The RAL Appreciation Thread - Page 2

David · #16 10-20-2004, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadliestPoison

Mmmmm, RAL.

Rock a Little is rad!

She'd been criticized in the past for being a blanded-out blonde musher (one reader of Rolling Stone wrote "Chrissie Hynde could kick that wimp's ass anyday") & for being a little weepy & sniffley (Stevie was sometimes that annoying girl in your high school class -- we all knew one -- who always seemed to have a cold & trudged around carrying a Kleenex box, constantly dabbing at her wet nose).

But on Rock a Little, she strikes back. I don't know about the lyrics, but her attitude said "Piss off!"

amber · #17 10-20-2004, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

(Stevie was sometimes that annoying girl in your high school class -- we all knew one -- who always seemed to have a cold & trudged around carrying a Kleenex box, constantly dabbing at her wet nose).

But on Rock a Little, she strikes back. I don't know about the lyrics, but her attitude said "Piss off!"

LMAO!

GypsySorcerer · #18 10-20-2004, 11:48 PM

This is an appreciation thread, so I'll refrain from saying anything.

Johnny Stew · #19 10-21-2004, 12:21 AM

I'll quote my previously stated feelings regarding 'Rock A Little'....

Quote:

'RAL' is my second favorite Stevie album (tied with 'Shangri-La').
In my opinion, it's her 'Tusk'... it's unbridled, eccentric, moody, headstrong and full of life.
Sure, it's "synthy," but there are plenty of electric guitars to give it crunch, and Stevie's vocals are untamed and off-the-cuff.

I'd say 'RAL' represented a more defiant Stevie Nicks. Brimming with piss and vinegar.
Still with some soft edges, obviously, but "edgier." At least for Stevie.

As I've said, it ranks right up there, for me, with her best albums. I love it, and I view it as her 'Tusk.'
But unlike 'Tusk,' 'Rock A Little' was less about musical experimentation and more about pushing your psyche to some breaking points. It was almost a descent into madness in some ways.

She's out of control and careening towards complete self-destruction. There are glimpes of "the Stevie of old"... and a glimmer of hope that she'll pull through it all... but mostly she's wallowing in the excesses of her self-destructive lifestyle. It's almost like the musical equivalent of Russian Roulette.

Ironically, I said it's "full of life"... but I just get that vibe. There are many who claim that nothing is more freeing than living your life on the edge at least once... and I guess that's what 'RAL' represents to me.

Johnny Stew · #20 10-21-2004, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

(Stevie was sometimes that annoying girl in your high school class -- we all knew one -- who always seemed to have a cold & trudged around carrying a Kleenex box, constantly dabbing at her wet nose).

We had a girl like that in high school, and, ironically, her name was Stephanie!

Perhaps also with a little bit of irony, I was one of her biggest supporters. In getting to know her, I felt that others didn't give her enough credit for the things she did do, and focused too much on how fragile/wimpy she seemed.

Guess I've always been a little fascinated by a deep inner strength hidden by an outwardly vulnerable persona.

takenbythesky · #21 10-21-2004, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

I'll quote my previously stated feelings regarding 'Rock A Little'....

I'd say 'RAL' represented a more defiant Stevie Nicks. Brimming with piss and vinegar.
Still with some soft edges, obviously, but "edgier." At least for Stevie.

As I've said, it ranks right up there, for me, with her best albums. I love it, and I view it as her 'Tusk.'
But unlike 'Tusk,' 'Rock A Little' was less about musical experimentation and more about pushing your psyche to some breaking points. It was almost a descent into madness in some ways.

She's out of control and careening towards complete self-destruction. There are glimpes of "the Stevie of old"... and a glimmer of hope that she'll pull through it all... but mostly she's wallowing in the excesses of her self-destructive lifestyle. It's almost like the musical equivalent of Russian Roulette.

Ironically, I said it's "full of life"... but I just get that vibe. There are many who claim that nothing is more freeing than living your life on the edge at least once... and I guess that's what 'RAL' represents to me.

Great post. Rock A Little expressed eloquently and to perfection.

amber · #22 10-21-2004, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by takenbythesky

Great post. Rock A Little expressed eloquently and to perfection.

He always does that

It's pretty awesome

I don't have Rock A Little (

) but of course i know songs off it. But not all. After reading Johnny's post, i was salivating - I was like "I must get that album now!!"

