Bella Donna & Wild Heart= End of Story!

[markolas]

I was listening to my tweaked version of TISL today...I had forgotten how good it was, and how much I loved it when it first came out. It'll be a hard one to top, for sure.

RE: The Other Side of the Mirror. I always thought her vocals sounded really muddy on every song, but I found some versions of a few of the songs on the Demos thread that are labeled "unmixed," and I was surprised at how clear her singing is on them. So it appears that the mixing is responsible for the ****ty way her vocals sound. Really makes me wish somebody would get ahold of that album and remix it.

[drzubritsky]

Originally Posted by chiliD

Rock A Little - With the opening track "I Can't Wait", I thought this was going to be the killer album...the rest of side 1 just blows. I almost didn't turn the LP over. Glad I did though. Side 2, to that point in time, was the best stuff Stevie had done outside of FMac (to my ears)...thought that all the way up to TISL. Only "I Can't Wait" & what made up Side 2 do I ever listen to on this one.

Other Side Of The Mirror - Thank GOD "Rooms On Fire" was the opening track the only redeemable song on the entire upchuck of an album. Street Angel?? No way, THIS is the abomination from hell in the Stevie catalogue.

I must say that I had the same reaction during my first listen of RAL (purchased on the day of release in 1985). I almost jumped out of my chair when I heard that acapella opening of ICW - it really grabbed me. But, as with you, I became more disappointed with each successive cut...those croaky vocals on "I Sing For The Things" were especially painful to hear. While there was some stronger material on side 2, I found "The Nightmare" to be pretty rote and thought that HAEWAFY was a near-miss...it has some lovely elements but the music & lyric combination always sounded a bit awkward to me.

I did warm up a bit to the rest of RAL after more listens, but it still ranked as a disappointment after waiting for what seemed like an eternity (at the time) for it to be released.

I totally agree with you regarding TOSOTM. Even its hit single, ROF, sounded like what would have been just a solid album cut on her previous albums. Meandering songwriting and horrible production and mixes were the downfall of this album. I will say, though, that I grew to appreciate "Doing The Best That I Can" more & more over the years.

[ahafan02]

BELLA DONNA - One of my all time favs...the title track is brilliant, Think About It, Kind of Woman, How Still My Love are my favs...the only track I usually skip over is the last one, The Highwayman.

THE WILD HEART - not my fav...G&G, SAB and NEC are easily forgettable...the singles rank among my favorite Stevie solo songs (SB, Nightbird, IAF)...I Will Run To You is horrid, what were they thinking?

ROCK A LITTLE - A masterpiece to me, easily my all time fav Stevie album...I love every song, not a dud on it.

OTHER SIDE OF THE MIRROR - I must confess I really hate this album. Aside from ROF, Ooh My Love, Alice, WLT, Doing the Best That I Can....the other songs are poor and totally forgettable. Ooh My Love should have been a single. I never liked Two Kinds of Love and Long Way To Go. Strangely, Stevie highly rates this album.

STREET ANGEL - This much aligned album really isn't half bad. I love Greta, my favorite on the album, the title track, Maybe Love and Rose Garden...a few clunkers but Stevie's voice sounds great. I always thought it was a shame Thousand Days was left off.

TROUBLE IN SHANGRI-LA - Easily her best album since RAL. "Planets" has easily become my all time favorite Stevie track...although I think the ending bit fades to soon (I made a longer ending version for my iPod). I don't really care much for It's Only Love or Too Far From Texas, but that's just a minor complaint.

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by drzubritsky

I must say that I had the same reaction during my first listen of RAL (purchased on the day of release in 1985). I almost jumped out of my chair when I heard that acapella opening of ICW - it really grabbed me. But, as with you, I became more disappointed with each successive cut...those croaky vocals on "I Sing For The Things" were especially painful to hear. While there was some stronger material on side 2, I found "The Nightmare" to be pretty rote and thought that HAEWAFY was a near-miss...it has some lovely elements but the music & lyric combination always sounded a bit awkward to me.

I did warm up a bit to the rest of RAL after more listens, but it still ranked as a disappointment after waiting for what seemed like an eternity (at the time) for it to be released.

I totally agree with you regarding TOSOTM. Even it's hit single, ROF, sounded like what would have been just a solid album cut on her previous albums. Meandering songwriting and horrible production and mixes were the downfall of this album. I will say, though, that I grew to appreciate "Doing The Best That I Can" more & more over the years.

I could not believe she actually released TOSOTM. It hurt her credibility BIG TIME.

[nightbird28]

Street Angel to me was my least favorite album until I started listening to the alternate mixes that were supposed the original mixes before Stevie went in and re-worked them. I honestly prefer those over the released version as well as adding Inspiration and God's Garden back into the track list along with Mirror Mirror and of course her version of If You Were My Love. The album was a waste as an official release but I believe if she had switched some of the songs for the ones that were cut off it would have been a great record. I could have traded Jane and Just Like A Woman for these songs easily.

[SufferYourLove]

Originally Posted by SapphireSister

In the last year or so I've started to consider Wild Heart to be her best album but I go back and forth between that, BD, and TISL. She was definitely the hottest she's ever been during that time. That being said I will never forgive Jimmy Iovine for not including All the Beautiful Worlds on TWH album instead of Gate and Garden. And apparently it was for personal reasons between he and Stevie. Biggest mistake EVER and I strongly resent him for it. That would have made the album a masterpiece.

Sorry, I have to disagree. Stevie has the final say when it comes to her songs, career, wardrobe, etc. Jimmy as her producer can state his opinions. But, its all Stevie.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by SufferYourLove

Sorry, I have to disagree. Stevie has the final say when it comes to her songs, career, wardrobe, etc. Jimmy as her producer can state his opinions. But, its all Stevie.

