Rock A Little not holding up so well

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by olive

it's a good album she needs to acknowledge it more in her show drop Rhiannon and add something from this But Has Anyone Ever Written

Great picture! I've seen many outtake shots. But this one is new to me. Thanks!

It is a good album, and she should acknowledge it more in her show. She could drop Rhiannon and add something else beside Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You.

What would you suggest?

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by BlueLight

For the life of me, I don't understand why, for example. RTTG didn't make the final cut.

Running through the garden was scrapped along with Mirror Mirror and other goodies for Rock A Little. I think if Jimmy Iovine would have stayed and Stevie stopped partying for at least 3 weeks the Mirror Mirror album would have been excellent. You can imagine how out of control the partying was in the studio for Iovine to walk out. That is why I don't like RAL so much. The songs they brought to her to sing seem rushed musically, lyrically, and vocally.

[starshine]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Another example when I say the demos or dropped tracks from RAL are better than the album. Some Become Strangers is probably one of my least favorite Stevie solo songs for many reasons. But this alternative version is pretty good. Its not drowning in background vocals like the album version. Her voice is stronger here and she sounds good. And its a miracle.... you can hear real drumming. SOOOOOO much better than what was put on the album. Listen.

Long story short.....I wish the Mirror Mirror album was released in 1984/early 1985 instead of being scrapped for the latter RAL.

Some Become Strangers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Z7ezrzZAE

And the wonderful Running through the Garden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DgYPKFVQzc

Imperial Hotel 1984 demo (her voice is strong)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NSQ7VTR6Xg

I agree with you the unreleased Mirror,Mirror LP would've been better than the RAL LP that we did get. Some of the outtakes are much better. Too many Producers for this LP as well. Its kinda scattered , all over the place. Part of me likes some of the songs but there are filler songs like someone else mentioned. Its a shame cause I do think it could've been a really great LP.

[KarmaContestant]

I love Rock A Little. It's definitely drenched in a dated sound and production style, but that's part of it's appeal, much like Tango In The Night, or Madonna's True Blue, or Cyndi Lauper's She's So Unusual. The dated sound is a huge part of the nostalgia factor that makes these albums outstanding.

[lilyfee]

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

I love Rock A Little. It's definitely drenched in a dated sound and production style, but that's part of it's appeal, much like Tango In The Night, or Madonna's True Blue, or Cyndi Lauper's She's So Unusual. The dated sound is a huge part of the nostalgia factor that makes these albums outstanding.

Agree with this. I love RAL. The 80s production muting Stevie's raw vocals gives the album a hazy quality, like you're looking at her through smoke in a crowded room. It's not her best work, but the album as a whole is cohesive... I say this as someone who wasn't alive when this album was made.

And this sound is definitely making a comeback... I hear it especially with Charli XCX on pop radio. Stevie sounds so real and retro when compared to that!

[He's So Unusual]

Rock a Little is my favourite Stevie album. I love how wild, dark and frenzied it is. You can tell she was completely off her face on coke when she recorded it. I'm a sucker for the dated drum machines and synthesizers, and I love the extended remixes.

[WildHeart97]

I'm in the camp that loves this album. The fact that it's so 80s-sounding is part of the appeal. These songs may not be Stevie's finest lyrical moments, but they are undeniably fun. I have no shame in saying I enjoy every song on here, and the only album I like more is The Wild Heart.

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by WildHeart97

I'm in the camp that loves this album. The fact that it's so 80s-sounding is part of the appeal. These songs may not be Stevie's finest lyrical moments, but they are undeniably fun. I have no shame in saying I enjoy every song on here, and the only album I like more is The Wild Heart.

That is my philosophy with all her albums. They are a product of their of own time and space, just like most things are. I am more forgiving of things in hindsight, and come to appreciate and/or accept the odd quirks that may have irked me when they were still new and less familiar.

The Rock a Little album and tour suffered from cocaine, which was in full throttle capacity at the time. The Other Side of the Mirror album and tour suffered from klonopin, which sort of put her in a zombie state. Taken in perspective, the records sort of represent what she was dealing with at those particular times. Could she handle the seasons of her life? She might say "Well, I'm doing the best that I can."

