An offer........

[GarboSpeaks!]

You could refuse...but please don't. LOL.

Cleaning out my storage unit, I unearthed a myriad of VHS tapes, FULL of SN & FM content. At one time, I had a trade list of VHS things, but it was never complete. I can't stress that this is a LOT of stuff! I'd estimate like 40+ tapes. Some partial, some at full capacity. My offer is that I am behind the times on DVD. I have tried for trades and such, and some of you have been so helpful! I have had a DVD burner for 3+ years that I can't figure if my life depended on it, and well, it's now or never. If someone is interested in this stuff, and will either convert it all or convert what they need/want in trade for a DVD to me, it's yours. I'll even spring for shipping. Hell, I'd even spring for a portion of the DVD's (blank.) I could provide a full list, but that could take time. Lot's of time. I know off the top of my head, the following.
A 3 VHS set of European TV commercials, broadcasts and interviews. Circa 1976-1987. (Poor to Crystal clear quality...approx 12 hours combined)
Songbirds in Japan
Stevie & Robin in Japan (Decent clarity.)
Stevie RS shoot (Decent clarity)
Hollywood & Vine Special from VH-1 for Practical Magic (SUPER clear)
LOADS of videos and TV performances. Solid Gold, old commercials. Some misc. Christine stuff etc) Lot's of the one off things are clear. Alot from 97 on, so still new. Much never re-watched since taping.
Bella Donna Ball (This is a 30 min or so VHS loaded w/ a lot of fan stuff. It's a lot of fun. I'd prefer the tape back as it's special to me, but some people seem interested to have it...just an option.)
Any # of concerts. Woodstock, US, Jones Beach, lot's of FM live videos....list goes on.
I do also have original copies of FM Mirage in Concert, and the Tusk documentary in pretty darn good condition despite having been viewed over and over and in my posession forever. LOL I was told that many have converted this from the Laser Disc, but if you want it, and take the deal, they are yours...as I'd love to have these on DVD as well.

Alot of this was bought at Record shows before I knew better and well, the clarity is good, but I don't know how to begin to grade it. All those years I was just so grateful to have it, I didn't care what condition. As far as the tapes, none are broken, they have all been well taken care of. No sun exposure, etc. Any takers?

[jannieC]

I wish I knew how to help you with this, as I would love to have some (all) of that stuff. However I am pretty challenged in that area. Good luck- someone will pop up and help, I'll bet.

[johnny4406]

When I read "An offer..." I thought Stevie was willing to comprimise about the DVD. Maybe we should send letters to Reprise.. or to her. Lately she hasn't felt her fans will buy her albums.

[Jyqm]

Originally Posted by johnny4406

When I read "An offer..." I thought Stevie was willing to comprimise about the DVD. Maybe we should send letters to Reprise.. or to her. Lately she hasn't felt her fans will buy her albums.

She hasn't felt that enough fans will buy her albums. Letters from a handful of people on the Internet aren't going to change that.

Stevie couldn't seem to care less about her cadre of loyal followers who have been supporting her career and her music all these years. She wants to please the beer-swillers, who come out to concerts because it's something to do and who want to see her perform that "Thunder Only Happens" song they heard on the radio.

[skcin]

Anita - check your pms

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by Jyqm

She hasn't felt that enough fans will buy her albums.

Stevie couldn't seem to care less about her cadre of loyal followers who have been supporting her career and her music all these years.

I'm still not certain that I believe this is truly the reason Stevie seems hesitant to record a new album.

'Trouble In Shangri-La' debuted at #5 on the charts (not a small feat for a 50-something female pop/rock singer -- just ask Heart, Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Bonnie Raitt, etc.), and, as of December 2003, it has sold over 640,000 copies.
That's nothing to sneeze at for any lady whose last name isn't Aguilera, Simpson, Spears or Ciccone-Ritchie. Not to mention that Stevie's post-'Rock A Little' album sales figures weren't much better than those for 'TISL' -- and that didn't stop her from recording.

I tend to think there's another, deeper reason for her not wanting to record again, and the "radio doesn't play my new songs anymore, so why bother" reply is just an excuse.

It should be noted for the record though, that Stevie's most recent comment regarding a new solo album, was, "I’m sure I will do another record somewhere down the line."
So it's not like she's ruling it out entirely.

[sparky]

Originally Posted by Jyqm

She hasn't felt that enough fans will buy her albums. Letters from a handful of people on the Internet aren't going to change that.

