Dave mentions Stevie's "forthcoming album" in new Billboard article

[Phil]

Well we now realise that the projected March 1 release date will not be forthcoming and this is understandable given that recording (with Lindsey) was still occurring as recently as this month. The constant interruptions to this project (due to Dave being overcommitted around the world) have ultimately created delays and made it impossible to meet the targeted timeframe. I'm guessing early May is the likely date now, but I would imagine Dave will push for earlier since he wants to get his own album out and for it to be in conjuction with Stevie's record.

Look, I wanted a release from Stevie this year, whether it was the album or even just a single, but I can be patient and actually prefer that she take the time to get things right. I don't mean tinkering away to the point of perfection, but just that she be totally satisfied with the work. I'm really enthused by a comment from someone who's heard the album, referring to it as not being over-produced, but detailed - that bodes well in my opinion. I'm also digging the idea of it sounding atmospheric, which has been the comment from various people involved in the album.

Louie, I'm sure you'll disagree with me, but I don't think it necessary to be promoting the album months before it's even due, particularly since there is no firm release date at this stage - it could even be in the latter part of 2011, although I sincerely hope that's not the case. Remember, Trouble In Shangri-La was completed as of September 30, 2000 but wasn't released until May 1, 2001 - a period of seven months was deemed necessary in order to bring the album to fruition (artwork; video; marketing etc.). I realise that the marketing campaign back then began in early 2001, but that was when albums were scheduled to have a long shelf life and build momentum after release with successive singles - that doesn't happen anymore in this digital age. Nowadays, an album has one to two weeks to make an impression upon the charts and that's basically it - sad, but true. It's probably more likely that promotion and advertising for Stevie's upcoming album will occur one to two months prior to it's release and we just need to accept that. I for one don't need to be kept informed of every minute detail leading up to the release - I simply trust it will occur as it needs to and also acknowledge that Stevie herself will most likely play a minor role in this matter.

[louielouie2000]

So what I'm hearing is everyone really wants Stevie's new album to be a hit (and thinks it will), but it's okay that Warners hasn't even let it be known there is an album coming out in 3 months? What gives, guys... those two things seem diametrically opposed. Does everyone think my concern about the lack of info from Warner is an assault on Stevie or something? Because I assure you, it's not. I want Stevie's album to get a fair chance on the record charts as much as anybody else.

At the very least, Warner Bros should have a release date posted if this thing is supposed to drop in March. Or update the Stevie section of their website. Neither would take much time or money.

But perhaps you're right, Phil... maybe I'm just basing my assumptions and critiques on the way the record biz USED to work. I just remember how much rumbling we had prior to TISL for several months. I supposed that's a long outmoded model now. But I just keep thinking about all the hype I heard across all forms of media prior to Heart's album that came out earlier this year. So maybe I'm not so off-base after all...

[SapphireSister]

Honestly, I want the album to do well of course but in reality I could care less about the marketing, Grammy nominations, a Stevie Nicks "revival", etc. All I really care about at the end is the music. Ultimately, that's what it's all about. Hype or no hype, good or bad album sales, the question is am I going to like this new music?? I know it's fun to discuss but I honestly have a valid concern that I'm not going to be a huge fan of the music based upon what I've heard which isn't much mind you. I just have an icky feeling, can't explain it and I'm not being negative, it's just my gut feeling.

That being said, I'm sure there will be something I love but overall it's going to be too Dave-Stewart influenced just like TOSOTM was with Rupert Hine and that can really ruin an album if you're not that crazy about the person's overall style and I'm not with Dave Stewart's. Eurythmics, yes. His newer and solo stuff, heck no . Not saying he isn't talented but it's his style of late I'm not digging.
Then again I never liked Sheryl Crow but loved TISL so maybe I'm trippin'!!

[tilthefirefades]

Originally Posted by SapphireSister

Honestly, I want the album to do well of course but in reality I could care less about the marketing, Grammy nominations, a Stevie Nicks "revival", etc. All I really care about at the end is the music. Ultimately, that's what it's all about. Hype or no hype, good or bad album sales, the question is am I going to like this new music?? I know it's fun to discuss but I honestly have a valid concern that I'm not going to be a huge fan of the music based upon what I've heard which isn't much mind you. I just have an icky feeling, can't explain it and I'm not being negative, it's just my gut feeling.

That being said, I'm sure there will be something I love but overall it's going to be too Dave-Stewart influenced just like TOSOTM was with Rupert Hine and that can really ruin an album if you're not that crazy about the person's overall style and I'm not with Dave Stewart's. Eurythmics, yes. His newer and solo stuff, heck no . Not saying he isn't talented but it's his style of late I'm not digging.
Then again I never liked Sheryl Crow but loved TISL so maybe I'm trippin'!!

