Insider- Stevie and Tom
 

Is there ANY better Stevie vocal ever, than this gem?

I have to say that Stevie's voice is otherwordly and I don't know of any other recording that touches this one.

Bella Donna and Wild Heart (the songs) come close, but Insider to me is Stevie at her finest. (Granted it is live, which makes it even more impressive.)

God I love her 1981-83 voice.

Agreed. She makes the song. I also think she laid down a great vocal on "Whenever I call you Friend," and made that song a lot better than it would have been without her.

THAT is her best vocal. I love that song.

Wouldn't it be nice if Kenny Loggins produced her next album? Stevie mentioned how hard he pushed her to get that vocal. Maybe he could push her to do an entire album.

Insider is an absolutely fantastic song. The vocals are fantastic, and the harmonies are great. And of course the lyrics can be self applied!!

Have you heard any of the audience recordings of Petty concerts from 1981 with Nicks guesting on "Insider," like Irvine or San Francisco?

i have been searching for her version since bella donna came out

Tom Petty met Nicks while he was recording his group's album Damn The Torpedoes. She asked him half-jokingly if he could write her a song that she could record for her first solo album. Petty didn't take her request seriously at first. Nicks reiterated her request a year later as Petty was putting together his Hard Promises album. Petty wrote a ballad called "Insider" at his home, played it to the Heartbreakers (to their approval), recorded a demo with his band, and sent the demo to Nicks. After listening to the demo of "Insider," Nicks visited Petty at his studio, taped the song with Petty and the Heartbreakers, then gave the tape to Petty, saying, "You love this so much... YOU take the song." He did, and included it on Hard Promises.

Shortly after "Insider" was finished, Petty and company recorded a song that he and guitarist Mike Campbell composed about a year earlier - "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" - and sent that demo to Nicks. She loved it, saying, "That's what I wanted all along." Eventually Nicks and Petty decided to do it as a duet and recorded their voices over the demo's instrumental track.
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1923

No. Was she awful? lol! Even in 1981 Stevie's voice could vary from night to night. But when she's on, she's on.

I just love Stevie's voice during this era. And no its not flawless, but it is just so sexy, strong, and otherwordly.

I actual like this song better than Stop Draggin. I like her pharsing ....there voices are beautiful on this song much better than Stop Draggin.....:shrug:

Oh no, not at all. They did the song beautifully a number of times that year, including the recording that was included on the "Pack Up the Plantation" album.

Really?
 

Wow. I would love it if someone could post a version here sometime!

I have never been a Stop Draggin fan. Not at all. In fact, I would have to call it wildy overrated. I would have been happier if Think About It or Outside The Rain would have been a released single (and a hit.)

I was lucky enough to go to the Tom Petty concert with Stevie as his guest (and Trey Anastasio as the opening act) in Bristow, VA a few years ago.

I expected 'Stop Draggin' My Heart Around' of course, but not 'Insider' - what a treat to hear!

Now if they would only do 'I Will Run To You' on stage again some day. I think they did it live once in 1983 at Radio City Music Hall.

It kinda happened anyway without him, with Wild Heart.

I knew that had to be from '81! Wikipedia had it (momentarily) listed as being recorded on their little 1986 outing, which I knew had to be b.s. It's been updated correctly.

Insider is a true gem. I still get chills every time I hear it and can't help but sing along to every word. Her voice is indescribable -vulnerable, magical, enchanting, and child-like. One of the highlights for me is at the end, when Tom says "Stevie Nicks" and the crowd goes wild. I did not know they performed Insider multiple times! I thought it was a one time thing. I would die to hear another performance. I bet they have some over on the Petty forums. I should negotiate a trade.
I don't like SDMHA nearly as much but I think what makes Insider so special is that it wasn't on her album and is virtually unknown to the non-die hard. I love sharing it with Tom Petty fans who are unfamiliar.
On another note, I strongly disliked I Will Run to You for many years but have recently fallen head over heals for it. I actually like it much better than SDMHA and think it's their second best duet together behind Insider. It's funny how songs can grow on you after so many years!

I totally agree!!! "Insider" is their best duet, followed by "I Will Run To You". SDMHA is just overrated! I'm so glad "Insider" was their first duet together. I also LOVE the video...I really wish more people would have heard the song. Was it a single? And, was Stevie credited at all on the video or single (if there was one) - or is it just Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers? Wasn't "Whenever I Call You Friend" just credited to Kenny Loggins on all single releases? Such a shame.......