I think she doesn't have any new material and isn't enthused about recording the old stuff. I don't get the impression that she is inspired. Which is fine, she isn't required to be. She just seems blah about it all, thus my lack of enthusiasm. She doesn't seem to be wound up about her career or writing, how the hell can I be ?

[Angel69]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

I'm still not certain that I believe this is truly the reason Stevie seems hesitant to record a new album.

'Trouble In Shangri-La' debuted at #5 on the charts (not a small feat for a 50-something female pop/rock singer -- just ask Heart, Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Bonnie Raitt, etc.), and, as of December 2003, it has sold over 640,000 copies.
That's nothing to sneeze at for any lady whose last name isn't Aguilera, Simpson, Spears or Ciccone-Ritchie. Not to mention that Stevie's post-'Rock A Little' album sales figures weren't much better than those for 'TISL' -- and that didn't stop her from recording.

I tend to think there's another, deeper reason for her not wanting to record again, and the "radio doesn't play my new songs anymore, so why bother" reply is just an excuse.

Well said. Also Stevie likes to record with a lot of different well known people so that could be one reason why it takes a while to get something out. This coupled with the fact that she has been quite busy since TISL with Fleetwood alone she played many dates and then last summers outing and Australia, I would not expect her to say "the new album will be out in August" or something to that affect.

It should be noted for the record though, that Stevie's most recent comment regarding a new solo album, was, "I’m sure I will do another record somewhere down the line."
So it's not like she's ruling it out entirely.

Exactly. She also probably has to sort things out, see what Fleetwoods plans are, see her family and spend time with them.

[Angel69]

[QUOTE=Johnny Stew]I'm still not certain that I believe this is truly the reason Stevie seems hesitant to record a new album.

'Trouble In Shangri-La' debuted at #5 on the charts (not a small feat for a 50-something female pop/rock singer -- just ask Heart, Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Bonnie Raitt, etc.), and, as of December 2003, it has sold over 640,000 copies.
That's nothing to sneeze at for any lady whose last name isn't Aguilera, Simpson, Spears or Ciccone-Ritchie. Not to mention that Stevie's post-'Rock A Little' album sales figures weren't much better than those for 'TISL' -- and that didn't stop her from recording.

I tend to think there's another, deeper reason for her not wanting to record again, and the "radio doesn't play my new songs anymore, so why bother" reply is just an excuse.

Well said. Also Stevie likes to record with a lot of different well known people so that could be one reason why it takes a while to get something out. This coupled with the fact that she has been quite busy since TISL with Fleetwood alone she played many dates and then last summers outing and Australia, I would not expect her to say "the new album will be out in August" or something to that affect.


She also probably has to sort things out, see what Fleetwoods plans are, see her family and spend time with them.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by sparky

She just seems blah about it all, thus my lack of enthusiasm. She doesn't seem to be wound up about her career or writing, how the hell can I be ?

That brings up a good question... what do fans (or a fanbase, collectively) do when their favorite artist becomes relatively inactive in the recording studio, or retires completely?

It's never really been something Stevie fans have had to seriously think about until now. Even when there were long periods with nothing new, it always seemed that there was something on the horizon.

I'm sure there will still be tours, both big and small, to look forward to (for those who look forward to the tours, that is), but it's probably time everyone starts accepting the fact that new material is going to be few and far between, and eventually will dry up altogether.

[David]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

That brings up a good question... what do fans (or a fanbase, collectively) do when their favorite artist becomes relatively inactive in the recording studio, or retires completely?

It's never been a problem for me. My favorite artists are all dead. I've never needed current activity from my favorite artists in order to feel interested in them & want to talk about them.

In fact, in the case of Stevie & FM, I would say that the interest I take in discussion actually decreases when they are currently active. That's when you get tons of posts that are really vacuous & that just report inane details from concerts like: "We drove to a Starbucks before the show & sat & talked & talked about our dorm rooms & our exams over a latte, & then we drove to the concert but got stuck in a traffic jam & when we finally got there, my friend lost her ticket & we panicked & then we bought a beer & then Stevie came out & she was more beautiful than ever & she sang better than ever & she smiled at me & I smiled at her & a single silver solitary tear slid down her downy-soft cheek & I knew right at that moment that she was singing to me & that all her life she has been singing to me & a lump got stuck in my throat & my friend had to rap me sharply between the shoulder blades & it was the best night of my life." Take that & multiply it by about 300 times, & that's what you get to hear about when the band is in the middle of touring.

