Sandy Stewart question

[demoguy]

Hello everyone, I have a question about Sandy Stewart. Does anyone know what she's doing lately? Other than the obvious (Cat Dancer LP, Blue Yonder LP) does anyone know of any other projects she's worked on (Besides the stuff with Stevie)? I heard a long time ago about a demo "Too attached to you" existed, anyone heard of it? Kinda hard to find out anything about her. Any help is appreciated.

[iamstevienicks]

Whats 'Catdancer' like? I want it, for the obvious reasons, but is it any good?

[demoguy]

It's a great album, I bought it the day it was released in Feb.1984, it never came out on CD. Several songs with SN, the best being the duet with SS called "I Pretend". Sandy was from Houston TX, lived in Riveroaks area (anyone from Houston out there?) and had a falling out with SN and the LP was never promoted the way it should have been by Modern Rec. - it had one 45 single "Saddest Victory" (Prophetic, Irony...) and one video for that song. I happened to tape it off MTV at the time, never to be seen again. SS called me (I've still got the ans. machine tape with the message) and I never heard from her again. Her sophomore effort "Blue Yonder" LP without SN wasn't as good, but not bad either. Just wondering if anyone else knows what happened to SS, seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth!

[Johnny Stew]

Hi Demoguy,

I really don't have any new info on Sandy, but it appears that her career is now focused on songwriting, as opposed to also recording.

Since 1984, Stevie has recorded several songs that Sandy has written or co-written ("Seven Wonders," "Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind," "Unconditional Love," and "Too Far From Texas")... so whatever falling out they may have had, must have been patched up.

Besides Stevie, she's also worked with Tina Turner, Phil Collins, and Belinda Carlisle, among others.


Sorry I don't have more info!



Johnny Stew

[demoguy]

Thanks for the info, Johnny. I don't think SS ever got her due for her talent. Hopefully she will make a new CD sometime and we can hear something new from her. The Blue Yonder LP came out in 1985 and she hasn't had any solo stuff since, that I know about. Too Bad! Thanks again for the info.

[DWIG]

Hi
I read your message with great interest. I also bought the 'Cat Dancers' album all those years ago, the day it was released (I remember paying £9.99 for it, as a US import! and still have it in pristine condition!) It is one of my all time favourite albums and I have also searched for info about SS with little success (amazing to think that she actually called you though!). I also bought the Blue Yonder album on its release and love that album too!
The only real thing I can add to the other messages is that her songwriting partner David Munday now writes and records with Natalie Imbruglia, and I tried that avenue too, with no success!
I also love some of Sandy's work with other artists, such as Belinda Carlisle, Tina Turner, etc (i have a few others but can't think of them at the minute!)
I do hope somebody manages to get some news about what SS is up to, because I love her voice and songwriting skills!
(I heard from somenbody that she spent a while living in London, not sure if this is true!)
Anyone???????
DaveUK
oh, i just remembered something
Sandy sang on a song on Shea Segar's last album, called 'Blind situation', which is amazing.

[FiercestCalmSea]

Wow i didn't realize she was on Shea's album...and that is one of my favorite songs too...I am gonna have to grab the cd and listen to it on the way to work npw..thanks for the info...

[David]

Originally posted by demoguy
Sandy was from Houston TX, lived in Riveroaks area (anyone from Houston out there?) and had a falling out with SN [snip]

Word was at the time that Stevie sang all over Sandy's tracks, but Sandy decided to cut Stevie's vocals back to just a couple of tracks for the final album & this caused the rift.

I figured the rift was patched up once Stevie told the press in 1987 that her "good friend" Sandy Stewart sent her a song to do & Stevie submitted it for Fleetwood Mac's album.

Sandy made a dumb move. I wish that "Cat Dancer" album had Stevie Nicks all over it. I listened to it again a year or two after it was released, & thought it sounded terribly dated & the production is not very interesting.

[demoguy]

Hi Dave,
Wow! I can't believe there are other SS fans out there. A little story: After hearing the Cat Dancer LP and loving it, I wrote a letter to SS C/O Modern Records, telling her that I heard about the rift between her and SN (it had just happened at the time, and few knew about it), and I guess she was surprised that some stranger knew about something personal that had happened between her and Stevie. That's probably why she called me, to find out who the heck I was and how I knew this! Unfortunately, I wasn't home when she called and my answering machine picked it up, and when I came home, there was this message from her. I was shocked to say the least. She said she'd call back, but never did. I even wrote another letter, but never heard from her again. Ah, the disappointment...
I think she's talented (and very cute)...ever see the video for "Saddest Victory"? Wow.
I listened to the Cat Dancer cassette in my car every day on my way to work for almost a year. Must have heard it over 500 times...never got tired of it. I made a CD out of it last year and still listen to it occasionally. Blue Yonder wasn't quite as good, but still very good.
I had some Cat Dancer Posters I sold a few years ago, they were rare, but not a lot of demand.
Of course I still have the Cat Dancer LP and Original Cassette, as well as the Saddest Victory 45 with Picture Sleeve, and the Blue Yonder LP, all in perfect condition.
I'd like to stay in contact with you! Maybe between us we can find out where SS is and get in touch with her and let her know she does have some fans out there still. Anyone else out there a fan? Let's hear from you!