[SpyNote]

It's not the worst album, just inconsistent. Her best albums usually have a single producer (more or less) and a clear artistic vision. Bella Donna, The Wild Heart, and In Your Dreams are all strong for that reason. I also think The Other Side of the Mirror is one of her best, but I can see why some fans don't like it. The fairy tale, keyboard-driven arrangements are not for everyone.

[aleuzzi]

I remember being disappointed with it when it came out. I loved The Wild Heart and Bella Donna. But her vocals on Rock a Little were simply too frayed and hoarse. The only performances I like (though like them a lot) are Imperial Hotel and I Sing for the Things. In both cases, increased hoarseness works in favor of the songs.

Talk to Me and I Can't Wait were big hits, but I was embarrassed by them. They felt like commercial calculations and lacked the originality that made Stand Back and Edge of 17 what they were.

HAEWAFY has turned out to be a classic, though her original studio version of the song is weak. Compare it to the epic performance on storytellers in 1998!

I remember being even more disappointed with The Other Side of the Mirror. And, if I'm being honest, her appearance played a part in my disappointment, too. She looked ragged in 1985 and then, by 1988, she was sadly overweight and over processed. She seemed like a parody herself.

My disillusionment changed, however, back into admiration when I heard her performance of Sometimes It's a Bitch. Bon Jovi's song is mediocre, but her reading of it was so convincing I remember thinking, "she's found herself again." She may have been overweight and zombied out for Street Angel, but the lead track, Blue Denim, was so well done that I didn't care what she looked like. In fact, the strength of her voice led me to realize all the gossamer beauty of yore was just one flimsy aspect of her greater talent.

Then, TISL became her best album since The Wild Heart. And IYD is, to my way of thinking, her best work. She survived and thrived.

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I remember being disappointed with it when it came out. I loved The Wild Heart and Bella Donna. But her vocals on Rock a Little were simply too frayed and hoarse. The only performances I like (though like them a lot) are Imperial Hotel and I Sing for the Things. In both cases, increased hoarseness works in favor of the songs.

Talk to Me and I Can't Wait were big hits, but I was embarrassed by them. They felt like commercial calculations and lacked the originality that made Stand Back and Edge of 17 what they were.

HAEWAFY has turned out to be a classic, though her original studio version of the song is weak. Compare it to the epic performance on storytellers in 1998!

I remember being even more disappointed with The Other Side of the Mirror. And, if I'm being honest, her appearance played a part in my disappointment, too. She looked ragged in 1985 and then, by 1988, she was sadly overweight and over processed. She seemed like a parody herself.

My disillusionment changed, however, back into admiration when I heard her performance of Sometimes It's a Bitch. Bon Jovi's song is mediocre, but her reading of it was so convincing I remember thinking, "she's found herself again." She may have been overweight and zombied out for Street Angel, but the lead track, Blue Denim, was so well done that I didn't care what she looked like. In fact, the strength of her voice led me to realize all the gossamer beauty of yore was just one flimsy aspect of her greater talent.

Then, TISL became her best album since The Wild Heart. And IYD is, to my way of thinking, her best work. She survived and thrived.

I felt pretty much as you did, although i wasn't "embarrassed by "talk to me" or "i can't wait". I just remember hearing "talk to me" the first time and thinking that it didn't sound like a stevie song and her voice was different. I didn't really care for it. It was the first in a succession of moments that i actually was let down and somewhat worried lol. was my favorite high-priestess chanteuse losing her touch? I bought the album when it came out and didn't love it, tbh. i thought it sounded so unlike her previous material and that the music sounded too "funky" as though she had been too inspired by prince. where were the gypsys and sisters of the moons and bella donnas? aside from "i can't wait" (which you mention you were embarrassed by but i loved it. i thought it worked well for the time period and was very catchy. actually LOVED that song at that time. still do for what it's worth) and "no spoken word" was classic updated stevie. maybe "if i were you" was ok as well. i guess "i sing for the things" was alright as well. but, as i said, it just sounded like such a departure for her. i still never listen to it all the way through. sounds disjointed. idk.

