What is Stevie's best album of new material since TUSK?

[TrueFaith77]

I feel the last thread went really well in terms of data and comments.
http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?t=41918

(Thank you to Heijira(?) for giving me new ears during my listens to Bella Donna last night and today.)

I just feel that what would be interesting is more precision in the poll options (if less so in the question, which I f'd up, but you get the point).

So anyway, I thought this would be another interesting poll/discussion, rather than just emphasizing SYW.

Vote!
Discuss!

I narrowed the list to the following (so one-offs and collections and Live don't count):

Bella Donna (1981)
Mirage (1982)
The Wild Heart (1983)
Rock a Little (1985)
Tango in the Night (1987)
The Other Side of the Mirror (1989)
Behind the Mask (1990)
Street Angel (1994)
Trouble in Shangri-La (2001)
Say You Will (2003)

[FMlex]

I went with The Wild Heart.

It's virtually a tie though between WH and Bella Donna. With Mirage, RAL, and TISL as close seconds.
Yeah, I'm indecisive.

Ones that I automatically axed: TITN, BTM, and Street Angel.
Bleh.

I don't even know how to communicate my feelings for BD, WH and RAL.
They're like... magical to me. I just love listening to 'em.

I love the majority of TOSOTM as well, but I can't seem to make myself listen to SA. Maybe one of these days.

And I don't know about you guys, but all the italics on my post make me feel nauseated. But the English freak in me won't let me leave them un-italicized. Kaythanksbye!

[Dodfather]

I very nearly went for Trouble In Shangri La because I think it's her best solo album since Bella Donna. Wild Heart has great maments but as a whole album I don't listen to it much.,

When I realised it was since Tusk though I had to go with Bella Donna, it's just wonderful, her best solo record and, for consistency, her best material since Tusk by far. In my opinion most other stuff just has brilliant moments whereas Bella Donna is one long streak of brilliance!

[jbrownsjr]

I remember the day it was released... I could not find it in any record shop in Brook Park, Ohio... So I got on my bike and went all the way to Berea... i was 14.. so if my mom would have found out I would have been seriously busted.. It was miles away.. (no pun intended). I went to "The shop in Berea" and they had one copy... I loved the album cover... My babysitter said, "where did you get that?" I said, "up at the corner" Not sure of the release date.. but I remember it was summer or close to it.

Since then Wild Heart has always been my favorite Stevie solo album. I worked for it.. and I wore it out when I got home...

Good times..

[LikeAWillow]

Originally Posted by Dodfather

Bella Donna is one long streak of brilliance!

Agreed. Wild Heart is my favorite of her solo albums because I can identify so well with the songs, but listening to Bella Donna gives me chills. That mysticism that is so Stevie flows throughout it, but unlike in her later eras, it doesn't feel forced or unnatural. It...captures your soul.

[Matthew]

As an album, I definitely vote for Trouble In Shangri-La. That´s very good album. In each of other albums are great songs, but as complet they aren´t so good like TISL. There are many my favourite songs in TISL album.

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

I remember the day it was released... I could not find it in any record shop in Brook Park, Ohio... So I got on my bike and went all the way to Berea... i was 14.. so if my mom would have found out I would have been seriously busted.. It was miles away.. (no pun intended). I went to "The shop in Berea" and they had one copy... I loved the album cover... My babysitter said, "where did you get that?" I said, "up at the corner" Not sure of the release date.. but I remember it was summer or close to it.

Since then Wild Heart has always been my favorite Stevie solo album. I worked for it.. and I wore it out when I got home...

Good times..

I had a similar experience with The Wild Heart! I don't think I'd ever been so excited about a new album release in my entire life. Since my mother kind of enabled my indulgence in record collecting, she dropped me off at the Kemp Mill Records near the place where I took guitar lessons. After weeks and weeks of playing my "Stand Back b/w Garbo" 45 single to death, I finally saw the LP in the store display and I think I actually squealed when I saw it and ran to it. I'm not sure how many 13-year-old boys the employees ever saw squealing over a new Stevie Nicks album. I think the other album I bought that day was The Police Synchronicity, but I think I may have played that once or twice. The Wild Heart was my one true love that entire summer. To this day I can still sing every single line of every song perfectly in the original key. Granted, it's not quite as effortless as it used to be.

