The Girls Light Em Up on Unreleased Versions

[desertangel]

From Nicksfix Backup Singers Q&A

Hi Lori! Thank you soooo much for taking time to answer our questions. Here's mine. We all know how Stevie feels about this but you and Sharon haven't really put in your two bits. How do you feel about all the demos and "unfinished" songs being out on the internet for fans to download and have? Do you think anything should be done about it or should they be able to have them to enjoy? I for one LOVE "Julia" and one called "Prittiest Girl in the World" and hope that they make it onto an album soon!!!

Lori's answer:

Hi "Desrtangl"! (That's one of my favorite songs!) Welllll..... you want to know my feelings? You may not like what I have to say, but here goes..... I think it is sinful that people have "stolen" Stevie's unfinished/unreleased songs. If there were something that could be done about it, I would say, ABSOLUTELY... do it!!!! That having been said... I will try to explain: All of Stevie's songs are, well, STEVIE'S... and nobody has a right to them except for Stevie. They are personal, and private... until she is ready to share them with the world. Listen... there were reasons why those songs were not put on records previously. In alot of cases it was because the song was not finished, or had not been recorded and/or represented the way Stevie meant for them to be. "Julia" (one of my favorite unreleased songs) is a good example of a song that is quite personal to Stevie, and wasn't done quite the way she wanted. We always intended to re-do it, but for various reasons, it hasn't happened yet. Now that people have made these songs available everyone, it's possible she may never do them again, even the right way, which is sad. I think if these people thought about it, they wouldn't like it if someone read their diaries, without their permission... it's the same thing.



Hi Sharon ,My question is a a hard one I bet ..Do you think Stevie Knows that her Demos and other unfinished works have been sold and traded within her fan base? There all great and I want to tell you there is a outtake of you singing Leather and Lace, just you on vocal and it must be the best version I have ever heard! Take care!

Sharon's answer:

Hi Angie,
Stevie does know that her demos and other unfinished works have been sold and traded as "bootlegs". As you can read on her "Ask Stevie" page here on the Nicks Fix site, in her own words, "It greatly upsets me that people came into my life and stole my tapes". Of course it upsets me greatly as well, that this would happen to Stevie. As interesting as it might be to the fans to hear these recordings, it is still a violation of Stevie's privacy. Please consider that it would be much more appropriate to leave the decisions about circulating versions of a "work in progress" to the artist.

As concerns your comments about my vocal on "Leather and Lace", I only recently found out that there was a version of me singing the song going around. In this case, I was singing what is called a "guide vocal" for a Stevie recording session, so that the musicians would know where the lead vocal parts would be going while they were learning the song and working on the arrangement. This would be similar to a stand-in reading a part for a lead actor on a movie set, to give the other actors and camera men a chance to work out their parts and ideas for the actual filming. Please keep in mind, if this had been intended for public release, an entirely different process would have been used in order to get the best possible performance. Anyway, I'm glad that you enjoy Stevie's music so much, and thanks for your kind words about my vocal.

[David]

Originally Posted by Sharon Celani

I think it is sinful that people have "stolen" Stevie's unfinished/unreleased songs.

It's pretty clear now just what that whole camp thinks of all the demos leaking. I can't say it's much of a surprise. Don't most pop singers & bands hate it when their demos leak?

Someone should ask Sharon about why the "official people" allegedly didn't respond to the announcement about the Modern storage facility auction. Did they think it was all a joke? or that Stevie's fans didn't want to get their hands on all of it?

To be a rock star, you should have to pass the class on What Is a Fan 101. Fleetwood Macsters just seem so naive & so stupid, although I fully appreciate their disgust over the demo issue. If I were in their shoes, I wouldn't want my unfinished songs leaked, either, although I doubt I'd mind my concerts being recorded.

[MacMan]

I agree... I probably wouldn't be too happy either if something I did that wasn't finished was taken or found and then distributed... But. On the other hand... It in a way has kept alot of us going through the lean years when we thought it was over to the point that we may not be around today had this stuff not surfaced.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by MacMan

I agree... I probably wouldn't be too happy either if something I did that wasn't finished was taken or found and then distributed... But. On the other hand... It in a way has kept alot of us going through the lean years when we thought it was over to the point that we may not be around today had this stuff not surfaced.

