"Well, I wonder what Greta would say..." A Street Angel Appreciation Thread

[drzubritsky]

Street Angel is Stevie's most underrated album IMO and undeserving of the terrible reputation it has garnered via ruthless criticism by both Stevie and fans. It's not perfect by any means, but it has quite a few strong songs, good vocals and nice, organic-sounding production that has aged much better than many of her other albums.

I think the album's critical and commercial failure is mainly due to a handful of factors that worked against it in 1994:
- Its back-to-basics L.A.-sounding production was out of step with the music trends of 1994
- Stevie herself was perceived as passe at that time
- Lack of a killer single to stir radio interest. Actually, TOSOTM didn't have a truly killer single, either, but there was still enough career momentum for "Rooms on Fire' to chart well.
- A few weak moments seem to overshadow all the strengths of the album for many fans (I'm referring to the "chimpanzee" line in "Jane", the ill-advised cover of "Just Like A Woman", and the rather lame "Unconditional Love")
- "Docklands", while an interesting and unusual cover choice, was viewed as too "non-Stevie"

It's a shame that so many people seem fixated on the album's flaws because its strongest moments are right up there with Stevie's best.

[vivfox]

Greta was a song I sang and played often in the 1990's. I had the demo before the album came out, actually all the SA demos. Most times I prefer demos over released versions. My favorite track on the album is Love Is Like A River. I loved Docklands too. However I think the reason a lot of fans did not embrace Docklands is because they could not envision Stevie going to a laundrymat.

The demos for these three songs are better than the album versions, IMO.
Also the demo for Listen To The Rain kicks the ass of the released version as well.

But I do want to say that I enjoyed this album very much. Still do. There's only two songs on the CD I will skip: the Dylan cover and Jane.

[Oooh Missionary]

I've been going through a Street Angel phase all week. *revives fantastic thread*

Remind me why this look wasn't fully utlized for the sleeve art:



She looks beautiful.

[Nikolaj]

I don't think 'Street Angel' is notably horrible, it has good moments. For sure, 'SA'is not her definitive, shining hour, but I don't see anything about 'SA' that is so glaringly unStevie not to spin it now and then.
If one likes SN, there is material on 'SA' to be appreciated. For those who don't like her, they wouldn't have liked 'SA' anyway.
If it weren't for the 'Just Like A Woman' vocal being such a wasted opportunity, - for you, Viv- I'd say it's not all that different from any of her other albums.
(I had been very excited to hear her version of 'Just Like A Woman' for well over a year- it was her first recorded cover version of a very well-known song, a song I love, and I 'envisioned' her take on it would be torchy, gorgeous and very interpretive. I thought she'd make it her own and that it could be a perfect fit of great singer singing a great song. I couldn't wait to hear it. Then, I heard it!)
Otherwise, SA is not such a letdown. I don't find 'TISL' to be such a vast improvement over 'SA' either, at all.
I like all her albums, but with each one, there are tracks I prefer to skip over.
'SA' has a number of good songs and good vocals.

[louielouie2000]

I think there is a good amount of very strong material on Street Angel, and I enjoyed the album since the first time I listened to it. The material is immediately accessible. To me, it's Stevie's straight-forward return to rock album where she stripped off all the shawls and overwrought silliness of Other Side Of The Mirror.

Blue Denim is one of my favorite songs of Stevie's, period. Greta is quirky and fun. The title track is haunting and beautiful. Listen To The Rain is a great little uptempo song. Love Is Like A River is one of my favorite Stevie rockers of all time. The passion of the vocal and lyrics both are just something I can't get enough of. Stevie was really feeling intensely when she wrote that one. Kick It is such a cool song... realizing she's addicted to love just like she has been addicted to substances. There is a lot of empowerment on this album. A lot of facing cold hard realities head on. I just totally respect this album, and that's not something I can say about all of Stevie's works (I'm looking at you, Wild Heart! ).

Yes, Street Angel certainly has it's flaws. But it's flaws almost make it more human and real to me; accessible. And I think every single one of Stevie's albums has multiple stinkers. Street Angel is certainly no exception. And I will admit, the stinkers on this album are of an even lower grade than her usual stinkers . But to me, they don't poison the quality of the other extremely strong tracks on this album. I for one love Street Angel, and am so glad we have it.

[mikebise]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

Yes, Street Angel certainly has it's flaws. But it's flaws almost make it more human and real to me; accessible. And I think every single one of Stevie's albums has multiple stinkers. Street Angel is certainly no exception. And I will admit, the stinkers on this album are of an even lower grade than her usual stinkers . But to me, they don't poison the quality of the other extremely strong tracks on this album. I for one love Street Angel, and am so glad we have it.

Oh, WOW, I love the way you wrote this!! I am SO glad we have Street Angel, too!