i am in the minority but i actually liked TOSOTM even when it came out. just something about the songs and her singing agreed with me. yes, there are a few clunkers on there but it sounded more like stevie to me than RAL. Live - that was a different story. i saw her up at saratoga in ny and she was frozen and unemotional. i thought she had stage fright but also remember hearing that she had gone to betty ford a few years back and that pretty much explained it. of course, we didn't know about the klonopin back then.

blue denim...everything you said. yes! still love that song to this day. shame it didn't take off as it should have but she was pretty much a dinosaur/nonlegend at that point. that all changed after the dance.

my 2 cents

ps...i should add that i have come to love the track "rock a little" through the years especially after hearing the extended, alternate vocal mix that came out at the time. and HAEWAFY is def a classic although i didn't quite get it at the time. and, she ended her concerts with that back then (saw her twice in 1986) and i thought it was a bit of a downer.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by joe

I felt pretty much as you did, although i wasn't "embarrassed by "talk to me" or "i can't wait". I just remember hearing "talk to me" the first time and thinking that it didn't sound like a stevie song and her voice was different. I didn't really care for it. It was the first in a succession of moments that i actually was let down and somewhat worried lol. was my favorite high-priestess chanteuse losing her touch? I bought the album when it came out and didn't love it, tbh. i thought it sounded so unlike her previous material and that the music sounded too "funky" as though she had been too inspired by prince. where were the gypsys and sisters of the moons and bella donnas? aside from "i can't wait" (which you mention you were embarrassed by but i loved it. i thought it worked well for the time period and was very catchy. actually LOVED that song at that time. still do for what it's worth) and "no spoken word" was classic updated stevie. maybe "if i were you" was ok as well. i guess "i sing for the things" was alright as well. but, as i said, it just sounded like such a departure for her. i still never listen to it all the way through. sounds disjointed. idk.

i am in the minority but i actually liked TOSOTM even when it came out. just something about the songs and her singing agreed with me. yes, there are a few clunkers on there but it sounded more like stevie to me than RAL. Live - that was a different story. i saw her up at saratoga in ny and she was frozen and unemotional. i thought she had stage fright but also remember hearing that she had gone to betty ford a few years back and that pretty much explained it. of course, we didn't know about the klonopin back then.

blue denim...everything you said. yes! still love that song to this day. shame it didn't take off as it should have but she was pretty much a dinosaur/nonlegend at that point. that all changed after the dance.

my 2 cents

ps...i should add that i have come to love the track "rock a little" through the years especially after hearing the extended, alternate vocal mix that came out at the time. and HAEWAFY is def a classic although i didn't quite get it at the time. and, she ended her concerts with that back then (saw her twice in 1986) and i thought it was a bit of a downer.

Thanks for the thoughtful response! I love when people share on that level.

What I meant by being embarrassed by "Talk To Me" and "I Can't Wait" is that for the first time since she had started her solo career, she appeared to be chasing hits for the sake of having hits. Previously, she was successful by being no one else but herself. But perhaps this was her new self and I just didn't like it.

FWIW: Your not alone in loving "I Can't Wait." I remember seeing her in 1985 at an outdoor concert to promote RAL. When that song started the crowd went NUTS. I was surprised. I thought everyone thought like I did: I was only 14

[iamnotafraid]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

And IYD is, to my way of thinking, her best work...

Crack is dangerous.

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

Thanks for the thoughtful response! I love when people share on that level.

What I meant by being embarrassed by "Talk To Me" and "I Can't Wait" is that for the first time since she had started her solo career, she appeared to be chasing hits for the sake of having hits. Previously, she was successful by being no one else but herself. But perhaps this was her new self and I just didn't like it.

FWIW: Your not alone in loving "I Can't Wait." I remember seeing her in 1985 at an outdoor concert to promote RAL. When that song started the crowd went NUTS. I was surprised. I thought everyone thought like I did: I was only 14

got it. i agree as well about "talk to me" and why it just never appealed to me, especially when i first heard it. it sounded generic, and yes, for the first time sounded like she was going more for hits than anything else. however, when i saw her live that year "talk to me" was better live than on the record.

oh, and i must clarify that prince is amazing and i have nothing but admiration and respect for him. i still love a lot of those songs from the '80s that he put out. i just didn't want stevie's music to sound like his.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by iamnotafraid

Crack is dangerous.

I'm missing a quip here. I plead ignorance.