Not to mention, the tapes that were stolen contained how many songs? 10? We've seen many, many more since then. Stevie herself has circulated her unfinished works at times. Why else would she go looking for a piano demo of Rhiannon to put on her box set?
While I can understand anger at "the tapes" being stolen, I think we're talking about a lot more material than "the tapes." It had to come from somewhere.
Besides, some of them are quite brilliant.
Stevie didn't like the end result Julia? It's not that different from that first version she recorded with Shelley Yakus.
Sometimes she is surrounded by too much love.

[strandinthewind]

I truly stuggled with the demo issue after she said she resented people having them. But, I think that maybe if she knew the absolute JOY songs like Julia, The Dealer, Space Needle, The Tower, POTU, etc. provided me and I am very sure many, many others - she maybe would reconsider her position. I also think she has aquired many fans that way. I know one I played The Tower and POTU for that went to three of the TISL concerts and had no intention of going to those concerts prior to hearing those two. So, maybe if she knew that, she might not be as prone not to record these songs, be so angry, etc. In the end though, they are her songs and it is her right - period. I just think maybe the people around her do not let her know how much people really like those old demos and love her work. Also, witnessing the transformation from start to finish, which in some cases is 30 years, is beguiling to me and many others. I know we are taking the choice from her and that is wrong. I just wanted to point out that none that I know download them with derision. In fact, it usually is with glee and excitement because it is further insight into one of the greatest performers and songwriter of their time - I certainly feel this way. Anyway, that is my $0.02 offered in a friendly way and with no disrespect to Stevie

[wondergirl9847]

I'm probably going to say something not everyone will like, but whatevah.

I think seriously famous musicians (like, I don't know, just throwing out names...Stevie Nicks. LOL) don't realize that their fans would sit in a room with them and listen to them sing off key, no make up on, in jeans and a tee shirt JUST to hear them sing. They are clueless as to what their fans want, yearn for, etc. Those of us who live day to day listening to music non-stop, living and breathing it, it's like drugs to us! We have to have it, and hearing new stuff, never before heard is exciting, no matter what. These people are so damn sheltered (IMO) that I wanna smack 'em sometimes because I want them to come back down to earth and sit in the frickin' dirt and just sing it from the gut....no lights, no cameras, no fru fru crap...just sing, dammit! Some people out there need hand holding and sh*t, not me. Come down from the chiffon high and just realize that your fans love and support you, and those demos have given people years of enjoyment.

I see her point and I realize that she is pi$$ed about it and whether it be a privacy issue or money issues, she should know that her fans are just longing for more and more. It's not that we want to rip away cash from artists or anything, we just love music so much and want as much as we can listen to. No thanks to the frickin' music biznizz, who wants to jerk people around and bend 'em over the desk....they've made music almost miserable for everyone. I got music artist issues to rant about today, I guess.

Music is my anti-drug, dammit. I love it so much it hurts sometimes.

[catinthedark]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I truly stuggled with the demo issue after she said she resented people having them. But, I think that maybe if she knew the absolute JOY songs like Julia, The Dealer, Space Needle, The Tower, POTU, etc. provided me and I am very sure many, many others - she maybe would reconsider her position. .... In the end though, they are her songs and it is her right - period. I just think maybe the people around her do not let her know how much people really like those old demos and love her work. ...I just wanted to point out that none that I know download them with derision. In fact, it usually is with glee and excitement because it is further insight into one of the greatest performers and songwriter of their time - I certainly feel this way. Anyway, that is my $0.02 offered in a friendly way and with no disrespect to Stevie

I really agree with your points here. I have to say, I felt like crap after I read Sharon and Lori's answers. And I knew what they were going to say (in fact, I sent questions to both of them about the demos and leaks, too). I would love to actually be able to sit down and explain to Stevie why we love these demos so much, and how for many of us, they are our favourite songs - maybe because we know we are a select little group that is lucky enough to know them. I don't know. I've always wondered, if I was ever so lucky and honoured to meet Stevie, would I have the guts to bring it up? I don't know. I would love to tell her why some of them mean so much to me (two in particular), but I can understand her feeling of having her privacy violated. (sigh - still torn) I'm somewhat cheered by the Stevie quote Kelly posted, which seemed to sound like Stevie knows they're out there and has come to accept it.