[QUOTE=louielouie2000;929277] Love Is Like A River is one of my favorite Stevie rockers of all time. The passion of the vocal and lyrics both are just something I can't get enough of. Stevie was really feeling intensely when she wrote that one. [/QUOTE/]

You and me, both! I've heard so many people who just hate "Love Is Like A River", but I think it's so fun. And Stevie's voice is wicked!!!!

[mikebise]

Originally Posted by Nikolaj

If one likes SN, there is material on 'SA' to be appreciated. For those who don't like her, they wouldn't have liked 'SA' anyway.

Fantastic!

This quote should be saved for Stevie's new album as well!

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by mikebise

You and me, both! I've heard so many people who just hate "Love Is Like A River", but I think it's so fun. And Stevie's voice is wicked!!!!

Yeah, I just don't get the nearly universal hatred for Love Is Like A River, either. Stevie's just so fiery and passionate on that song, I don't see how that escapes people's appreciation. The song is basically about suddenly waking up and realizing you're in a bad relationship where you've lost your way and personal identity for someone who just wasn't worth it, and being ANGRY with yourself for it. I think we've all been there. I just totally love this song. The way it winds itself up to a boil, Stevie's angry lyrics, and passionate vocal... it's good stuff!

[mikebise]

The lyrics are SO spot-on, it's almost scary! I love how Stevie described the song to Mark & Brian (or was it Jim?):
"You think my life is too wild? MY life?! Compared to, what? Your lifestyle?!"

I love the music, all the guitars... And, YES, Stevie's mix/production is BETTER than that flaccid Glyn Johns cheap-sounding thing!

And, of course, the Stevie Wail.... Priceless!!!

[mitzo]

I have no favourites from this album and most of it is bad Stevie, to me. Bad choices of cover songs, bad songwriting with no hooks (especially lyrics- there's no beauty and the beast here? change with the wind but they're always bright? roses danglin' down to the ground? I fell down the stairs a broken rag doll?), and dismal disjointed production. I hate the way the guitar-and-percussion-heavy music make bad songs even worse. My biggest disappointment is Destiny, a touching and potentially beautiful song marred hopelessly ill-conceived music - why the poppy jerky start-and-stop percussion-heavy stuff on a song full of yearning and loss. I mean, Jesus.
I can handle several cuts from it, but there are no Stevie moments in it at all. Just a misbegotten project overall. My all-time least fave Stevie songs are in this collection: Street Angel, Blue Denim, Love Is Like a River, Rose Garden, and the rest mediocre. It made me dig deep to stay a fan. Sorry, just my opinion.

[priestofnothing]

Originally Posted by mikebise

BTW, are there outtakes of the actual album cover shots? Not other photo shoots (which have some amazing pics of Stevie ~ brown wigs and all!), but actual other photos from when the official front & back cover were taken?

[mikebise]

Oh, WOW!!! Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!!!! Exactly what I was asking Santa for!

It's a Christmas Miracle!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn, it would be fun to have these photos included in a deluxe version of Street Angel!

[Phil]

I have no favourites from this album and most of it is bad Stevie, to me. Bad choices of cover songs, bad songwriting with no hooks (especially lyrics- there's no beauty and the beast here? change with the wind but they're always bright? roses danglin' down to the ground? I fell down the stairs a broken rag doll?), and dismal disjointed production. I hate the way the guitar-and-percussion-heavy music make bad songs even worse. My biggest disappointment is Destiny, a touching and potentially beautiful song marred hopelessly ill-conceived music - why the poppy jerky start-and-stop percussion-heavy stuff on a song full of yearning and loss. I mean, Jesus.
I can handle several cuts from it, but there are no Stevie moments in it at all. Just a misbegotten project overall. My all-time least fave Stevie songs are in this collection: Street Angel, Blue Denim, Love Is Like a River, Rose Garden, and the rest mediocre. It made me dig deep to stay a fan. Sorry, just my opinion.

Mitzo, I'm in almost total agreement with you, except that I do like "Blue Denim" (album version) and "Street Angel" (Glyn Johns version), although I concede that both could be infinitely improved. I also have a soft spot for "Greta" (Glyn Johns version) and "Kick It" (album version), but neither are exactly perfection. As for the remaining songs, well none of them rate a mention in my opinion.

"Street Angel", the album, pinpoints the nadir of Stevie's career in terms of shallow songwriting (nauseatingly poor lyrics), listless vocals and the dim realisation that she was for the first time in her career, most definitely out of her league regarding the musical climate at the time. I'm not referring to fashion or trends, but simply that she couldn't hold her own as an artist, whereas in the past her sheer talent as a singer/songwriter had transcended all thoughts of whether she was contemporary or not - it had previously worked to her advantage, but not any more. She had become a joke and she knew it. Nowhere to run or hide from this catastrophic mess... it was time to retreat and that is what she did.