Amber

jadegypsy · #23 10-21-2004, 01:16 AM

Yes Amber, you MUST get that album...Of course it "only" took me fifteen years to rediscover it...considering my mom has had it since it came out, and I only found it in our cassette collection in the last couple years, oddly enough I remembered TTM upon hearing it...

amber · #24 10-21-2004, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jadegypsy

Yes Amber, you MUST get that album...Of course it "only" took me fifteen years to rediscover it...considering my mom has had it since it came out, and I only found it in our cassette collection in the last couple years, oddly enough I remembered TTM upon hearing it...

yep - and the first song i remember literally falling head over heels in love with when i was 8 was Stand Back it's next on my list. I've actually tried to get it, but it hasn't worked out yet...

seeker007nmss · #25 10-21-2004, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

Perhaps also with a little bit of irony, I was one of her biggest supporters. In getting to know her, I felt that others didn't give her enough credit for the things she did do, and focused too much on how fragile/wimpy she seemed.

Guess I've always been a little fascinated by a deep inner strength hidden by an outwardly vulnerable persona.

Whimpy? Fragile? I was backstage and saw her go into a scream fest. (somebody did something really, really, stupid and pissed her off). After seeing this, my money is on Stevie over Chrissie Hynde is the whoopass department. Stevie has grit and don't believe otherwise. (I stood there and was waiting for the lightening bolt to strike the person......KKRAAACKKKKK!)

wondergirl9847 · #26 10-21-2004, 11:39 AM

If I Were You is my fave song on the album, I just adore that song. I like RAL and perhaps, I'll drag that one out to give it a listen today. The only song I cannot stand is the title track..UGH!! The rest is cool, I love the 80's!

chiliD · #27 10-21-2004, 11:53 AM

If they still made EP's in those days and she released ONLY side two as an EP; it would've been EXCELLENT. But, other than "I Can't Wait", to my ears, Side One just bites.

ontheEdgeof17 · #28 10-21-2004, 12:07 PM

All in all, Rock A Little is an awesome album. I think it flows really well. Like Christy, I love If I Were You. The only track I don't like that much is The Nightmare, but it's growing on me.

The biggest beef I have about RAL is that damn CD booklet. Still pisses me off.

-Curt

EveryHour · #29 10-21-2004, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by takenbythesky

I like Rock A Little! I don't care if it sounds dated.

I agree. It's not like when someone is making an album, they know it will sound dated eventually. We have to remember that, at that time, she was using the "latest sound" that people were excited about. If you listen to interviews from this period, the interviewers often say, "I feel this is the best thing you've done". Sure, they could have just been buttering up to her, but this included people like Jim Ladd who seems to truly admire Stevie.

Quote:

Originally Posted by takenbythesky

I have my "personal Rock A Little" CD with Some Become Strangers taken off and Reconsider Me, One More Big Time Rock and Roll Star added.

I know this is old news, but can someone clarify when the vocal for Reconsider Me was recorded? Stevie does not make it clear in the Enchanted liner notes. Is the version on Enchanted entirely a RAL outtake, was it re-recorded for Enchanted, or is it a mix of both? At what point did Don Henley do his vocal? I can normally tell these things just by Stevie's voice quality and tone, but I have trouble on this one. It seems a little too clear to be a RAL vocal and a little too "un-husky" to be a '98 vocal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by takenbythesky

Stevie's voice has a "blues mama" kind of vibe on this recording that I enjoy. I also love how she took some risks and "funkified" things. I think of it as Stevie's "guilty pleasure album."

(the "guilty pleasure" comment)

Though it was clear she could not go on singing that way (or go on that way period.....), I LOVE Stevie's RAL voice (album and tour)! "Funkified" is also a good point.

(Cool Username, btw. )

EveryHour · #30 10-21-2004, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ontheEdgeof17

The only track I don't like that much is The Nightmare, but it's growing on me.

The biggest beef I have about RAL is that damn CD booklet. Still pisses me off.

-Curt

I know it's widely hated, but The Nightmare has become one of my fave Stevie tracks. The lyrics and vocal are amazing. Most all of Stevie's songs are incredibly difficult to sing, but this one has to take the cake. Ever tried it?

Ah, yes...The Booklet. Someone needs to mention this to Stevie on the Nicks Fix Q&A or something. I tend to think she would care and want it fixed since it's messing with her fans knowing her lyrics.