Rock A Little turns 40

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by sleepless child

I started think that the nightmare was also about her marriage to Kim. While I liked Rock a Little because I was such a fan, it is the beginning of the fall of her great songwriting. Someone that can write Rhiannon to Beauty and the Beast comes out with The Nightmare? Doesn't compare at all.

Ha Ha. Rolling Stone said "blinded by the light of the day" is no "thunder only happens when it's raining."

When Jeremy and the crew talked about The Nightmare I fell out of my chair when somone asked what Chris Nicks did to deserve to get a co-write and Jeremy says "he brought the same glass table into room" In the 12" version I love at the end of it she keeps saying in a low voice "how dare heeeeeeee how dare heeeeeee"


This is not the world not the world not the real world

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Yes many vocals are bad, yes she did not write many songs, yes it has way too much synth.

I never bought the RAL album, but from what I could hear, I agree that she went too far with the '80s sound, and on top of that, her songwriting talent was practically nonexistent, so the result had to be bad. I admit I liked Talk to Me, but not big deal, and it wasn't enough good to make me buy the album.

But I did buy Go Insane, and I think I only listened to it a couple of times and never again, I didn't like its sound. Interesting that Wikipedia classified it as rock/new wave/synth-pop genre. And RAL as pop rock/synth-rock. I think both Lindsey and Stevie tried to keep up cool with the times but they didn't get it right. Yes the age was against them, too. Specially comparing to young Madonna, Prince, etc. But Phil Collins was was a chubby, bald 34-year-old singer when he released Not Jacked Required in 1985, and he rocked! Not to mention Tina Turner. I guess L&S didn't get it with those albums.

Fortunately, and although many didn't like it because of its 80s feel, Fleetwood Mac didn't go that far with Tango in the Night; in fact, Wikipedia listed it as pop rock/soft rock. Or maybe it's because I really love that album.

[HomerMcvie]

I still ~pretty much~ liked RAL. OSOTM was the dog turd that drove me away.

It's difficult to imagine now, that an "artist" that out of their mind on substances, could continue to have a recording contract. And of course it couldn't be now that people buy 50k copies.

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

It's difficult to imagine now, that an "artist" that out of their mind on substances, could continue to have a recording contract. And of course it couldn't be now that people buy 50k copies.

I've always thought that many times record labels don't care about protecting their artists when they see them falling into drugs, and they squeeze them like oranges until they're no longer financially attractive, because they've lost their talent or gone out of fashion.

Stevie Nicks' name had earned a place in people's minds, so in spite of bad albums, the tours wentwell, or so I read. And thankfully she was able to recover, but if she had continued using drugs, even her tours would have failed.

Whitney wasn't selling records like she used to, but she came back and her tours generated great expectation, but then they were a disappointment; I think they even booed her for her terrible performance. And well, we know how it ended. In her case, I think Clive Davis did try to help her, but when an addict doesn't want to, it's impossible. Stevie was lucky, but she paid the toll anyway; her talent for writing was never the same. Ande her diva behavior, well, say no more.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by Villavic

I've always thought that many times record labels don't care about protecting their artists when they see them falling into drugs, and they squeeze them like oranges until they're no longer financially attractive, because they've lost their talent or gone out of fashion.

Stevie Nicks' name had earned a place in people's minds, so in spite of bad albums, the tours wentwell, or so I read. And thankfully she was able to recover, but if she had continued using drugs, even her tours would have failed.

Whitney wasn't selling records like she used to, but she came back and her tours generated great expectation, but then they were a disappointment; I think they even booed her for her terrible performance. And well, we know how it ended. In her case, I think Clive Davis did try to help her, but when an addict doesn't want to, it's impossible. Stevie was lucky, but she paid the toll anyway; her talent for writing was never the same. Ande her diva behavior, well, say no more.

Her management forced her into rehab which at the time she resented. She left rehab early and fired her management company. They not only saved her life but her career but she did not know it at the time. She was advised by a doctor to stop cocaine immediately but she still went out on the road and did cocaine anyway. Her management did the best they could. They kept her away from interviews and album promotions. She barely got through 2 videos which were considered quite cheap in the day. Its quite shocking what she transformed into. Her HBO Bella Donna show was recorded in December 1981. In July 1986 she was transformed into another person in just 4 years.
Had her management not intervened she would of ended up dead or her career would have majorly suffered. Even in RAL's wackiness it still was successful. It was a slight disappointment compared to the sales of her earlier albums but it still had some success. I think the album still hurt her image though. What made her famous in her own style suddenly she was chasing current trends trying to appear to be hip and younger. When she revealed her neon half gloves at the end of Talk To Me was a major cringe moment.