[Black_Moon]

The Wild Heart, definitely. Every song tells a story and it's a cohesive effort, unlike some of her later, more disjointed albums. There isn't a weak song on that album.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

I had a similar experience with The Wild Heart! I don't think I'd ever been so excited about a new album release in my entire life. Since my mother kind of enabled my indulgence in record collecting, she dropped me off at the Kemp Mill Records near the place where I took guitar lessons. After weeks and weeks of playing my "Stand Back b/w Garbo" 45 single to death, I finally saw the LP in the store display and I think I actually squealed when I saw it and ran to it. I'm not sure how many 13-year-old boys the employees ever saw squealing over a new Stevie Nicks album. I think the other album I bought that day was The Police Synchronicity, but I think I may have played that once or twice. The Wild Heart was my one true love that entire summer. To this day I can still sing every single line of every song perfectly in the original key. Granted, it's not quite as effortless as it used to be.

I loved the title track so much.. (and still do).. I also have the Garbo/Stand Back single.... Also had If Anyone Falls single... Not sure if I had Nightbird... but I was mad that it never had a video... They played the crap out of it in the Cleveland market...

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

I remember the day it was released... I could not find it in any record shop in Brook Park, Ohio... So I got on my bike and went all the way to Berea... i was 14.. so if my mom would have found out I would have been seriously busted.. It was miles away.. (no pun intended). I went to "The shop in Berea" and they had one copy... I loved the album cover... My babysitter said, "where did you get that?" I said, "up at the corner" Not sure of the release date.. but I remember it was summer or close to it.

So, you had a baby sitter at 14 years old?

Oh, I'm just bothering you!

Michele

[jrpjr]

i have to say that Bella Donna was the most commercially successful album and it is truely a masterpiece....but The Wild Heart has a bit more of a rough edge to it and the songs...everyone of them...hold a special place for me personally. i was going thru one of the most difficult times of my life back then and in a sense that album kept me grounded and saved me . i listened to it over and over till it was completely scratched...no CD's @ that time but of course got it on CD wen it became available..plus first time ever saw her live and was sooooo mesmerized by her stage presense.....she was at her height w/this album....i still get goose bumps wen i listen to the song wild heart...so rough but yet so perfect...the added synthesisers by sandy stewart gave this album a very exclusive sound...i dont think was ever duplicated again by her..this album hold a special place in my heart....a true gift from a gifted artist...if i could thank her personally for this work... i would..so stevie..if u ever visit this site..thank you so much..u have no idea wat this work of yours means to me...

[Ghost_Tracker]

I didn't even bother to look at the other choices, for me personally, Bella Donna blows away everything in its path. . . . .
I think THAT is Stevie's "little masterpiece."

[chiliD]

TISL. By a RCH over Bella Donna. The solo career "bookends"...IF she never records another solo album, that is.

Wild Heart didn't stick with me other than "Sable On Blond"....and the studio version of "Stand Back" just pales to the recent live versions that it's tough to "go back". The rest sound like sub-par retreads.

Rock A Little...had side one been as strong as side two, this would've been an easier choice...or if she'd just released side two as an EP...but no...we're stuck with the title track, "Imperial Hotel" & "I Sing For The Things" for eternity...pass the barf bucket. Thank GOD for "I Can't Wait", "Talk To Me", "If I Were You", "No Spoken Word", & "HAEWAFY". Those 5 songs are the best she's ever done outside of Fleetwood Mac.

TOSOTM wasn't even considered it's so bad

Street Angel had its moments, but fell short.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by michelej1

So, you had a baby sitter at 14 years old?

Oh, I'm just bothering you!

Michele

I did I was 14 my brothers were 8 and 6...

her name was Janet... and she liked Bob Welch a lot!! lol...

[starshine]

Well I picked Wild Heart...although I'd say BD is right on its heels so to speak. I picked WH cause it really was a more current set list of songs at that time or more up to date....well sort of anyway.....BD did have alot of older songs on it (date written etc.....) but I love each of them in there own right. Than I'd probably pick Mirror cause it'll always have a special place in my heart for thats when I started collecting Stevie /Mac stuff etc....(although it was a yr before in '88 really)....than probably TISL.....RAL ...than SA......I like Mirage the best of the Mac stuff in the 80's & than I'd go with Mask or Tango cause well I dislike the Tango LP.....too me there isn't much love at all ......although Tusk is probably my favorite LP by Mac.....cause its got alot of songs on it....esp by Stevie....anyway....thats IMO.......