Deluxe Nicks
 

I've been catching up with the deluxe releases of Mac and Nicks albums. I'm struck that some of the alternate versions of some songs are (IMO) better than the ones that ended up on the actual album.

"Think About It" is one of these. I think the alternate version is more substantial and interesting than the official version. I like the strumming acoustics which ended up being cut out.

This is true also for "How Still My Love", which on the official version sounds like a warmed over "Dreams" knock-off thanks to the guitar part. The alternate version that's more keyboard based makes the song sound like its own entity.

The version of "I Sing For The Things" from the WILD HEART sessions is also better than the slowed down version that ended up on ROCK A LITTLE.

"If You Were My Love" was best in the Mac demo for MIRAGE. I like the "oomph" that Mac gave the song - all the Nicks only versions are overly ballad-y, IMO.

"The Dealer" (WILD HEART sessions) is more interesting than the version that ended up on 24 KARAT GOLD, I think. The organ and drum parts are better.

Thoughts?

I was just listening to the alternate "Sable on Blonde" for the first time in a year or so. OMG I think its slightly better than the album version. Maybe Stevie was loyal to Mick because his track made the album. I just love how the song begins and builds. The album version is a more tranquil dreamy version while the alternative is a bit more rocking which I like.
I also love Wild Heart. Its faster and has intensity compared to the album track. I also agree with you about I Sing For The Things.
Wild Heart is a step down or two from Bella Donna. But it had such potential to be a Bella Donna 2. I wish All the Beautiful Worlds and Sleeping Angel made the cut along with Garbo (the album needed at least one song with an acoustic guitar). Gate and Garden has such a beautiful vocal that its probably one of her best. With Roy's piano its hard to pass up but I never cared for the song but I understand why it made the album. If it was not for Roy's playing I doubt it would have seen the light of day. I also wish Nightbird never made the album either.
Here would be my dream Wild Heart

Wild Heart (deluxe album version or something similar to it. The song still needed work but its better than the album version)
If Anyone Falls - its near perfect but I would have turned up Waddy's playing. His guitar on the song is amazing
I will run to you
Sleeping Angel
Garbo or I Sing for the things

Stand Back
Sable on Blonde (deluxe version)
Enchanted
Nothing Ever Changes
Beauty and the Beast

Yeah, this is one of the things I love about iTunes. My version of THE WILD HEART adds in "Sleeping Angel" and "Violet and Blue". I don't remove anything because I generally like the songs on the album, although I agree it wasn't BELLA DONNA 2 but maybe could have been.

That’s Stan Lynch on drums, Ron Blair on bass, and Benmont Tench on organ. It’s a Heartbreakers session—no wonder it’s so marvelous, right? You can’t do better than c. 1980 Heartbreakers on your studio track. They should have done the whole Bella Donna album. As it is, with the Heartbreakers on a few tracks and a Kunkel+Bittan+Wachtel+Glaub configuration on the rest, the album has sort of a split personality. It’s like listening to an anthology with a little TP and the Heartbreakers, a little Eagles, some Booker T, some Little Feat, some Jersey, and a whole lot of El Lay.

You know what...that mixture made it great :)

I always said that that was why Bella Donna was so good. It has a classic rock vibe(sounds like the Eagles are her backing band). When she turned to a synthesizer sound later, sh*t rolled down hill.

One of my favorites off the deluxe Bella Donna is this powerful How Still My Love
OMG. How do you choose because both versions are so good. She was so on top of her game.

I LOVE THIS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7ugTBvApho

I disagree with If You Were Love and the Dealer. They were much better on the 24k Gold album. If You Were My Love was the vocal and emotional highlight from the album.

Wow, I thought I was the only 24KG If You Were My Love fan. One of her all time best, IMO.

It was my favorite song off the album and I"m not alone. There were others who named it as the best song off the album. Perfect vocal. Perfect production. Perfect emotion. The way the song undwinds is perfect. It's one of her best ballads, and she has a lot of great ballads.

The ballads are always best because that is where we get a perfect combination of songwriting, vocals, and emotion. In the ballads you realize that she actually is a great singer. In midtempo and other stuff she often comes across as flat and shouty.

So many critics did laud 24 KARAT GOLD as an excellent album, and I think it helped cement Nicks getting into the Hall of Fame as the first woman to be awarded twice.

For me, "If You Were My Love" in the non-Mac versions is simply too slow. I find it meandering (same with "All The Beautiful Worlds").