why didn't stevie have lindsay produce any of her solo albums?

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

Actually, if it's the album's production you don't care for, Thom Panunzio really can't be blamed for that.

Glyn Johns was the original producer, and he did have a "take-charge" attitude. According to Stevie, the original mixes -- at Johns' insistence -- featured no percussion. Johns also allegedly insisted that Waddy not play on the album ("I was told that the last thing that I would need was Waddy Wachtel"). Stevie has said that Johns knew that she didn't care for what he was doing with the production work, but that she was basically told to "shut up and deal with it."

Once recording was finished and Glyn Johns returned to England (and once Stevie was out of rehab for her Klonopin addiction), she and Thom Panunzio went back into the studio. They opened up the mixes, brought Waddy in to add guitars, and Peter Michael to add percussion, etc. Stevie felt that the album still didn't sound exactly the way she wanted, but that it was ultimately time to call it "finished" and release what they had.

The problem with Street Angel was not the production. It was the songs and Stevie's voice. That album totally rests on her shoulders.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

The problem with Street Angel was not the production. It was the songs and Stevie's voice. That album totally rests on her shoulders.

I actually love Street Angel.. the songs, Stevie's vocals, and all. No, it's not perfect. It's flawed and uneven -- but it's an honest, unadorned view of Stevie's life and mindset at the time. (I love "When I See You Again" on 'Tango' for similar reasons).

Which very well may be why Stevie herself isn't so fond of it -- it isn't "prettified." And while one of my favorite things about Stevie's music is that she takes heart-rending human emotions and wraps them up in something beautiful, I find a lot to appreciate in those rare moments when her guard is completely down and we get the warts and all.

[FierySequences]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

I actually love Street Angel.. the songs, Stevie's vocals, and all. No, it's not perfect. It's flawed and uneven -- but it's an honest, unadorned view of Stevie's life and mindset at the time. (I love "When I See You Again" on 'Tango' for similar reasons).

Which very well may be why Stevie herself isn't so fond of it -- it isn't "prettified." And while one of my favorite things about Stevie's music is that she takes heart-rending human emotions and wraps them up in something beautiful, I find a lot to appreciate in those rare moments when her guard is completely down and we get the warts and all.

ICAM...I often indulge in SA and the masterpieces of Blue Denim and Rose Garden. This was the best work she could do at the time under the circumstances and substances. Stevie even performed RG on Enchanted which indicates she was not completly embarrassed by the SA album in it's entirety, which she would have us all believe.

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by mike_nh

If i remember correctly didn't stevie say that lindsay was the best person for her fleetwood mac songs so i was just curious why she never brought him in to do one of her solo albums?

Because nobody in the world knows Lindsay and she wouldn't hire an unkonwn producer.

[seekerj]

Originally Posted by Etisl

She should have let him produce Street Angel. I am curious what he could have done with those songs. During that time she needed a strong "take charge" producer...... He wouldn't have let her release the disaster that Thom Panunzio did. Panunzio is the worse producer she has ever worked with....it's almost like he was trying to sabotage here...

This is exactly how I feel about Rupert Hine.

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

I actually love Street Angel.. the songs, Stevie's vocals, and all. No, it's not perfect. It's flawed and uneven -- but it's an honest, unadorned view of Stevie's life and mindset at the time. (I love "When I See You Again" on 'Tango' for similar reasons).

Which very well may be why Stevie herself isn't so fond of it -- it isn't "prettified." And while one of my favorite things about Stevie's music is that she takes heart-rending human emotions and wraps them up in something beautiful, I find a lot to appreciate in those rare moments when her guard is completely down and we get the warts and all.

I adore Street Angel... the good songs it contains are some of the best of her solo career, IMO. I have always been way more of a fan of Stevie's Mac work vs her solo work because her solo works are typically overproduced & too pop for my taste. But Street Angel is straightforward guitar-driven rock & roll. Most of it's songs have a rather classic, timeless sound to them. Yes, there are complete turds... but every Stevie album has a few. I think this is also why I really love much of In Your Dreams... there's quite a bit of roots-style rock on the album.

