'Rolling Stone Magazine' review of 'Bella Donna' (Sept. 17, 1981)

[greendaze5]

As a longtime fan, I've accumulated a bunch of original articles and stuff over the years, which I'll photograph/scan to share.

First up - Rolling Stone Magazine review of Bella Donna (Sept. 17, 1981)

[Macfan4life]

Thanks for posting. Believe it or not but I am not sure I have read this entire article before. I never cared for Rolling Stone's music reviews. They always were odd IMHO.
They like this album but do not love it. IMHO its one of the better albums of the entire 80s decade. I would put it in the top 15 of the decade.
One thing they did say at the end that I agree with is her air-headedness combined with the Mac's blues roots was a magical formula to sell millions of records. Her rock and roll toughness and her poetic mystery combines for another successful contrast.
I think that really nails it.
I think many first listens to Bella Donna confused people. The album is so good and is very commercial without trying to be so commercial (if that makes sense). Jimmy Iovine panicked as the album was near complete. He said something like "it was a great album that no one was going to hear." He sought out SDMHA which was the biggest solo hit of her career and launched the album to #1. However Jimmy's impression I think was wrong. Leather and Lace was almost just as popular as SDMHA and a top 10 smash. I think if Edgeof17 was the first single it would have made it to the top 10 instead of stalling at #12. In essence, Bella Donna still would have been wildly successful without SDMHA. But the poetic writing in rock without Fleetwood Mac confused people a bit and thought it could not be successful. The songs are all well crafted and her voice is strong. Her poetry and songs are not easy to craft into pop/rock songs with hooks and choruses. Even Stevie said something like she never could write good pop songs. IMHO that is what gives the album such depth. If you stripped all the singing and lyrics, you still would have really good music tracks. Jimmy really was the perfect fit for this one.

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

I never cared for Rolling Stone's music reviews. They always were odd IMHO.

Though I have read just few RS articles, I agree. I remember I read long ago an article about the 70s music, and it began saying that Stairway to Heaven was the only good song from that decade. Surely it was sarcasm, and the point was a comparision with the 60s music, but I found it unfair anyway.

And yes I agree about EoS too. Though I like Stop Draggin', Edge is a great song.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by Villavic

Though I have read just few RS articles, I agree. I remember I read long ago an article about the 70s music, and it began saying that Stairway to Heaven was the only good song from that decade. Surely it was sarcasm, and the point was a comparision with the 60s music, but I found it unfair anyway.

And yes I agree about EoS too. Though I like Stop Draggin', Edge is a great song.

I like SDMHA too. It set the tone of the new solo Stevie. Her voice was different and the Heartbreakers sounded great with her. My point was many including Jimmy thought there were no singles on the album and no one would hear it. Its very difficult to turn her poetry into hit pop songs with catchy choruses, etc. The album would have still be very successful without it. It added icing to the cake but the cake was good enough to not need the icing. Smell what I'm cooking?

[David]

Some of the songs that were left off Bella Donna seemed like good singles in 1981 (if they had been included):

• Gold and Braid (great hook, one of her best)
• Blue Lamp (needed to be more of a rocker, actually)
• Sleeping Angel (beautiful ballad with a hook)
• Julia (maybe?)
• Baby Doll (maybe?)
• If You Ever Did Believe

Most of these needed tightening and pruning for radio, but they were all potential first-ever singles for Stevie at the very beginning of her solo career. I think radio would have snatched them up — and in those days, radio play made your single for you. I wish she had had an uptempo rocker (like “Fall From Grace”) available at that time. I think introducing the public to Nicks solo with something that would have fit in on the KMET playlist would have sold like mad. “Edge of Seventeen” was perfect for that heavier edge, but the track was just too long for a single — maybe Iovine should have produced a single version and lopped off a verse or two, but of course Stevie would have walked out then and there.

[BrownEyedGirl26]

Originally Posted by David

Some of the songs that were left off Bella Donna seemed like good singles in 1981 (if they had been included):

• Gold and Braid (great hook, one of her best)
• Blue Lamp (needed to be more of a rocker, actually)
• Sleeping Angel (beautiful ballad with a hook)
• Julia (maybe?)
• Baby Doll (maybe?)
• If You Ever Did Believe

Most of these needed tightening and pruning for radio, but they were all potential first-ever singles for Stevie at the very beginning of her solo career. I think radio would have snatched them up — and in those days, radio play made your single for you. I wish she had had an uptempo rocker (like “Fall From Grace”) available at that time. I think introducing the public to Nicks solo with something that would have fit in on the KMET playlist would have sold like mad. “Edge of Seventeen” was perfect for that heavier edge, but the track was just too long for a single — maybe Iovine should have produced a single version and lopped off a verse or two, but of course Stevie would have walked out then and there.

Hi David, I agree! If only she could have been more in control of her life and career at that time. She could of had it all, including to be more musically involved with Fleetwood Mac, but it is what it is. Just my opinion, of course!