You just expressed how I feel about this album even better than I could

I can take one or two Dave duets on the album, that's understandable. What I hope is that it doesn't become basically a Dave Stewart featuring Stevie Nicks album.

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by Phil

Well we now realise that the projected March 1 release date will not be forthcoming and this is understandable given that recording (with Lindsey) was still occurring as recently as this month. The constant interruptions to this project (due to Dave being overcommitted around the world) have ultimately created delays and made it impossible to meet the targeted timeframe. I'm guessing early May is the likely date now, but I would imagine Dave will push for earlier since he wants to get his own album out and for it to be in conjuction with Stevie's record.

Look, I wanted a release from Stevie this year, whether it was the album or even just a single, but I can be patient and actually prefer that she take the time to get things right. I don't mean tinkering away to the point of perfection, but just that she be totally satisfied with the work. I'm really enthused by a comment from someone who's heard the album, referring to it as not being over-produced, but detailed - that bodes well in my opinion. I'm also digging the idea of it sounding atmospheric, which has been the comment from various people involved in the album.

Louie, I'm sure you'll disagree with me, but I don't think it necessary to be promoting the album months before it's even due, particularly since there is no firm release date at this stage - it could even be in the latter part of 2011, although I sincerely hope that's not the case. Remember, Trouble In Shangri-La was completed as of September 30, 2000 but wasn't released until May 1, 2001 - a period of seven months was deemed necessary in order to bring the album to fruition (artwork; video; marketing etc.). I realise that the marketing campaign back then began in early 2001, but that was when albums were scheduled to have a long shelf life and build momentum after release with successive singles - that doesn't happen anymore in this digital age. Nowadays, an album has one to two weeks to make an impression upon the charts and that's basically it - sad, but true. It's probably more likely that promotion and advertising for Stevie's upcoming album will occur one to two months prior to it's release and we just need to accept that. I for one don't need to be kept informed of every minute detail leading up to the release - I simply trust it will occur as it needs to and also acknowledge that Stevie herself will most likely play a minor role in this matter.

Well the album may be done but they are still working on the video side of it. And I disagree that this album has been full of constant interruptions and has taken a long time. They pretty much did it quickly. Remember, they had to write the songs. They didn't chose songs.

It's obvious she wants people to hear this music. If it doesn't come out in March, it's not her fault. She's proud of this thing and I think Dave is too. He is obviously a nice and will do her right.

[Phil]

I'm not concerned about Stevie's upcoming album having "hit potential", rather I'm just hopeful it contains brilliance. I'd certainly like it to do well for her sake and also to encourage future output, but I don't think it stands much of a chance given the myriad reasons previously discussed during this thread.

Louie, I certainly understand your concerns, but I'm just thinking it's a little too soon at this stage for any major press involvement, particularly since I suspect the advertising campaign is currently being formulated. If that's the case, we can't expect to hear/see anything for another month or two. I do, however, think that whilst Dave's around, he will ensure we get something here and there, but ultimately it comes down to whether Stevie sanctions these morsels or not.

I have had high hopes for this Stevie/Dave collaboration from the outset and am not assuming anything - positive or negative - based on the snippet of "Everybody Loves You" that we had heard. I have faith in Dave's skills as an arranger, producer, co-writer and mentor, but I have always thought this project will stand or fall due to Stevie's songwriting (particularly lyric-wise) and vocal ability.

I was worried about Dave's continual absences and the interruptions to proceedings, but then I thought it might be an opportunity for Stevie to obtain perspective during the process and refine her lyrics as needed, particularly since the co-writes with Dave were composed so quickly. I might be the only one feeling this way, but I am majorly concerned about Stevie presenting her poetry in all it's glory, unedited and "telling a story" ("The Solider's Angel" anyone?). I hope and I pray that she has been tinkering with her lyrics throughout the ten months or so that the project has been evolving. Trotters crossed.

I'm in the minority when I say I believe Stevie can still cut it vocally, but it all comes down to whether or not she can be bothered reaching for the notes and allowing an intensity to permeate her delivery. Too often she holds back because she's always considering whether she will be able to replicate the vocal onstage - an attitude that is particularly strange given that she rarely performs many songs from a new collection upon it's release. Don't misunderstand me, I don't want her straining for notes like she did on much of the "Say You Will" album - I'm more than satisfied with her lower register, but I want to know she's actually feeling it this time around. If she cares to entertain a falsetto vocal here and there (as we know she can within the security of a studio), that would be more than welcomed, but I don't want lazy vocals or the dreaded autotune. Dave is renowned for eliciting a great vocal from the artists he works with and tends to favour a nice reverby approach, which definitely suits our girl. Here's hoping. Have I cheered you up Louie?

