New producers for Stevie? Is she too difficult?

[mitzo]

I agree that Stevie's producers have not always captured what is special about her - only Linds seems to get it. He can take a thread of her melody and lyric and make a whole world around it.

[On Ice]

I really don't understand why there are so many people who dismiss "Street Angel" album. I love this album! There are so many highlights: "Greta", "Blue Denim", "Listen To The Rain", "Destiny", "Unconditional Love", "Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind", "Rose Garden", "Kick It"... This album is full of rich melodies, lyrics and decent vocals.

Well said, I couldn't agree more. The only thing I can think of that really drags this album down are some of the background vocals, ie "straight back" in Love is Like a River, but overall, I think she sounds pretty good! I don't get the dislike of the Just Like a Woman vocal, it's clear and very pretty, ditto for Destiny. To me, Street Angel is an improvement over the dragging Other Side of the Mirror and I enjoyed it in '94 and still listen to it today. Personally, I think the dislike stems more from where Stevie was at, or felt she was at, when the album was released as opposed to the quality of the work which isn't shabby at all.

[cliffdweller]

Originally Posted by On Ice

Well said, I couldn't agree more. The only thing I can think of that really drags this album down are some of the background vocals, ie "straight back" in Love is Like a River, but overall, I think she sounds pretty good! I don't get the dislike of the Just Like a Woman vocal, it's clear and very pretty, ditto for Destiny. To me, Street Angel is an improvement over the dragging Other Side of the Mirror and I enjoyed it in '94 and still listen to it today. Personally, I think the dislike stems more from where Stevie was at, or felt she was at, when the album was released as opposed to the quality of the work which isn't shabby at all.

There are a handful of good songs on this album. I really don't think it's as abysmal as everyone else thinks. Actually, I think I listen to Street Angel more than I listen to TOSOTM. I hardly ever pick up that album.

[On Ice]

Hi Cliff,

Great to hear some positive comments about Street Angel. I share your sentiments on The Other Side of the Mirror, (I know a lot of fans love the album) but I think Rooms on Fire is one Stevie's best moments (the song was even played on an alt radio station in Toronto back in '89) but the album as a whole drags for me and I find the writing inconsistent and the vocals too monotone in spots. Saw a really decent performance on that tour though in Toronto and she did quite a few songs off the album which I thought was a good move on her part.

[windbecame]

Originally Posted by On Ice

Hi Cliff,

Great to hear some positive comments about Street Angel. I share your sentiments on The Other Side of the Mirror, (I know a lot of fans love the album) but I think Rooms on Fire is one Stevie's best moments (the song was even played on an alt radio station in Toronto back in '89) but the album as a whole drags for me and I find the writing inconsistent and the vocals too monotone in spots. Saw a really decent performance on that tour though in Toronto and she did quite a few songs off the album which I thought was a good move on her part.

i totally agree with most of this post. (love street angel)... but, as far as the tour goes. klonopin behavior aside, i have always thought her song choices hurt her. on the rock a little tour she did more singles. while i personally loved that she did so many mirror songs.... i took a few friends here at Alpine Valley, when she was done they were all - where was stop draggin, leather and lace, rhiannon???? it's like this was strictly a ledgie tour lol. it's like the casual fan was alienated...the following tour here at alpine valley i don't think the crowd was even half the size as the mirror tour

[KarmaContestant]

Based on circumstances and things that Stevie has said about her music over the past (nearly) 40 years, I would conculde that it is only obvious that Stevie is not easy to work with in the studio.

Not that she's necessarily difficult, but she's certainly not the agreeable type.

She's flighty, changes her mind constantly, scraps songs that have been worked hard on and seems completely closed to any artistic vision other than her own (why hire a producer anyway if you're going to be that way?) and has made it clear time and time again that she's almost never satisfied with the way her songs are translated from demo to final.

The one and only producer other than Lindsey, who really seemed to 'get' what Stevie was all about was Jimmy Iovine, and we all know how that ended. I think Dave's work on In Your Dreams is brilliant - and I hope that they are able to work together again because Stevie seems to trust him.

I have to wonder though if the documentary being delayed is actually her doing - I wouldn't be the least bit surprised because she overthinks everything.

[Macfanforever]

I still think she can produce on her own.If she puts her mind to it.Also I think Dave probably taught her alot while they were recording .I hope she grasped everything that he showed her.Also I dont remember if there is a union rule.you have to have a producer with the artist recording.Unless he/she has the credentials under their belt.On mentioning the Street Angel album.I enjoy this cd.To bad it did not get anywhere.I hope IYD dont go in that direction with the results of no radio support and no promotion package.

[Travisevian]

Originally Posted by Rod~A~Little

And Jane and the monkies of the world have gotta go!

Originally Posted by Rod~A~Little

I think another good producer for Stevie might be Daniel Lanois! He helps create such haunting atmospheres in the songs he produces.

I'm not familiar with his work. Do you have an example of a song or album that he's recently produced?

Originally Posted by mitzo

But the song is about Jane Goodall and her work with the endangered chimpanzees in Africa, so the lyrics actually fit if you know the context.