Oh and I also detest the heavy guitar and percussion production - it's tasteless and awful, no matter what the era. It's the sound of desperation and concession, on every level. This is the only Stevie album I never listen to, which actually pains me. I have attempted doing so on quite a few occasions, but become so utterly depressed that I have to abort each and every session. Atrociously bad.

[Dodfather]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I think there is a good amount of very strong material on Street Angel, and I enjoyed the album since the first time I listened to it. The material is immediately accessible. To me, it's Stevie's straight-forward return to rock album where she stripped off all the shawls and overwrought silliness of Other Side Of The Mirror.

Blue Denim is one of my favorite songs of Stevie's, period. Greta is quirky and fun. The title track is haunting and beautiful. Listen To The Rain is a great little uptempo song. Love Is Like A River is one of my favorite Stevie rockers of all time. The passion of the vocal and lyrics both are just something I can't get enough of. Stevie was really feeling intensely when she wrote that one. Kick It is such a cool song... realizing she's addicted to love just like she has been addicted to substances. There is a lot of empowerment on this album. A lot of facing cold hard realities head on. I just totally respect this album, and that's not something I can say about all of Stevie's works (I'm looking at you, Wild Heart! ).

Yes, Street Angel certainly has it's flaws. But it's flaws almost make it more human and real to me; accessible. And I think every single one of Stevie's albums has multiple stinkers. Street Angel is certainly no exception. And I will admit, the stinkers on this album are of an even lower grade than her usual stinkers . But to me, they don't poison the quality of the other extremely strong tracks on this album. I for one love Street Angel, and am so glad we have it.

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

Yeah, I just don't get the nearly universal hatred for Love Is Like A River, either. Stevie's just so fiery and passionate on that song, I don't see how that escapes people's appreciation. The song is basically about suddenly waking up and realizing you're in a bad relationship where you've lost your way and personal identity for someone who just wasn't worth it, and being ANGRY with yourself for it. I think we've all been there. I just totally love this song. The way it winds itself up to a boil, Stevie's angry lyrics, and passionate vocal... it's good stuff!

louie - you've put the case for Street Angel here in a way that I completely agree with. Yes, there are so,me very poor songs on here but they are balanced with underrated tunes like Blue Denim, Maybe Love, Kick It, Love Is Like A River (I've always really liked it) and Listen To The Rain. In my strangest moments I even sometimes quite like her Dylan cover. The same cannot be said for Jane or Unconditional Love though....just bad!

Of course, it's the artwok that surely everyone can agree is just awful! lol

[mitzo]

Originally Posted by Phil

Mitzo, I'm in almost total agreement with you, except that I do like "Blue Denim" (album version) and "Street Angel" (Glyn Johns version), although I concede that both could be infinitely improved. I also have a soft spot for "Greta" (Glyn Johns version) and "Kick It" (album version), but neither are exactly perfection. As for the remaining songs, well none of them rate a mention in my opinion.

"Street Angel", the album, pinpoints the nadir of Stevie's career in terms of shallow songwriting (nauseatingly poor lyrics), listless vocals and the dim realisation that she was for the first time in her career, most definitely out of her league regarding the musical climate at the time. I'm not referring to fashion or trends, but simply that she couldn't hold her own as an artist, whereas in the past her sheer talent as a singer/songwriter had transcended all thoughts of whether she was contemporary or not - it had previously worked to her advantage, but not any more. She had become a joke and she knew it. Nowhere to run or hide from this catastrophic mess... it was time to retreat and that is what she did.

Oh and I also detest the heavy guitar and percussion production - it's tasteless and awful, not matter what the era. It's the sound of desperation and concession, on every level. This is the only Stevie album I never listen to, which actually pains me. I have attempted doing so on quite a few occasions, but become so utterly depressed that I have to abort each and every session. Atrociously bad.

So true - where was the Stevie I loved before? The irresistible hooks and way out there vocals, the surprises and the strange beauty of her music? SA, following from TOSTM, showed her floundering in an ebbtide of mediocrity, partly imitating her former self badly, partly reaching for something contemporary and hit-like, with grim lack of success. Whether it was the drugs and rehabs or the sinking album sales, or both, I don't know. But the shabby production and deadly songs on SA are just sad. Why oh why, I wonder now as I see what I know that I didn't know then, didn't she pick the most poignant and engaging of her demos and vault songs and get some complex arrangements around them instead of this? Why didn't she just own the fact that she had been through personal hell and make that into an album theme? It could have been full of songs, lyrics, vocals, and arrangements that would have sent shivers up my spine. SA instead made me keep pushing the "skip" button many times, trying to listen to it again and again, and then finally filing the album away under "what's done is done."