PS This is total speculation, but I keep wondering if Lindsey's contribution may have been to "Annabel Lee"? I know people think it must be a remake of something from the "Buckingham Nicks" album, most probably "Frozen Love", but I was thinking about this the other day and it occurred to me that Lindsey would have been privy to Stevie's compostion from all those years ago. Given that she wrote her part when she was 17yo, she would have most likely made him aware of it's existence so I can imagine her wanting him to be a part of this particular recording. I can definitely hear his vocal harmony and playing on this track. I wonder...

[gypsy4life]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

But I just keep thinking about all the hype I heard across all forms of media prior to Heart's album that came out earlier this year. So maybe I'm not so off-base after all...

I was JUST thinking about this today, Louie, and you are right!
I was following blogs and tweets for months before the release of Red Velvet Car, however, I think many of those outlets were fan created and maintained, and the updates were on play, repeat mode, until the next official update.

It was exciting, however, to receive any info from the blogs and tweets during the process.

Maybe some of us fans should create Twitter accounts and blogs promoting the album.....I can even remember receiving a tweet when the title of Heart's album was decided upon, so, the fan based promotion was going strong in the infancy of the album.

Just a thought...

[gypsy4life]

Originally Posted by Phil

I'm in the minority when I say I believe Stevie can still cut it vocally

I'm right with you!

[Phil]

Jondalar, I don't think this album has taken that long in the scheme of things - I was simply pointing out that there have been delays througout the process and that if Dave had been available for a consecutive stretch of time, it may have been released much earlier, possibly even this year. I'm guessing that the total time Stevie and Dave have actually spent together during this project would be closer to 2 or 3 months, but it has been stretched out to the better part of a year due to Dave's absences and also Stevie's brief set of concert dates.

I also acknowledge that the visual side of things will play a part in the promotional campaign and the documentary that Dave has filmed will take time to properly produce and edit. It will all hopefully be worth the wait.

[sorcerer999]

I have a quick question to anyone out there who has a SUPER memory. What month (or more specifically, month and day) did Warners say that TISL was going to be released on May 1st, 2001? Did they announce this back in 2000 or was it after the beginning of 2001?

[MacMan]

Originally Posted by sorcerer999

I have a quick question to anyone out there who has a SUPER memory. What month (or more specifically, month and day) did Warners say that TISL was going to be released on May 1st, 2001? Did they announce this back in 2000 or was it after the beginning of 2001?

^^ I don't know your answer on TISL... but for comparison on announcements of release vs actual release dates... Reprise announced the March 27, 2007 release date for Stevie's "Best of" thru a press release on Feb 3, 2007.

On the Live in Chicago DVD and the CD - the official announcement by Reprise again through press release, came at the beginning of March, 2009 saying the release date was March 31, 2009 - so a shorter window.

It's too expensive to start mounting a promotional campaign now, months away from release.. All that cash spent needs to be recouped from cd sales... Plus we don't even really know specifically when it's going to be released.. March was the earliest date talked about, but it could fall anywhere between March and May - who knows... There was a good amount of press in the fall setting up the release, everyone mentioned it.... Plus Stevie made her audiences aware at each show.. so the seeds been planted, and she made those aware that matter the most.... It'll come together.

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by sorcerer999

I have a quick question to anyone out there who has a SUPER memory. What month (or more specifically, month and day) did Warners say that TISL was going to be released on May 1st, 2001? Did they announce this back in 2000 or was it after the beginning of 2001?

They announced it in late 2000... because I remember it being I think 8 months from the official announce until the release date.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by sorcerer999

I have a quick question to anyone out there who has a SUPER memory. What month (or more specifically, month and day) did Warners say that TISL was going to be released on May 1st, 2001? Did they announce this back in 2000 or was it after the beginning of 2001?

Up until the official press releases began surfacing in the 2nd week of February 2001 we had no confirmed actual release date. Only confirmation from Stevie that the record was done around the Arizona Heart Benefit Sept. 2000 and the title of course.

RS was the 1st to report the release date with a small article on Feb.10, 2001, followed by small mentions on Yahoo Music & other various music websites and then on Feb. 17th Billboard Magazine showcased a very detailed article about TISL's marketing and release titled Reprise's Stevie Nicks Returns With Crow In Tow .

The 1st single "Everyday" began streaming on a Reprise/Warner site in March, with POTU following about 2 weeks thereafter. It was also nice that we had "Touched By An Angel" to tie us over as it was released on the Sweet November soundtrack Feb. 6th 2001.

[RockALittle250]

Another thing also, Dave said on his Twitter today that he and Stevie are currently in the process of filming the "Cheaper Than Free" music video, which appears on both of their albums, so I suspect an official announcement of the release dates of both of their albums is not too far off.

And remember, regarding the buzz around Stevie's album, Dave said come 2011, "BOOM", meaning, we will have much more info given to us in the next few weeks.

[Oooh Missionary]

This is so exciting...

Can't wait for them to blow the lid off and give us a definitive release date.