Bombshell Tonight: From The ROCK A LITTLE Work Tapes...

[mikebise]

I had this really funny Nancy Grace spoof all written, but no one would probably get it. But it was really good...

As you may remember, in March a large number of Rock A Little Work Tapes were found in a warehouse. The first batch, commonly known as "The Motherload", was won by someone who has chosen not to share despite repeated contacts. Also, several other single tapes were won, and none of those have been shared with the Stevie community either.

The following songs were won by a GROUP of Stevie Fans FOR Stevie Fans. We had hoped to be able to trade with the winner of The Motherload, but that does not interest him. So, we're sorry this took so long to release, but we were really hoping we would be able to get access to those other songs as well.

All songs are from regular old school cassette tapes, not Master Reels. Therefore, most of the songs have been enhanced for better sound quality, with the work being done by our very own JeffD8382. Only "Imperial Hotel" Take 9 and "Battle Of The Dragon" Takes 2 & 3 have been enhanced of those two songs, nor has the "Rock A Little" Piano Demo, nor ANY of the outtakes of "I Can't Wait". Whenever Jeff has time and the urge, he can do whatever he wants: he's that good! (NO, I will NOT be posting the original links; my mediafire account was too full. You're not missing anything. I'm not re-importing and re-uploading so we can have 3 versions of the same recording floating around in lesser quality, sorry.)

From the Rock A Little Work Tapes is a cassette labeled Sharon's Tape: Stevie Demos 1984. No songs are listed at all, but the tape is 90-minutes full of songs. Aside from the never-before-heard "Priest Of Nothing", Stevie's own version of "You Like Me" is a spectacular find, as is the confirmation that it is from 1984.

Sharon's Tape: Stevie Demos 1984

"Priest Of Nothing" - Take 1
http://www.mediafire.com/?eqknkk1cuv7d58o

"Priest Of Nothing" - Take 2
http://www.mediafire.com/?1l47k006x1h7dfl

"Priest of Nothing" is the title that I came up with. Of course, I'm probably wrong and I will cringe years later when Stevie finally releases this incredible song, and I see how wrong my title is and how obvious the real title is. I'm guessing that, in her fresh new love for Joe Walsh in the Summer of 1983 on The Wild Heart Tour, Stevie started listening to some of Joe's earlier releases, and a pair of back-to-back instrumentals on his 1978 album, But Seriously, Folks..., must've intrigued her, causing her to write lyrics to the music to these two tracks ("Inner Tube" and "Theme From Boat Weirdos"). She had already written the lyrics to this song by the time her tour hit Dallas on September 5, 1983. Stevie dedicated "Rhiannon" to "Mr. Joe Walsh! Can he play? Yes, he can! [sings] Can he play? YES, he can!"

But "Priest Of Nothing" is just as much a Stevie Nicks song as any other she wrote over the music track by someone else, like "Battle Of the Dragon", "In Your Dreams", "Running Through The Garden", "City Of Hope", "Stand Back", etc. Stevie wrote the lyrics and the melody for the words.

Lyrics by Stevie Nicks/Music by Joe Walsh, Joe Vitale, Jay Ferguson, Willie Weeks, Bill Szymczyk (music tracks from "Inner Tube" [just Joe Walsh] and "Theme From Boat Weirdos", from 1978's But Seriously, Folks... album)

"Priest Of Nothing" - Take 1
“What was her name?” she said to him
And her friend said nothing for the longest time
Something like your name,
And her friend said nothing for the longest time
And she turned her head and she walked away
And as the Legend says:
"This time you won’t get away...”
Something like that
Poet… priest of nothing… legend
Poet… priest of nothing…

In trouble again for the wrong things...
I didn’t know him, he didn’t know me
There she goes again... Ooh, she says,
“Do you think that this could be the one?”
*
She sees no evil... She’s in love!
Speaks no evil... Well, she’s in love!
I don't think says anything to anyone
Ah ah...
*
Well, I thought that there was a connection
I didn't know why he didn't understand...
There she goes again!
She wants her freedom...
Well, I’m almost there
And I think it’s right...
She sees no evil... She's in love!
Speaks no evil... She's in love!
Well, I don’t think that they say anything to anyone
But you…
Well, I need somewhere to go
I need somewhere...

Ooh, I feel at least that I have the right
To say at least that I miss you...
Well, just remember when you are alone
That it is good what you do...
But there she goes again!
She thinks that this time
Well, this might be the one!*
She sees no evil, she’s in love...
Well, I don’t think that she says anything to anyone
But you...
Well, I need somewhere to go
Well, I need somewhere…

And her friend put her head down on the table
And she cried, and she said,
“Well… can he play?”
Yes, he can!
She said, "Well, can he play?"
Oh, yes, he can!
My friend said, "Can he play?"
And she said, "Yes, he can!"
Well, can I dance with this man?
Yes, I can!!
Ooh, can he play?
I said, "Yes, he can!"
Can he play?
Well, well, yes, he can!
I know...
Can he play?
And I think, "Yes, he can..."

