Bella Donna & Wild Heart= End of Story!

[drzubritsky]

Wild Heart is interesting in that it generates pretty strongly divided opinions. I remember my older sister, who was 27 at the time and a fairly strong Stevie fan, buying it upon release and really hating it...too many draggy, mystical songs for her taste. And of course there was that scathing Rolling Stone review by Chris Connelly. While I thought the RS review was unfairly harsh, I could see some of his points.

I like WH for the most part, but I think it could have been much better. I feel it's a mix of a handful of really strong tracks ("Stand Back", "If Anyone Falls", "Wild Heart", "Enchanted") with some fairly pedestrian songs and one pretentious misfire ("Beauty And The Beast" - I know, shoot me, but I just never found this to be the masterpiece that Stevie apparently believes it is). I always considered "Nightbird" to be a near-miss...it has a lovely chorus and some interesting lyrics, but something about the arrangement never quite gelled, and it was my first WTF reaction to a vocal of hers during the first verse.

Essentially, too much of WH is for die-hard Stevie fans only and doesn't connect with casual fans the way the BD songs did. I think if she had swapped some of the lesser cuts ("Gate & Garden", "I Will Run To You", "Sable On Blonde") with stronger material, she would have had sales approaching the Bella Donna mark since she was still a pretty hot commodity at that time.

[jeffd8382]

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

I do wish Love Is Like A River had a certain something, not sure what it is that's missing exactly, but it never sounds complete. Still, it's a favorite of mine.

When I fell in love with Fleetwood Mac & Stevie Nicks' music around the time of The Dance release (I was about 15), the only group I was previously enthralled with was ABBA (from the time I was 12)... known for their very slick production and carefully structured songs. So when I came to listen to Stevie's solo albums, her songwriting style intrigued me... where Benny & Björn's compositions had lyrics thrown together to suit the music; Stevie's music was molded to fit her lyrics/poetry.

I think sometimes you get really interesting/cool results, such as "Battle Of The Dragon", where you have two different verses with the same chord structure, but different melodies. Other times, there almost sounds to me to be a struggle to get the lyrics to find their place within the structure of the song... one example that comes to mind is the demo of "Juliet" with what later became the "Book of Miracles" backing track... Stevie struggles to find places for some of the words within the structure of that song. It later was brilliantly and also subtly reworked for OSOTM, IMO... and the lyrics work there.

In the case of "Love Like A River", which is actually a favorite track on Street Angel for me, I think it is a little more like the latter (particularly in the bridge of the song). There does seem to be some unresolved elements to the melodies and structure of the song... but in a strange way, I think this is what makes you want to hear the song over and over... there is a part of you that keeps waiting for/seeking that resolution (I should speak for myself really..lol). I know there are other solo songs of hers that leave me with the same impression... they may have failed to impress me upon first listen many years ago, but with time I find I keep coming back and wanting more!

Hope that all makes sense to someone else!

[darklinensuit]

I agree about Jimmy being her best producer. But I do love RAL, with the exception of ISFTT.
I do not agree about SA being pure rock. Songs like Unconditional Love & MLWCYM are a far cry, IMO. But then again, much as I love Bella Donna, I always roll my eyes when Jimmy and others say their plans on that one were to market her as a straight-out rocker. Edge is really the only song that rocks out on that one.
I, too, would prefer ATBW on TWH, but also Garbo. Sorry, I've never thought that B&TB belonged on the album.

I do agree that Stevie's voice is better on BD & TWH, but if I'm driving around, RAL is the one I'll play, and not just for the upbeat production - also for the vocals.

- Jake

[baboles]

I think every Stevie album has their high and low points.

Bella Donna - Stevie's big masterpiece! I think everything is great on this album, but it's not my favorite.

Wild Heart - "I Will Run To You" just makes me sick to my stomach. Everything else is magic!

Rock A Little - The 'Hot Mess' record. It's fun though.

The Other Side of the Mirror - Some good and bad. Some songs are dull and other songs blossom.

Street Angel - Stevie's voice was amazing!

