"Somebody Stand By Me" ~ Rebirth Genesis?

mikebise · #1 02-27-2011, 04:44 PM

If you were part of the fairly new online Stevie community in Late 1994, you would have been inundated with the two "sure fire" ways to "fix Stevie", repeated ad nauseum:

"Get Don Was to produce Stevie!"

"Get Bill Bottrell to SAVE Stevie's career!"

Was had revived Bonnie Raitt's career in 1989, turning her into a reliable hit-maker. Bottrell produced Sheryl Crow's first (released) album, Tuesday Night Music Club, which was taking the world by storm in Late 1994.

Proponents of these solutions swore on stacks of the Mabinogion that these two men were the only ones who could "save" Stevie.

So, when "Somebody Stand By Me" was released in Early 1995, it was a melding of the two ideas. Don Was produced the track, which was itself a song from Crow's original unreleased 1988 album that had been shelved.

Here was Stevie's first new release since Street Angel. She had just gotten through writing off that album to Mary Turner on that Christmas 1994 Off the Record interview. Stevie even mentioned talking with Don Was on a plane trip they were on together recently, and he was telling her to get back in there, writing songs, trusting her own instincts (several months before Petty's over-mentioned inspiration of August 1995). Even if it was a cover, it was new, and it was Stevie. Did it work for you?

I remember being disappointed when my friend Alicia told me that the song would be one of Crow's, but I still greatly anticipated the soundtrack's release. Once Stevie's voice began to sing, I got chills, that old Stevie feeling once again! Throughout the song, Stevie would alternate wailing and whispering, defiant and pleading... I was mesmerized!

The Street Angel tour proved Stevie's voice was better than ever, and "Somebody Stand By Me" definitely showed off Stevie's vocal abilities as still present and prominent.

I thought then, and I still believe now, that "Somebody Stand By Me" represented the Rebirth of Stevie, free from Klonopin, free from trying to fix the mistakes of the past. However, that song seems to have been forgotten in the last 16 years, even if it was on Enchanted. Was it because Stevie didn't write it? Is Stevie comparing herself to a dog too reminiscent of the dreaded forgotten chimpanzee?

In my iPod mixes for Trouble In Shangri-la, I always make sure "Somebody Stand By Me" is sequenced in, as I feel that song is truly the beginning, starting Stevie on the Road to Shangri-la.

JohnL · #2 02-27-2011, 05:25 PM

I think it is in the top 5 vocal performances of her career. I love it!

Djwidow · #3 02-27-2011, 05:36 PM

The worst Stevie Nicks song I ever heard...
I just can't stand how bad this song really was and wish it could have been produced by Jimmy I...it would have been wonderful...

CADreaming · #4 02-27-2011, 05:56 PM

I really really like SSBM. One of my favs.

mitzo · #5 02-28-2011, 07:52 AM

Really, an often overlooked gem of hers - I also had that Stevie thrill listening to it. The vocals are dynamite.

HejiraNYC · #6 02-28-2011, 09:16 AM

When I first heard this song in 1995, I had no idea of its context in terms of Stevie's career- that she was so close to hitting rock bottom physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc. I didn't think of it as a comeback as much as I thought, oh, cool! Another soundtrack song! At first I was a little bummed out that it was a Sheryl Crow song and I thought the lyrics were a little corny and trite. And to be honest, I didn't think it was one of Stevie's better vocals. But what struck me was Don Was' production. Wow. He really should have done a whole album with her. My favorite part is towards the end, when Stevie is repeating the chorus. The song hits an emotional peak right there when the horn section comes way up in the mix and Stevie starts vamping and reaching for those high notes. Bliss!

blinker12 · #7 02-28-2011, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikebise

I thought then, and I still believe now, that "Somebody Stand By Me" represented the Rebirth of Stevie, free from Klonopin, free from trying to fix the mistakes of the past.

Nice post.

I think of the Street Angel tour as the Rebirth of Stevie, because as you noted she sounded fantastic on that tour and there was a scrappiness to her performances that we haven't seen since. I think it's because she needed to prove herself in 1994, after being in a period of relative decline for the previous 8 years. She was touring on a bus, she was keeping things real, and her voice reflected that. She couldn't rest on Fleetwood Mac's laurels because Fleetwood Mac was dormant/foundering itself.

But that whole period of 1994-1997 was an awesome time to be a Stevie fan. The most fun of *my* time as a fan, certainly, which had started in 1990. Street Angel tour, "Twisted," "Somebody Stand By Me," and then of course the "Dance" reunion. She was back, getting popular and critical respect, and deserving it with her truly committed performances.

Jondalar · #8 02-28-2011, 10:00 AM

I hated Stevie's vocal on this song. However, Faith Hill does a killer rendition of this song. I don't really like the song that much though. To me, it's just Sheryl Crow trying to imitate another genre or time. That's what Sheryl does best.

greendaze5 · #9 02-28-2011, 10:12 AM

‘Somebody Stand By Me’ is not my fave. Instead I consider ‘Twisted’ as Stevie’s ‘rebirth’ song.

Great lyrics, and great melody. Her mojo was back!

Also, it was a nice surprise to see her and Lindsey working together again, especially after how Stevie spent most of the late 8o’s to the mid 90’s trashing him in the press on and on and on and on and on....