[iamstevienicks]

Originally posted by DWIG
oh, i just remembered something
Sandy sang on a song on Shea Segar's last album, called 'Blind situation', which is amazing.

Wonderful, I didnt realise anyone else knew who Shea was

Do u know what Shea is up to Dave?

[DWIG]

demoguy,
that's a great idea, i would love to stay in contact.
I disagree about the Blue Yonder album, though. I think it is a step forward, and out from under Stevie's wings. I used to have the cassette of that album, but sent it to someone, so they could put it onto CD for me (which they did! but didn't return the cassette).
Maybe we could compare the stuff we have. I will have to rack my brains to think of the stuff i have (have you heard Stevie's demo '0ne more tomorrow'?). Did you know about the Shea Segar track (i think that is the latest thing - i also have a track by a singer called victoria matthews - i think is her name - called 'Friday's child). What did Sandy say when she rang you?
I love the sound of Stevie's and Sandy's voices together - i don't think i have ever heard Stevie sing with anyone more suited to her voice.
I have never seen the 'Saddest victory' video. What happens in the vid? Is Stevie in it?
Have you heard the version of Are you mine - where Stevie sings with Sandy and, i think lori or Sharon?
Send me you r e mail and we will keep in touch.
Dave

[DWIG]

sorry forgot to reply to iamstevienicks' question!!
I sent a couple of messages to Shea's message board to try to trace some info about Sandy Stewart, but didn't get any replies. I know she has a fairly good website, so you should check it out for the latest news.
Cheers

[demoguy]

Hi Dave, thanks for your reply. The Blue Yonder LP was also very good, don't get me wrong, but I just liked the Cat Dancer LP more. Maybe cause it was drilled into my head by playing it so many times, I dunno. I was able to squeeze both LP's onto one CD so I can hear it all without stopping. Great!!
Never heard of Shea Segar, so I'll be scouring Grokster to find a copy of it. To be honest, I've been out of the FM "limelight", basically out of circulation for about 6 or 7 years, and we didn't have the internet back then to stay in touch with others. So until recently, I haven't done much, and now I'm curious about what's happening with a new generation of FM fans. Meanwhile, I am happy to find another SS fan to share tidbits with.
I didn't know about Victoria Matthews either! I know she (SS) was involved with the "White Nights" soundtrack years ago, but can't remember the name of the song she was on (memory getting weak now...) at least, I think she was on a song there. Geez, I should've written some of this down!!!
When SS called me, as I recall (gotta find that answering machine tape!) she said "Hello, ___, this is Sandy Stewart. I got your letter today and I just wanted to call and thank you. I'm sorry you're not home, I'll call back later, but I was wondering..." and the lousy machine cut her off (it was an old model that would only record 20 seconds of message, and I've cursed it a thousand times since- sent it to an early grave). Never heard back from her. Subsequent attempts to contact her were fruitless. Couldn't use my FM connections, either, because her and SN weren't talking (due to aforementioned rift), so no one inside FM could help, not even John or Mick. I'm still disappointed all these years later that she never called me back!
As for the Saddest Victory Video, it starts with SS standing in the rain in the dark, then a scene of her sitting with the white haired guy from the band (D. Munday?) at a table in a restaurant, scenes of her playing the synth, DM in a phone booth with SS outside leaning against it, ends with a pan out shot of her standing in the rain again with arms outstretched "I'm laying on the ground, I'm laying on the ground...." Great Video, not high concept, but nice to watch (love those pouty lips!!). I haven't been able to watch it in a while but that's what I remember from it. Fueled a few late night fantasies...but let's not get into that!!!
I will try to think what all I have, on SS, it's not much. And it's packed away as I'm moving soon and won't have access to any of my stuff for two or three months. But I will eventually be able to get ahold of it and share what I have with you.
Glad to meet you, e-mail me sometime and stay in touch!

[DWIG]

just remembered, it was wendy matthews not victoria....sorry

[demoguy]

Hi Dave, I D/L that Shea Segar song last night from Grokster, but if SS is on it, couldn't prove it by me. Seems to be some background singer but I don't recognize her voice. Hmm...SheaSegar/SandyStewart - SS&SS? For a minute, I thought maybe she was using an alias, but listening to the song proved that theory wrong. I'll D/L the Wendy Matthews song tonight if I can find it out there. Thanks again, hope to hear from you soon!