[FierySequences]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I adore Street Angel... the good songs it contains are some of the best of her solo career, IMO. I have always been way more of a fan of Stevie's Mac work vs her solo work because her solo works are typically overproduced & too pop for my taste. But Street Angel is straightforward guitar-driven rock & roll. Most of it's songs have a rather classic, timeless sound to them. Yes, there are complete turds... but every Stevie album has a few. I think this is also why I really love much of In Your Dreams... there's quite a bit of roots-style rock on the album.

And which are on IYD? That should a new thread "Stevie's turds" , I'm sure we can come up with a diverse list

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by FierySequences

And which are on IYD?

Italian Summer & Cheaper Than Free

Originally Posted by FierySequences

That should a new thread "Stevie's turds" , I'm sure we can come up with a diverse list

I think that's a fun idea, please do start a new thread!

[elle]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

Italian Summer & Cheaper Than Free

ha, Italian Summer is the one that immediately came to my mind too.

[WildHearted]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

Italian Summer & Cheaper Than Free

I think Italian Summer would have been beautiful if it had different lyrics. The "ooooh it's so romantic, ooooh it's so soulful" just absolutely kill it for me. But the melody I find really charming.

And yea, no to Cheaper Than Free (although again, it might not have been a bad song if the lyrics were different).

And then I personally don't like Everybody Loves You because of the terrible Chorus and Dave's distracting vocal and Stevie's feigned British accent. But otherwise, it could have been a nice song.

/overly critical

[michelej1]

I love Italian Summer and that's the way I end the album.

Cheaper Than Free is just beyond bad. It couldn't be worse if Al Yankovich had penned those lyrics.

Michele

[WildHearted]

Originally Posted by michelej1

I love Italian Summer and that's the way I end the album.

I end it that way, too. Sometimes when I'm in the car and I zone out and forget about whatever's playing, I'm actually shocked when CTF follows. I've cut it off so much before it comes on that I forget it exists.

[elle]

Originally Posted by WildHearted

I think Italian Summer would have been beautiful if it had different lyrics. The "ooooh it's so romantic, ooooh it's so soulful" just absolutely kill it for me. But the melody I find really charming.

And yea, no to Cheaper Than Free (although again, it might not have been a bad song if the lyrics were different).

And then I personally don't like Everybody Loves You because of the terrible Chorus and Dave's distracting vocal and Stevie's feigned British accent. But otherwise, it could have been a nice song.

/overly critical

Originally Posted by michelej1

I love Italian Summer and that's the way I end the album.

Cheaper Than Free is just beyond bad. It couldn't be worse if Al Yankovich had penned those lyrics.

Michele

see, disregarding the lyrics (or lack thereof, especially in the case of cheaper than free, although i can completely understand how that can be annoying), i find the music and duet singing in cheaper than free and everybody loves you soothing. duet with deeper male voice even reminds me a tiny bit of twisted duet with LB.

but the music in italian summer just sounds like beyond bad european summer festival style syrupy schmaltz music. i can't stand it. (although, and i said it before, i have a tiny bit of suspicion that may have been what DS has been going for.)

[Johnny Stew]

I quite like "Cheaper Than Free." I know the lyrics are rather trite, but it has a sweet sentiment. Plus Stevie & Dave sound fantastic harmonizing together.
I can see slow dancing at a wedding to it.

That said, when I listen to 'IYD,' I end the album with "Italian Summer." It's such a grand, sweeping note for the album to end on. The album would have been better served if "CTF" had remained a 'Blackbird Diaries' track only.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by elle

but the music in italian summer just sounds like beyond bad european summer festival style syrupy schmaltz music. i can't stand it. (although, and i said it before, i have a tiny bit of suspicion that may have been what DS has been going for.)

The music reminds me of a 1950s Hollywood musical and I like that showpiece quality it has about it.

Michele