I think the discussions on the ledge & elsewhere get far more interesting when the band is inactive because people are forced to think of cool stuff to say & to ask about. So that's why I don't understand it when people say "Don't worry because discussion will pick up again once the band puts out an album or goes on tour." To me, that's when discussion hits a nadir. I always dread those times of band activity. What are your thoughts, Stew?

I hope you'll take my comments in the spirit in which they're offered--as discussion, as exchange of ideas--& not as browbeating or bullying.

[David]

Originally Posted by sparky

I think she doesn't have any new material and isn't enthused about recording the old stuff. I don't get the impression that she is inspired. Which is fine, she isn't required to be. She just seems blah about it all, thus my lack of enthusiasm. She doesn't seem to be wound up about her career or writing, how the hell can I be ?

I think she's very close to that point at which she wants to lodge herself in Vegas or Atlantic City & play there for weeks at a time. No traveling, no tired sick of it all emotions, no more than a 2 or 3 hour drive home, &c.

[sparky]

Originally Posted by David

I think she's very close to that point at which she wants to lodge herself in Vegas or Atlantic City & play there for weeks at a time. No traveling, no tired sick of it all emotions, no more than a 2 or 3 hour drive home, &c.

I don't disagree. Good on her. There are other artists I follow who are dynamic, creatively fertile, and challenging me with new thoughts, ideas and musical directions. Homegirl owes me nothing. Is it a little disappointing that she didn't evolve into a Joni, a Bowie, a Neil Young ? Kind of. But she never was that kind of artist. She's arcing into retirement that's just the way it goes. I used to think she would have all kinds of things to say about life as she got older. However, it turns out that her life and muse haven't fueled that kind of creative outflow. It's cool. Other people engage me that way now. She compelled me, on and off, for the better part of 3 decades. And I'll probably still run around and see her shows. Out of habit, ritual, and socializing, if nothing else.

[markolas]

Originally Posted by sparky

I don't disagree. Good on her. There are other artists I follow who are dynamic, creatively fertile, and challenging me with new thoughts, ideas and musical directions. Homegirl owes me nothing. Is it a little disappointing that she didn't evolve into a Joni, a Bowie, a Neil Young ? Kind of. But she never was that kind of artist. She's arcing into retirement that's just the way it goes. I used to think she would have all kinds of things to say about life as she got older. However, it turns out that her life and muse haven't fueled that kind of creative outflow. It's cool. Other people engage me that way now. She compelled me, on and off, for the better part of 3 decades. And I'll probably still run around and see her shows. Out of habit, ritual, and socializing, if nothing else.

I'm glad I'm not the only person who feels like she's winding down and not really into it anymore. I was starting to think I was crazy.

I'm still mesmerized by her early '80s recordings and performances, and the Dance era stuff. But I don't think she's the great artiste that she has presented herself as in the past.

As far as what to do when an artist you're a fan of isn't recording anymore...well...like David, a lot of my favorites are dead. But the stuff they put out there just continues to inspire. Joni Mitchell isn't recording anymore, but I continue to be completely entranced by her albums. Unfortunately, Stevie's body of work is much smaller, and a lot of it is really spotty. I think I'll always be a fan of Stevie, especially certain eras of her career, but there are other musicians that provide so much more to work with, even though they're either dead or inactive.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by David

I think the discussions on the ledge & elsewhere get far more interesting when the band is inactive because people are forced to think of cool stuff to say & to ask about. So that's why I don't understand it when people say "Don't worry because discussion will pick up again once the band puts out an album or goes on tour." To me, that's when discussion hits a nadir. I always dread those times of band activity. What are your thoughts, Stew?

I'm like you -- I tend to feel that some of the more interesting, thought-provoking conversations come up during the "downtime." I usually read very few of the concert reports, and as someone who's never been a tour-goer, I can always find something to talk about beyond the live performances. Not to mention the fact that my main interest has always been in the studio recordings.

My greedy, "gimme, gimme, gimme" side would love for there to be new solo albums in the future, but the enjoyment I find in the songs I already have... and the new shades and textures that I'm always discovering within them... is enough to sustain my interest for decades to come. So I highly doubt my enthusiasm for Stevie's music will ever wane, even in the slightest, if she should retire from recording.