Absolutely!

Originally Posted by PolishStevieFan

I don't mind listening to words like "chimpanzee" or something

...or "laundromat"?

Originally Posted by PolishStevieFan

I really don't understand why there are so many people who dismiss "Street Angel" album.

I've stated this before but I think it's mostly because Stevie dismisses the album. Regardless, I believe it's a good album and undeserving of the harsh criticism it receives.

Originally Posted by PolishStevieFan

I love this album! There are so many highlights: "Greta", "Blue Denim", "Listen To The Rain", "Destiny", "Unconditional Love", "Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind", "Rose Garden", "Kick It"... This album is full of rich melodies, lyrics and decent vocals.

Street Angel is my favourite Stevie Nicks album so, of course, I agree wholeheartedly.

[PolishStevieFan]

It's good to know we're not only people in the universe to love "Street Angel" album. I still remember very positive (4 out of 5 stars) review of the album in a popular Polish magazine wrote by prolific journalist. I didn't listen to Stevie Nick's music back then but I wondered how he could give Fleetwood Mac's singer better rating than 2 Unlimited's latest album For Me "Street Angel" in a way is like going back to the roots. After few synth driven albums Stevie finally went back to the times of "Bella Donna" and in my view captured the essence of that period. If given better promotion and maybe few production corrections this album could have been her comeback. Sadly it was not a good time for veteran female vocalists. Benatar's album "Gravity's Rainbow" went into oblivion soon after its release; Heart's album "Desire Walks On" bombed...Grunge music came and took all the fun out of the music industry. Not that I wasn't a big fan of Nirvana and Alice in Chains

[On Ice]

If given better promotion and maybe few production corrections this album could have been her comeback

Add to the mix that killer version of Mirror Mirror (I'm convinced there's other gems locked in a vault somewhere that even Stevie has forgotten that surfaced and a couple of the duds removed, and it was the makings of a Bella Donna #2. Not to mention her killer performances on the tour, who cares about the weight issue really, it's who she is inside that counts(ed).

[mikephxaz]

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

Based on circumstances and things that Stevie has said about her music over the past (nearly) 40 years, I would conculde that it is only obvious that Stevie is not easy to work with in the studio.

Not that she's necessarily difficult, but she's certainly not the agreeable type.

She's flighty, changes her mind constantly, scraps songs that have been worked hard on and seems completely closed to any artistic vision other than her own (why hire a producer anyway if you're going to be that way?) and has made it clear time and time again that she's almost never satisfied with the way her songs are translated from demo to final.

The one and only producer other than Lindsey, who really seemed to 'get' what Stevie was all about was Jimmy Iovine, and we all know how that ended. I think Dave's work on In Your Dreams is brilliant - and I hope that they are able to work together again because Stevie seems to trust him.

I have to wonder though if the documentary being delayed is actually her doing - I wouldn't
be the least bit surprised because she overthinks everything.

I completely agree with this...I have this feeling that Jimmy could write a book about watching the changes with Stevie from the young lady who he worked with on BellaDonna to his experience with her on WildHeart and then finally Rock a Little. Wow. I bet Jimmy could tell a few stories

[Aussie W/Heart]

Originally Posted by On Ice

Add to the mix that killer version of Mirror Mirror (I'm convinced there's other gems locked in a vault somewhere that even Stevie has forgotten that surfaced and a couple of the duds removed, and it was the makings of a Bella Donna #2. Not to mention her killer performances on the tour, who cares about the weight issue really, it's who she is inside that counts(ed).

Yes that Mirror Mirror version is epic, such a shame it never got released as a single back in the early 90's.. Im intrigued at why it all went pear shaped between Stevie & was it Glen Fry ? I imagine there's a bunch of material that unfortunately got shelved, hopefully one day it will magically resurface here on The Ledge

[BombaySapphire3]

Originally Posted by Aussie W/Heart

. Im intrigued at why it all went pear shaped between Stevie & was it Glen Fry ? :

It was Joe Walsh who apparently said it was due to her partying too much

[Neal]

Originally Posted by PolishStevieFan

Sadly it was not a good time for veteran female vocalists. Benatar's album "Gravity's Rainbow" went into oblivion soon after its release; Heart's album "Desire Walks On" bombed...

I love both of those albums, and consider them among the best of both artists respective catalogues!

[vivfox]

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

Based on circumstances and things that Stevie has said about her music over the past (nearly) 40 years, I would conculde that it is only obvious that Stevie is not easy to work with in the studio.
She's flighty, changes her mind constantly, scraps songs that have been worked hard on and seems completely closed to any artistic vision other than her own (why hire a producer anyway if you're going to be that way?) and has made it clear time and time again that she's almost never satisfied with the way her songs are translated from demo to final.

Matt, I agree with all of this. The songs she recorded with Glyn Johns for Street Angel were absolutely perfect. Listen To The Rain, Greta & Docklands for example were absolutely brilliant and then later she went back in the studio and destroyed their briliance.

Brilliant is your color baby.