Waylon and Jessi singing Leather and Lace
 

I think it would have been neat if Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter had recorded “Leather and Lace” as Stevie originally intended. Since Stevie has said she wrote it when she was dating Don Henley, it would have been written around 1976-1978. This would have lessened her unhappiness about all her songs gathering dust pre-solo career, and improved her stature as a songwriter. And the idea of being such a good writer that you can give away songs is romantic to me. There are plenty of other songs that could have taken its place on Bella Donna.
http://img21.echo.cx/img21/2125/waylonjessi0ie.jpg

Waylon and Jessi actually recorded an album called "Leather and Lace," so I think they wanted to record the song.

Stevie did say that she wouldn't allow it since the two of them had broken up, and who knows if there was another reason she's not giving as well. I agree that it's flattering to be asked to write songs for other artists, but the writer should have some in the outcome, perhaps. And as much as I like Waylon, I don't think anybody can do this song as well as Stevie & Don. (Except for Stevie, Lori, & Sharon. :blob1: ) JMHO

- Jake

I think I might be the only one who really doesn't care for this song. It's one of the very few songs of Stevie's that just doesn't do it for me. I don't know if it's just too sappy or what, but I really can't listen to it. In a way, I wish she had given it away. :distress:

If it makes you feel any better, you're not alone. It's one of the most bashed Stevie singles on The Ledge. :distress:

And I think I remember Stevie saying recently that she doesn't think it's among her best.

- Jake

Ok, I'm relieved. I just would rather Stevie belt out something angry like Silver Springs or sing something more poignant like HAEWAFY. The sappy, cutesy lyrics of L&L and the whole idea of it just doesn't seem like Stevie to me. :shrug: Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone.

Sorry, you think L & L is sappy but you like HAEWAFY? :confused: :shocked:

- Jake

It's never been high on my list of favorites but I like it now more than I used to.

Actually how I always perceived Stevie's statement to be that after Waylon & Jessi had broken up Waylon still wanted to record the song alone. But Stevie wouldn't give him the song, saying that it had been written for the 2 of them. And if they weren't going to record it together that the only other 2 people who could were her and Don. At least that's what I always took her comments to mean.

Yes! I don't think HAEWAFY is sappy. It was written for and about someone in pain and the lyrics could have a lot of personal meaning to some people (they do for me).

Has anyone ever written anything for you
In all your darkest hours

Has anyone ever given anything to you
In your darkest hours
Did you ever give it back

And the rain comes down
There's no pain and there's no doubt
It was easy to say
I believed in you everyday
If not for me
Then do it for the world

So, if not for me, then
Do it for yourself
If not for me then
Do it for the world
Poet...priest of nothing
Poet...priest of nothing

I love the line "poet, priest of nothing".

L&L's lyrics are sappy.

Lovers forever, face to face sounds like something you'd doodle in your notebook during class when you're in the eighth grade and you've got a crush on a boy. :sorry: The melody's sappy, too. I just picture Stevie and Don recording that while looking longingly into each other's eyes and it just isn't convincing to me at all. I think Stevie is deeper than L&L. When that was written, she was banging one of the Eagles and that's it. At least when she was banging the other Eagle and wrote HAEWAFY, it came from a deeper place and had more meaning and soul to it. Does that make sense? :laugh: When I saw Storytellers and heard HAEWAFY, I was really moved and felt it was convincing and coming from the heart. L&L? Let's see how sappy we can make this to get it on the radio! :nod:

Yeah, that's how I remembered it, too.

I quite loved L&L for a long, long time when it came out in 1981. That was when I was 11 :rolleyes: - and I had no clue who Stevie Nicks was. But that, and SDMHA, were my first introduction to her voice, and even at age 11, I loooooved it. I think her voice was the first I ever heard and felt differently about (I grew up in a house full of music, so I'd heard a LOT). Anyway. Hard to explain. But those two songs, though SDMHA the most since it was the first single off Bella Donna that I heard, will always have a special place in my heart.

I think you misunderstood my post. This is what I said.

- Jake

IMO, HAEWAFY has much sappier music. I can understand the argument that L&L is the more commercial and catchier of the two.

- Jake

:D :lol: :lol: :laugh:

Wow - I had a similar exp. - though EO17 was my SDMHA, etc.

I still love L&L though. To me, not every song has to be a dark, hippie ritual chok full of celestial imagery and harmony. I love L&L for what it is and think it remains one of her better vocals ever.