueled a few late night fantasies...but let's not get into that!!!
I will try to think what all I have, on SS, it's not much. And it's packed away as I'm moving soon and won't have access to any of my stuff for two or three months. But I will eventually be able to get ahold of it and share what I have with you.
Glad to meet you, e-mail me sometime and stay in touch!

just remembered, it was wendy matthews not victoria....sorry

To Dave
 

Hi Dave, I D/L that Shea Segar song last night from Grokster, but if SS is on it, couldn't prove it by me. Seems to be some background singer but I don't recognize her voice. Hmm...SheaSegar/SandyStewart - SS&SS? For a minute, I thought maybe she was using an alias, but listening to the song proved that theory wrong. I'll D/L the Wendy Matthews song tonight if I can find it out there. Thanks again, hope to hear from you soon!

Blue Yonder
 

Blue Yonder! I have looked ALL OVER for this and have not found it. I can't even find info about it on sites like "All Music Guide" or on Ebay. It drives me crazy. I'd really like to hear it. Perhaps someone who has it could make me an MP3 of "Windsong"? I'd be really grateful!

My e-mail is: [email protected]

Windsong...
 

"Come in out of the dark, where you kept your treasured heart too long.....make an angel in the snow, muse that wishing makes it so.... some are lost, some are found, in the wind, with the mountains tumbling down, come on now, let it breathe, over you, over me...."
From "Windsong" - probably the best song on the Blue Yonder LP, in fact it was supposed to be a single (I know because the album had a sticker on the front "Includes the single "windsong"). However, to the best of my knowledge, it was never released as a 45. Never heard it on the radio either.
Shame. Great rock song.
I'd love to post it on this board, or somewhere, but I don't have it on my HD at the moment, but believe me, eventually I will get it out there, if people want to hear it.
I'm really glad there are some other SS fans out there, too!!
I thought I was all alone on that. If anyone can add to this thread, please do so, if you know anything about SS or where she is or what she's doing.
Maybe we'll give her music new life, maybe they (Modern) would even release a CD if there's demand for it???

It is definately Sandy Stewart on Blind Situation, as i have the album and she is credited on it!
The Wndy Mathews track is called 'Friday's child' - can't remember if SS sings on it, but she either co wrote or wrote the track!
Cheers!!!
P.s
I think you can tel it is SS, that dark smoky vocal!!!
Dave

I live in Houston and at the Houston show, before Stevie sang "Too Far from Texas" (which is my fave on the TISL album, along with the title track) she yelled out something to the effect of "The lady who wrote this song is in the audience! Sandy Stewart!" I didn't get to see her because I was too far back, but I think she stood up or something. It was cool!

Good info, and confirms what I thought all along, she is most likely back living in Houston where she came from, if she was there at the Houston show. Probably could do a search if I knew the area better, for people with the last name "Stewart" in RiverOaks. Betcha she is living there now.

Sandy Stewart...any news?
 

I found this old thread by googling Sandy and Stevie's names. Obviously, "Too Far From Texas" shows that Stevie still supports Sandy's songwriting (and it's a great song). But has she had other artists cover her material? Or performed again on her own? If anyone has the video to "Saddest Dancer" -- which I saw one time in the 80s -- I'd love to see it again.

Unfortunately, it would seem that Sandy Stewart's time in the spotlight didn't last very long. Catdancer was her only album. She may have had a falling out with Stevie over the past few years.

On an unrelated note, is your screen name a reference to the "Pye Wacket" lenticular missile, which was under development during the late 50s to defend the B-70 from Russian fighters and missiles? Or am I just being a crazy nerd? :laugh:

I thought the SS/SN falling out was in the mid-80s and now past. There was the cover song on "Shangri-La, which would suggest communication and collaboration...and the story (in the thread above) saying that Stevie pointed Sandy out in a fairly recent concert.

My name's not derived from a missile, it's waaaaay nerdier than that. It's the name of Kate Bush's cat, and the old name of many witch's familiars (cats).