"Priest Of Nothing" - Take 2
“What was her name?” she said to him
And her friend said nothing for the longest time...
Something like your name,
But her friend said nothing for the longest time...
So she turned her head and she walked away
And so the story says:
She said, “You won’t get away this time”
Something like that...
Poet… priest of nothing… legend...
Poet… priest of nothing… legend...

In trouble again for the wrong things...
I didn’t know him, he didn’t know me
There she goes again, and she says,
“Do you think that this could be the one?”

Well, she sees no evil... Well, she’s in love!
And he speaks no evil... She’s in love!
I’m afraid they say anything to anyone...
Oh no… Poet… Secret...

Well, I thought that there was a connection...
Well, I’m almost there
And I think it’s right...
There you go again
Well, I think I meant
"Give me a little time"...

Well, she sees no evil, and she speaks no evil
I don’t think that they say anything to anyone
But you…
Well, I need somewhere to go
I need somewhere...

Oh, just remember when you are alone
That I at least have a right to say I miss you!
I miss you...
Well, just remember when you are alone
That what you do is good...
But there you go again
You want your freedom
Well, I’m almost there
And I think it’s real...

She sees no evil... She’s in love!
And he speaks no evil
I don’t think that they say anything to anyone...
Oh!
Well, I need somewhere to go...
Yeah, I need somewhere…

(And she said, “I’m happy”)
Ooh, and her friend put her head down on the table
And she cried, and she said,
“Well… can he play?”
Ooh, yes, he can!
"Well, can he play?"
And I said "Oh, yes he can!"
And she said, “Well, can you dance with this man?”
And I said, “Well, yes, I can... yes, I can...”
Well, can he play?
Yes!
Can he play?
Well… Can he play?
Yes, he can...
Well, my friend says, “Well, can he play?”
Oh, I said, “Yes he can!”

"You Like Me"
http://www.mediafire.com/?9lcnt1uhfkmqils

"Chanel, Chanel" - Take 1
http://www.mediafire.com/?ber119967trtj49

"Chanel, Chanel" - Take 2
http://www.mediafire.com/?2snz04mgqn6upnc

"Lady From The Mountains" - RAL Version 2
http://www.mediafire.com/?u3cdm55ab2arg1w

"Rock A Little" - Piano Demo
http://www.mediafire.com/?gtncavm32u6p81q

"Battle Of The Dragon" - Take 1
http://www.mediafire.com/?1rogamoktu9gtdb

"Battle Of The Dragon" - Take 2
http://www.mediafire.com/?43o90ysaaje23vg

"Battle Of The Dragon" - Take 3
http://www.mediafire.com/?2hq958ya0v862vi

"Battle Of The Dragon" - Take 4
http://www.mediafire.com/?yzx6rjizfbq1s6k

"Imperial Hotel" - Take 1
http://www.mediafire.com/?mm9lmn13qvk8ep9

"Imperial Hotel" - Take 2
http://www.mediafire.com/?vkd5plcruoorur2

"Imperial Hotel" - Take 3
http://www.mediafire.com/?b0abibj73a4riaf

"Imperial Hotel" - Take 4
http://www.mediafire.com/?6fwacq71dpyzq2z

"Imperial Hotel" - Take 5
http://www.mediafire.com/?3ma68a949sx127w

"Imperial Hotel" - Take 6
http://www.mediafire.com/?p6w7gqtvalnd2oa

"Imperial Hotel" - Take 7
http://www.mediafire.com/?c1083n369mn3vef

"Imperial Hotel" - Take 8
http://www.mediafire.com/?vcterg7vqnlnmce

"Imperial Hotel" - Take 9
http://www.mediafire.com/?p8n6kd24o3nkocv

Also from the Rock A Little Work Tapes is one side of a 90-minute cassette labeled: Stevie Nicks: Various SLN Demos 1985-87. So, this tape encompasses songs written and recorded both before and after Stevie received treatment at the Betty Ford Clinic in Late 1986, since "Welcome To The Room... Sara" is on the cassette. However, no actual dates are listed next to the songs, so we have to make our best guesses.