Jimmy has been squarely blamed for Julia missing from Bella Donna as well, but it's very likely that he just convinced her to leave it off the album.

However, Stevie has claimed that she was forced by label execs to record and release Sometimes It's Bitch against her will....so...I don't believe it's always up to her.

[SufferYourLove]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

I could not believe she actually released TOSOTM. It hurt her credibility BIG TIME.

That's funny. My good friend ( who is a Bon Jovi fan :-o ) told me how she has one Stevie Nicks album The Other Side Of The Mirror. She said she loved it etc. I was totally embarrassed that she had that album out of all the albums to have. That was the album that represented the "Stevie" I love?

[Spoinny]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

Regarding what I don't like about Wild Heart? Where do I begin? It's an overly sappy piece of crap. It reeks of bloated ego. I detest her overly goat like vocals on the album. There really isn't much of a rock presence on this album. I dislike like most of the lyrics. For instance:

There is gate, it can be guarded. It is not heaven, but it has a garden.

I mean seriously, WTF? I have to just click "next" when she starts screaming about enchanted children on the title track. It's embarrassing to listen to. Nightbird is simply awful. Beauty and the Beast is terrible. I just can't stand the sappiness of the album, it's just an overtly reeking show of bloated ego. Sorry, guys... but Wild Heart is just not for me.

Are you serious? You really think most songs on SA are BETTER than most songs on WH? We'll definately have to agree to dis-agree here! I'll take "Beauty and the Beast" over "Jane" anyday! LOL

[markolas]

Originally Posted by Spoinny

Are you serious? You really think most songs on SA are BETTER than most songs on WH? We'll definately have to agree to dis-agree here! I'll take "Beauty and the Beast" over "Jane" anyday! LOL

My sentiments pretty much. You're a nice guy, Louie, but I think you're kinda out in left field on this one.

We've gone over this before.

- Gate & Garden: clearly, clearly about her pvssy, which makes it awesome by default.
- Wild Heart & Beauty and the Beast: both epic
- Nightbird: one her best songs, ever, IMO

The real duds on this album for me are the two "rockers" (I am admittedly not a huge rock fan to begin with): Nothing Ever Changes & I Will Run to You. Replace those with Garbo and Violet & Blue, and you've got a perfect record - almost as perfect as Bella Donna or Rock a Little.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by markolas

The real duds on this album for me are the two "rockers" (I am admittedly not a huge rock fan to begin with): Nothing Ever Changes & I Will Run to You. Replace those with Garbo and Violet & Blue, and you've have a perfect record - almost as perfect as Bella Donna or Rock a Little.

A similar story could be told for Street Angel. Replace Jane and Unconditional Love with Thousand Days and Inspiration. Change the running order up a bit and dump the Dylan cover alltogether. Viola! A record as perfect as Rock A Little or Bella Donna!

But seriously, I love Street Angel. I love Wild Heart, too.

[markolas]

I don't think Street Angel could ever be made into a perfect record. If certain songs were swapped out (and the Dylan cover is one of the best things on there, IMO), it would certainly be made better, tho.

Absolute duds on SA for me are:

- Unconditional Love (co-dependent lyrics, boring music & production)
- Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind (more co-dependent lyrics)
- Jane (just...no)

Kick It is marginal. Dump those four and replace them with Inspiration, God's Garden (neither are my favorites, but both are far superior to UL and MLWCYM), If You Were My Love - maybe tack on Thousand Days - and it's a much better album, but still far from perfect. It's simply not that great a collection of songs.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by markolas

I don't think Street Angel could ever be made into a perfect record. If certain songs were swapped out (and the Dylan cover is one of the best things on there, IMO), it would certainly be made better, tho.

Absolute duds on SA for me are:

- Unconditional Love (co-dependent lyrics, boring music & production)
- Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind (more co-dependent lyrics)
- Jane (just...no)

Kick It is marginal. Dump those four and replace them with Inspiration, God's Garden (neither are my favorites, but both are far superior to UL and MLWCYM), If You Were My Love - maybe tack on Thousand Days - and it's a much better album, but still far from perfect. It's simply not that great a collection of songs.

We will have to agree to disagree in this case. I think God's Garden is a total snooze-worthy dud. MLWCYM isn't a favorite of mine, but I like it enough to leave it on my SA playlist.

I go through phases where I love Just Like A Woman, and other times I don't care for it. I would love Stevie to put this in her live sets, along with Kick It and Love Is Like A River.

For me, Street Angel is a great collection of some of Stevie's best-written songs - but I have to concede that the production is lacking. Had someone who cared about Stevie and loved her music been the producer, these songs all would have turned out better than they did.

[Morgana]

Looking back on the SA time Stevie was in a different time and place in her life which a lot of her fans found different, she departed from the wild and crazy Stevie. I think that Stevie image was associated with the SA album then which may explain why it wasn't well received back then. So Stevie and some of her fans had to get past that point in her life and that is in part why SA is more appreciated now. Just MHSNO

Originally Posted by AnthonyMI

Back in my day when I first came to the Ledge (1997), Street Angel was pretty much agreed to be the worst Stevie album ever, her vocals awful, production was crap and her tour, weight and voice on it at their worst. What happened that it is now so appreciated?

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by Spoinny

Are you serious? You really think most songs on SA are BETTER than most songs on WH? We'll definately have to agree to dis-agree here!

Better is a subjective term. The style of music on Street Angel is much more to my taste than Wild Heart . I love the fact Street Angel is very clean production wise, and just straight forward rock and roll. Stevie ventured too far from rock on Wild Heart for my personal taste.

Originally Posted by Spoinny

I'll take "Beauty and the Beast" over "Jane" anyday! LOL

I'll take deafness for 500, Alex! Jane is an awful, awful turd. But then again, so is Beauty And The Beast.