[bwboy]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Her management forced her into rehab which at the time she resented. She left rehab early and fired her management company. They not only saved her life but her career but she did not know it at the time. She was advised by a doctor to stop cocaine immediately but she still went out on the road and did cocaine anyway. Her management did the best they could. They kept her away from interviews and album promotions. She barely got through 2 videos which were considered quite cheap in the day. Its quite shocking what she transformed into. Her HBO Bella Donna show was recorded in December 1981. In July 1986 she was transformed into another person in just 4 years.
Had her management not intervened she would of ended up dead or her career would have majorly suffered. Even in RAL's wackiness it still was successful. It was a slight disappointment compared to the sales of her earlier albums but it still had some success. I think the album still hurt her image though. What made her famous in her own style suddenly she was chasing current trends trying to appear to be hip and younger. When she revealed her neon half gloves at the end of Talk To Me was a major cringe moment.

I agree with Villavic and think you’re being generous when you speak of her management so highly. Do I think their intervention ultimately saved Stevie’s life? Yes. But notice they did the intervention AFTER she completed her tour. They wanted it both ways, but financial reasons were why they waited to do an intervention, so that paints a different picture of their efforts to help her. “Stevie needs help… but we’ll wait until she finishes her tour first, take our cut of the tour, and then we’ll do an intervention.” And yes, I’m sure Stevie resented them for the intervention, as virtually every person does when an intervention is done. An intervention can be an effective way to convince someone to seek help, but it is basically an ambush, and most people resent being ambushed, even if it’s for a good reason.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by bwboy

I agree with Villavic and think you’re being generous when you speak of her management so highly. Do I think their intervention ultimately saved Stevie’s life? Yes. But notice they did the intervention AFTER she completed her tour. They wanted it both ways, but financial reasons were why they waited to do an intervention, so that paints a different picture of their efforts to help her. “Stevie needs help… but we’ll wait until she finishes her tour first, take our cut of the tour, and then we’ll do an intervention.” And yes, I’m sure Stevie resented them for the intervention, as virtually every person does when an intervention is done. An intervention can be an effective way to convince someone to seek help, but it is basically an ambush, and most people resent being ambushed, even if it’s for a good reason.

I disagree. I don't think it was an ambush. She was in the middle of recording an album for 2 years. She had drivers and she had assistants that kept her in her bubble. Mick wrote in his book that she revealed to him the doctor said she had to stop but no way she could go cold turkey on the road. But she still went. The road just made everything worse. I think they tried to manage her the best way they could. They kept her away from embarrassing interviews and promotions. I think they thought they could manage her but waited until the RAL era was over before really trying to convince her to go. I see it you are trying to have it both ways. They could have not said a word and just kept managing the money. She surrounded herself with YES people. In the perfect world they could have done it right after Wild Heart or not done it at all. You finding fault when it was done is perplexing. Things got so bad that someone had to do something. You work in rehab so you should know that no one can help you if you do not want to be helped.

[Macfan4life]

Did anyone see on the Fleetwood Mac website that RAL is expected to get a re-issue in 2026 just over its 40th anniversary. It mentioned nothing about demos or unreleased tracks. It could be a good opportunity but I am betting it will be a stale re-issue and re-mixing with new art and stuff. But we will see.

From the site:
Release Dates: TBA

2026 brings a major celebration for Rock a Little, which turns 40. Expect high-quality MoFi remastering, expanded artwork, and the first ultra-audiophile editions of this mid-’80s synth-driven classic.

Given the historical success of I Can’t Wait, and Talk to Me, these reissues will likely rank among the most anticipated Stevie Nicks releases of the decade.

[Phoenixgypsy]

I'm excited about the 2026 re-release. I know I'm in the minority but I love the Rock A Little album. I won't hold my breath but here's hoping they include at least The Nightmare remix on this release!