Stevie Nicks: Various SLN Demos 1985-87

"What Has Rock And Roll Ever Done For You?"
http://www.mediafire.com/?7w1szi08wx7zsm4

"Running Through The Garden" - Take 1
http://www.mediafire.com/?pzt0fcmwxxz2m4f

"Running Through The Garden" - Take 2
http://www.mediafire.com/?az96to9afnd34z5

"Whole Lotta Trouble" - 1986 Version
http://www.mediafire.com/?c6s35ve4gqclty7

"The Nightmare" - Guitar Outtake
http://www.mediafire.com/?91pbupsmwy59rbo

"Welcome To The Room... Sara" - Demo
http://www.mediafire.com/?j2dchhwcce33twu

"Something Exquisite" - Outtake
http://www.mediafire.com/?cr2gfgpasro2v2b

This is not from the Rock A Little Work Tapes, but a single cassette from The Other Side Of The Mirror Sessions. This version of "Dial The Number" is completely finished, with many overdubs and backing vocals filling in the sound from the original Master Reel To Reels.

"Dial The Number" - Final Mix 01/19/1989
http://www.mediafire.com/?ete22474722urkm

And the final batch of songs from the Rock A Little Work Tapes that we won are these many outtakes and mixes of "I Can't Wait". Some of the cassettes were labeled "June 1985" or "06/25/1985", and many times on the inserts was written: "All Mixes By Don Smith". The "Pieces" tape consists of short bits of "I Can't Wait" that were probably being played with to create other unique mixes.

Stevie Nicks: "I Can't Wait" Work Tapes 06/1985 (All Mixes By Don Smith)

"I Can't Wait" 1 - Original Mix
http://www.mediafire.com/?oargsz0qpmy86ux

"I Can't Wait" 2 - Take 2
http://www.mediafire.com/?57pb86dq8ryetky

"I Can't Wait" 3 - Take 3
http://www.mediafire.com/?1cq95ptk5ko0kh1

"I Can't Wait" 4 - Take 4 (06/25/1985)
http://www.mediafire.com/?tcp5xm3cskgehgd

"I Can't Wait" 5 - Video Intro
http://www.mediafire.com/?4l16c57e8if077t

"I Can't Wait" 6 - Single Remix 1
http://www.mediafire.com/?kqdal6aaj1531aq

"I Can't Wait" 7 - Single Remix 2
http://www.mediafire.com/?i3woe4hztf2otez

"I Can't Wait" 8 - Single Remix 3
http://www.mediafire.com/?551svjuoqt844tj

"I Can't Wait" 9 - Single Remix 4
http://www.mediafire.com/?yc59dodwb37x80g

"I Can't Wait" 10 - Comp. Vocal Mix 1
http://www.mediafire.com/?pi9ebdlp3fy314a

"I Can't Wait" 11 - Comp. Vocal Mix 2
http://www.mediafire.com/?sna2es5q3h63dzs

"I Can't Wait" 12 - Comp. Vocal Mix 3
http://www.mediafire.com/?k1o5d9a7t411tp0

"I Can't Wait" 13 - Original Vocal Mix
http://www.mediafire.com/?xel4dcj2c7mdifm

"I Can't Wait" 14 - Rock Dub
http://www.mediafire.com/?65px5dn0xbcl1dn

"I Can't Wait" 15 - Extended Rock Remix
http://www.mediafire.com/?8o5lc3bed31er17

"I Can't Wait" 16 - Instrumental 1
http://www.mediafire.com/?yfztgsc5ice7zqf

"I Can't Wait" 17 - Instrumental 2
http://www.mediafire.com/?2in6172922t2sib

"I Can't Wait" 18 - Instrumental 3
http://www.mediafire.com/?26cr5qxkmrb11h6

"I Can't Wait" 19 - Instrumental 4
http://www.mediafire.com/?dr37jwdzzbzqnhe

"I Can't Wait" Piece 1
http://www.mediafire.com/?ei8mk4620rw551e

"I Can't Wait" Piece 2
http://www.mediafire.com/?5mkn06qm7u11hqd

"I Can't Wait" Piece 3
http://www.mediafire.com/?90bzbmoyny21zpm

"I Can't Wait" Piece 4
http://www.mediafire.com/?brcuz5klcjxo6do

"I Can't Wait" Piece 5
http://www.mediafire.com/?adrb2235w2gbs5o

"I Can't Wait" Piece 6
http://www.mediafire.com/?yjadcs57bbpk8vw

"I Can't Wait" Piece 7
http://www.mediafire.com/?4t9lh5lmg22xho8

"I Can't Wait" Piece 8
http://www.mediafire.com/?4h0xy495h7794cj

"I Can't Wait" Piece 9
http://www.mediafire.com/?4zhnp2ws5nwkpy7

"I Can't Wait" Piece 10
http://www.mediafire.com/?hhlxum85zlzfluk

"I Can't Wait" Piece 11
http://www.mediafire.com/?3ujap7w0gv7tyyb

"I Can't Wait" Piece 12
http://www.mediafire.com/?7a63537gtc4rrvn