I love Cat Dancer. it is one of those albums I listen to on repeat until I burn myself out. I haven't listened to it in a couple months though so it's probably time to break it back out.

Boy do I remember this!! I was sitting about 3 rows away from Sandy! LOL.. She was behind where we were sitting, and I SOOOO remember being excited, as I had a feeling she was in the audience that night! :p

Cat Dancer is OOP, right? I think so. and it's such a shame. here is a vinyl rip.

http://www.mediafire.com/?dimsaxd4z1o

Didn't she have a song on a movie sountrack also?

Thanks!
 

Thanks! I only have this (and Blue Monday) on vinyl, and any attempts to get them digital have ended up sounding murky!!

Robb

Here is a short MTV Interview with Sandy and also her video for Saddest Victory


Online Videos by Veoh.com

Wow...you guys are awesome...and very quick about being awesome too! I've searched for these things for years and in one afternoon, boom. Here they are at my fingertips. I haven't seen that video since...geez, I'm embarrassed to say it might have been 22 years.

She reminds me of Martha Davis of the Motels in it more than of Stevie (as JJ Jackson says), both in looks and mannerisms. Still a great video...thanks so much for posting it!

Robb

The Catdancer is one of my all time favorite albums. There's not a bad song on it imo. I think Sandy definitely never got the credit she deserved.

I like "I Pretend" & "Saddest Victory" the most, but I think I also enjoy "Get My Way."

Notice how Stevie has one white lace glove and one black lace glove in that video.

I never knew that there was a falling out between Stevie and Sandy. Apparently their relationship had recovered enough by '87 for her to record Seven Wonders?

Get My Way is probably my favorite song of hers. I also really like In the Rain.

Hi demolover and all concerned...

A while back I did a wicked google/yahoo etc... search looking for Sandy and I found out what she has been doing. She dedicates a lot of her time to a local charity where she composes and plays music to set to songs that sick little children write. She then sings back up. There are recent pictures of her on this website (...and I'm getting older too...) as well as a guest book. The charity is a very sad, but good sad thing. The foundation was set up by another woman and Sandy. You really should check out the page and read about it and what she/they do. They are so full of heart and soul.

I just have to tell you seeing the little kids and how sick they are really breaks your heart but, you'll leave the website counting your blessings. The photos also show even as sick as the little ones are their eyes are so bright with excitement and pride about singing and recording their own songs.

This is the site below. I'm not driving at anything here but, I hope you guys look at things a little differently in life now. I do. I lost my sister not long before I found this site and saw what these ladies are doing. I don't take my gifts or my life or the ones I love for granted anymore.

Jim

www.purplesongscanfly.org/home.html

^ Thanks for posting that, SaidSomething -- a little mystery has been solved. What a beautiful thing Sandy is contributing to.

Wow. Sandy looks great! And what a great thing she is doing indeed! And above all, it's SO cool that she is working w/ an Anita. Anita's are cool. :lol:

I always thought Blue Yonder was a band she was with. Not the name of her album. Not "Blue Yonder by Sandy Stewart", but "Blue Yonder featuring Sandy Stewart." Obviously I don't have this album though I have been seeking it for years. I have a few SS 45's, and always looking for more. I love her, and loved the Cat Dancer lp. It's a little dated, sure, but still good music! I sure hope someone can get in touch w/her and see if she'll ever be up to anything new. I'd about die to see her w/ Sharon & Lori @ a solo Nicks outing. Those 3 voices harmonize especially well for/with Stevie!

Sandy on youtube.
 

Sadly the veoh link to "Saddest Victory" has been removed and it has not re-appeared on youtube. Some other things -- weird things -- HAVE appeared, though. Well, one of them's REALLY weird, the other's just nice.

1. Someone made a photo montage video of "I Pretend" on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6nUDuzxWBc

2. Sandy apparently did a Japanese commercial for Kirin circa 1985...it's very odd as these Japanese commercials from the 80s tend to be. Brace yourself. It's pretty funny!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGNA9ubZJtI

I'm a big fan of the Cat Dancer LP too. Sandy had a great voice-it's a shame her solo career didn't take off.