A seperate question... do most other artists have this many demos and outtakes out there (not live shows)? I've never had any interest in checking out other atrists' fan sites. But are Stevie and Fleetwood Mac so unique? And if so - WHY??? That is the question that would interest me. Are Stevie/Lindsey/Fleetwood Mac fans so very different in their love and need for material?

[skcin]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

Stevie herself has circulated her unfinished works at times. Why else would she go looking for a piano demo of Rhiannon to put on her box set?

When? What songs? According to who? Do you just mean Enchanted Rhiannon, or are you talking about other material too? You've peaked my curiousity.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by skcin

When? What songs? According to who? Do you just mean Enchanted Rhiannon, or are you talking about other material too? You've peaked my curiousity.

According to her in interviews for the release of the Enchanted Box Set.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by David

It's pretty clear now just what that whole camp thinks of all the demos leaking. I can't say it's much of a surprise. Don't most pop singers & bands hate it when their demos leak?

Miss Nicks wouldn't have the rabid fan base she currently has if it wasn't for those demos and unreleased songs. She should be grateful that someone leaked 'em. I know if I was a famous musician or just getting my feet on the gorund int he music industry, I'd circulate my own demos and other such ****. It would be too rewarding in terms of fan loyalty not to.

[EveryHour]

I completely respect what Sharon and Lori had to say and largely agree with them. But, for me, it's just too tempting knowing these things are floating around and that me refusing to acquire them will not put and end to them floating around, especially since I never exchange money (is that just my way of freeing myself of guilt?! ). At least I feel like most of the people who are trading (as opposed to buying) care enough about that artist to not exchange money, therefore they are not likely to judge them harshly by their unfinished works. It does upset me to see Lori compare it to someone stealing your diary. But I do have a show from the TISL tour where Stevie displays a sense of humor on the issue. Before either "Sorceror" or "Planets" she says something like, "You've all probably heard it on some bootleg already!" with humor in her voice.

[thepoetinmyhear]

Well, now I want to hear their response to a question asking how they feel about people booting live shows. Anyone already asked?

[LiquidBlue5000]

Originally Posted by thepoetinmyhear

Well, now I want to hear their response to a question asking how they feel about people booting live shows. Anyone already asked?

Same here!! someone should ask that.... very curious as to what their response would be..

[Johnny Stew]

Given the choice, I'm sure Stevie would rather they had never leaked in the first place, but since the barn door was left open and the horses escaped years ago, she's probably come to terms with it.

One of those things in life that you're not happy it happened, but that you deal with because you know there's no changing it now.

Something I've wondered for a while, is how Lindsey felt/feels about his entire 'Gift Of Screws' project leaking out, long before he was ready for the tracks to be heard.

As a rabid fan who can never get enough new music from Fleetwood Mac, et al., I do download the demos and outtakes when they pop up... but I do so with the complete intention of purchasing them if they should ever be made available through legitimate channels.

I just find it laughable when fans grumble that Stevie used an "old song" on one of her new albums, when, by all rights, we never should have heard those songs in the first place.

[Kelly]

I agree about Lindsey. The whole GoS thing was sad. Of course I grabbed it as soon as it was available but I hated how some fans then later complained when his songs sounded different on the SYW album. (commonly Stevie was to blame as if Lindsey was obligated to release the tracks exactly as the boots were.)
As far as Stevie's boots..there have been too many leaks over the years. Honestly, the stolen tapes was a small part of this whole fiasco. There has to be someone continually leaking stuff for things like Thrown Down, Space Needle, My Heart, etc to keep being released. That is what is baffling to me. They claim they are so angry and it is so wrong and an invasion of privacy but why does it keep happening year after year? Plug up the holes if it bothers you that much.

I remember at one of the TISl shows I went to she said something before Planets..."I know many of you have heard this a long time ago and that is great..."...I guess she has just accepted it.