Trouble in Shangri-La - Overall, a pretty solid record.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by darklinensuit

But then again, much as I love Bella Donna, I always roll my eyes when Jimmy and others say their plans on that one were to market her as a straight-out rocker. Edge is really the only song that rocks out on that one.



- Jake

SDMHA and Edge both are 100 percent straight ahead rockers. And considering they were the songs on the radio, it sort of makes sense. Especially considering her big songs in Fleetwood Mac were Sara, Dreams, Gold Dust Woman, Landslide and Rhiannon (which unless you heard it live was not 100 percent rocking.

[jannieC]

David, is that you?

Seriously though, I do agree that there was a shift for Stevie following The Wild Heart, but we've pretty much beaten that topic to death in other threads. I happen to think that Stevie's music has endured (and even gone beyond the earlier stuff from time to time) but the stage presence and performances have never been the same (for me) following the RAL days.

[AnthonyMI]

Back in my day when I first came to the Ledge (1997), Street Angel was pretty much agreed to be the worst Stevie album ever, her vocals awful, production was crap and her tour, weight and voice on it at their worst. What happened that it is now so appreciated?

[markolas]

Bella Donna is perfection, and I've always thought so. I didn't like The Wild Heart much for a long time, but it's grown on me over the last few years. I Will Run to You and Nothing Ever Changes are the songs that mar the album as a whole for me. They should've been replaced by Garbo & ATBW or Violet & Blue.

BD & RAL are the only albums where I genuinely like (at least) every song. I can listen to both of them all the way through and not be compelled to skip tracks.

Street Angel is like RAL's poor stepchild, to me. Several scrapped RAL tracks wound up on it (Love Is Like a River, Greta, Rose Garden, Destiny); and MLWCYM and Unconditional Love are the worst pieces of crap Stevie has ever recorded. Blue Denim is a good song, but very dated by 1994 standards. Love Street Angel the song, but prefer the Enchanted mix over the album version.

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by SufferYourLove

Bella Donna & Wild Heart are Stevie and Jimmy Iovine's masterpieces. Everything after that in her solo career is rubbish. Of course she had some good songs after these two albums but they do not compare or come close to anything on BD & WH. Jimmy Iovine took those songs and turned them into magic. He is her best producer ever. Nothing beats her voice on BD & WH. So pure that it made my heart melt. I hate to be harsh but I wish she never slept with him and started a relationship with him maybe then we would have more albums produced by him and albums worth listening to. The way Jimmy blended everything together was true art. He works with tons of artist and does magnificent things with their work. I have been a fan of Stevie for a long time. I was there when BD was released! I was so excited to listen to it. When I put it on I was just in awe. Same with Wild Heart. Then came Rock A Little came.. not bad but starting to go downhill. Terrible music, terrible lyrics, terrible voice. I don't even want to talk about The Otherside Of the Mirror or Street Angel

I agree with this post for the most part. I think BD and WH are her only good albums. However, even WH had its problems. The songs didn't flow that well together. The production is her most dated. The album could of been a little better. I have often thought that Gypsy belongs on this album, although it was originally tended for BD. The Tom Petty duet is weak. Nothing compared Stop Dragging My Heart around. I would of much preferred All The Beuatiful Worlds. Still, WH has a lot of the good stuff—Beauty and the Beast, Stand Back, Nightbird, If Anyone Falls... The title track is epic but it's also odd. Gold and Braid, All the Beautiful Worlds, Sleeping Angel also belong on this album..

Street Angel was a bore. She kicked the best song Inspiration off the album because she didn't write it. Her vocal on Docklands reaked!!!!! TOSTM was a complete embarrassment. And Rock A Little was one of those albums that was split down the middle between bad and good songs. It was also overproduced.

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by AnthonyMI

Back in my day when I first came to the Ledge (1997), Street Angel was pretty much agreed to be the worst Stevie album ever, her vocals awful, production was crap and her tour, weight and voice on it at their worst. What happened that it is now so appreciated?

I loved Street Angel from the first time I listened to it. There has always been a mob mentality on the Ledge against the album, though. My thoughts are as follows: all Stevie albums have stinkers on them. Street Angel happens to have the worst stinkers of any Stevie album, though. Perhaps that's why so many dislike it. However, I think when Street Angel is good, it really sparkles. Blue Denim, Love Is Like A River, Kick It, Listen To The Rain... these are all great ROCKING tracks! I think the title track is beautiful and haunting. Greta is so quirky and fun. Jane, Destiny, and Maybe Love are all turds, though. Really, really stinky ones. But they don't detract from my love of the album. Regarding Stevie's performances from this tour, all I have to say is youtube them. Stevie was ON FIRE for the tour. I don't know if she was overcompensating for her weight and the album she wasn't pleased with, or if she was just fiery because the effects of Klonopin had finally worn off, but I think Stevie was quite the performer on the Street Angel tour. She's been a zombie onstage ever since.

Regarding what I don't like about Wild Heart? Where do I begin? It's an overly sappy piece of crap. It reeks of bloated ego. I detest her overly goat like vocals on the album. There really isn't much of a rock presence on this album. I dislike like most of the lyrics. For instance:

There is gate, it can be guarded. It is not heaven, but it has a garden.

I mean seriously, WTF? I have to just click "next" when she starts screaming about enchanted children on the title track. It's embarrassing to listen to. Nightbird is simply awful. Beauty and the Beast is terrible. I just can't stand the sappiness of the album, it's just an overtly reeking show of bloated ego. Sorry, guys... but Wild Heart is just not for me.

[holidayroad]

I enjoy Bella Donna now. I didn't appreciate it is much when I was younger. "Outside the Rain" is likely my favorite solo song. Still, songs like "The Highwayman" and "After the Glitter Fades" made me not listen to it as much as I would have.

The Wild Heart is more consistent to me. The songs fit together well. Strangely, my least fave song on the album is "Stand Back"!

Rock a Little was my favorite when I was younger. It seemed very raw and emotional. I never cared for 'The Nightmare", though.

I liked TOSOTM more in the past. Nowadays, it is too long and drawn out. "Rooms On Fire", "Long Way To Go", and "Ghosts" are songs I still listen to. I have to be in certain moods to enjoy the rest.

I like Street Angel. I listen to it pretty often. Just like the other albums, it has its good parts and bad. A lot of people like LILAR and "Listen to the Rain". To me, they (along with "Jane") are the weakest points of the album.

TISL is my favorite at this point. I am hoping that IYD will be just as good!!

[jannieC]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

Nightbird is simply awful. Beauty and the Beast is terrible.

Blasphemy.

I remember when Street Angel came out, I was so excited. I remember buying it and bringing it home to listen and being completely disappointed and sad. Even after forced listening (out of loyalty) I couldn't connect with this album.

[ejof17]

I rediscovered Stevie through street angel. I think Maybe Love was a pop gem. It amazes me how people see things so differently.

[APerfectLie]

I just have to say, I disagree with everyone. All of Stevie's albums have their ups and downs. None of them suck and none of them are perfect. Street Angel has some peeled back production and some fiery vocals on some rocking songs such as Blue Denim and Love Is Like A River and the extremely loved Bella Donna was a little too country at parts. To say that all of Stevie's albums after The Wild Heart sucked is absurd. If that is the case, then why stay a fan 28 years later? My moods fluctuate, and some days I'm very Street Angel and other times I want to Rock A Little. At the end of the day, I'd prefer any Stevie album over most any other albums out there. But perhaps that is just me.

[SapphireSister]

Street Angel would be my least favorite album if I had to pick one but it's not all that bad. Wait, when compared to her previous albums it is that bad lol! But by itself it's not that awful. The only song I absolutely love is the title track. I actually really like Docklands too but it's so not Stevie and the lyrics kill it. Good little tune though. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the demo of Unconditional Love but the album version doesn't compare. Listen to the Rain and Blue Denim aren't bad. Kick it is just fair and I hate what she did with LILAR compared to the RAL version. Jane and Just Like a Woman speak for themselves .

More importantly my problem with SA is that it represents such an awful time in Stevie's life, at least during the recording of the album/pre-tour. The album screams Klonopin and I know from experience just how awful those benzos can be and how much they can steal your soul. So when I hear these songs I tend to get quite sad for Stevie not to mention all the sh*t she got about the weight gane.