Missed Opportunity

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by Rod~A~Little

These are some awesome songs Stevie turned down for whatever reason or another. But, I have to say These Dreams would probably not be the same smash as with Heart. It would have been a typical "Stevie" song.

Call Me...another one...such a classic for Blondie...can't imagine how Stevie could top this.

I actually liked the song Malibu by Hole. (Actually that album was superb although Courtney sabotaged her own career)....but it has some really interesting chord changes and I think Stevie would have done a GREAT job with this song.

Still have to agree though...would have been great to hear what could have been if Stevie had tackled these songs.

I disagree. I think These Dreams would have been a hit for her and so would Don't Come Around Here no more. Reconsider Me was also a good song that should of been on the album. For the most part, that album was a real mess and lot of the songs were just just awful.

[fringed n fab]

I personally never much cared for Don't Come Around Here, but I like a lot of others by Tom Petty. I think my favorite will always be You Got Lucky because I just love that song start to finish. I never really cared for These Dreams either, but agree it's a Heart song now and glad it was left that way. I did love their album in 1986 and it always brings back memories of that time and MTV. And I'm not afraid to admit I will get in the car with every window down and jam Call Me, and agree that's a classic Blondie song all the way and should be left that way. I absolutely love that song

Rolling down the street, hot summer day.

Cover me with kisses, baby
Cover me with love
Roll me in designer sheets
I'll never get enough

[NoFear♥OnlyLove]

I think it was a missed opportunity depending on how you look at it. In terms of the success the song became for Heart, then yes, it was definitely a missed opportunity. On the other hand, I've never really been able to imagine Stevie recording it. I know some people think it would have just been another typical Stevie song - meaning, it wouldn't really have stood out compared to her better songs - but I've never really felt like it sounded much like her. Just out of curiosity though, I'd love to know what she would have done with it if she'd accepted it and made it her own.

As for DCAHNM, I know it was written for her, but that is such a classic Tom Petty song...I think it came out right in the end with him recording it instead of her. It's at its best when they sing it together though.

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by NoFear♥OnlyLove

I think it was a missed opportunity depending on how you look at it. In terms of the success the song became for Heart, then yes, it was definitely a missed opportunity. On the other hand, I've never really been able to imagine Stevie recording it. I know some people think it would have just been another typical Stevie song - meaning, it wouldn't really have stood out compared to her better songs - but I've never really felt like it sounded much like her. Just out of curiosity though, I'd love to know what she would have done with it if she'd accepted it and made it her own.

As for DCAHNM, I know it was written for her, but that is such a classic Tom Petty song...I think it came out right in the end with him recording it instead of her. It's at its best when they sing it together though.

Sorry but I think Stevie singing DCAHNM would of done better than tom's. I like her version of Free Fallin better than Tom. She brings out something in Tom's music. Nobody would of been able to hear Stevie sing Talk to me, but she put a great vocal on it. These Dreams is better than 95% on Rock a Little. I wish it would of been a different album. She had the stature to get the great songs, but couldn't get over herself. Her career would of been much different.

[fringed n fab]

I don't see why people diss Rock A Little. That was a huge album and tour for her and we haven't seen the clothes or wildness since. I've tried listening over and over and am always glad for anything new from her, but I must admit I don't see all the gaganess over IYD, sorry. Take me back to 1983, 84, 85 anyday.

[NoFear♥OnlyLove]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

Sorry but I think Stevie singing DCAHNM would of done better than tom's. I like her version of Free Fallin better than Tom. She brings out something in Tom's music. Nobody would of been able to hear Stevie sing Talk to me, but she put a great vocal on it. These Dreams is better than 95% on Rock a Little. I wish it would of been a different album. She had the stature to get the great songs, but couldn't get over herself. Her career would of been much different.

I don't know if Stevie's DCAHNM would have done better with Tom's or not...for me, it just sounds more like a Tom song. I quite like RAL as a whole and I like These Dreams in its own right. The thing that I wonder, though, is given what was a downward trend in Stevie's albums from a commercial standpoint, would she really have been able to make a success of These Dreams, particularly on the RAL album? It was successful as a Heart song, but it isn't very likely that Stevie's version would have had the same sound. Would whatever arrangement Stevie wanted to do it in have been equally or even more successful than Heart's? If the answer is yes it would have been, then it was definitely a missed opportunity. If the answer is no, then it probably wasn't a missed opportunity at all. I'm just not sure that an RAL era version of These Dreams from Stevie would have been as successful. I freely admit, though, that I probably feel this way because the song is so strongly associated with Heart in my mind...I just can't imagine anyone else, including Stevie, recording it. That's also why I said that I'd love to know for sure what she would have done with it...a sort of 'what would have been' kind of thing.

EDIT:

Originally Posted by fringed n fab

I don't see why people diss Rock A Little. That was a huge album and tour for her and we haven't seen the clothes or wildness since.

I agree...I've much appreciation for the RAL era.

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by NoFear♥OnlyLove

I don't know if Stevie's DCAHNM would have done better with Tom's or not...for me, it just sounds more like a Tom song. I quite like RAL as a whole and I like These Dreams in its own right. The thing that I wonder, though, is given what was a downward trend in Stevie's albums from a commercial standpoint, would she really have been able to make a success of These Dreams, particularly on the RAL album? It was successful as a Heart song, but it isn't very likely that Stevie's version would have had the same sound. Would whatever arrangement Stevie wanted to do it in have been equally or even more successful than Heart's? If the answer is yes it would have been, then it was definitely a missed opportunity. If the answer is no, then it probably wasn't a missed opportunity at all. I'm just not sure that an RAL era version of These Dreams from Stevie would have been as successful. I freely admit, though, that I probably feel this way because the song is so strongly associated with Heart in my mind...I just can't imagine anyone else, including Stevie, recording it. That's also why I said that I'd love to know for sure what she would have done with it...a sort of 'what would have been' kind of thing.

EDIT:

I agree...I've much appreciation for the RAL era.

Heart became successful again, because they quit writing their own material. It was like the best of their writing was gone. They were part of corporate rock. At least they were honest. It kept their career alive and put them into the stratosphere eventhough I like their 70s stuff more. I think These Dreams was a REAL song, and real songs were so rare on rock a little. Nancy fell in love with the song. She had to sing. I'm sure the arrangement stayed pretty much the same as it was presented to Stevie.You can actually hear Stevie have a drug filled breakdown on that album.

People were writing Stevie songs for Rock a Little because the songs she was presenting to Jimmy weren't up to snuff and everybody knew it. He was trying to put together a good record but she was drugged up and full of herfelf, there was not much he could do. What gets me is she had good demos already written and never used them. What the hell was she saving them for. She surely never pulled them out for TOSOTM or Street Angel.

[fringed n fab]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

Heart became successful again, because they quit writing their own material. It was like the best of their writing was gone. They were part of corporate rock. At least they were honest. It kept their career alive and put them into the stratosphere eventhough I like their 70s stuff more. I think These Dreams was a REAL song, and real songs were so rare on rock a little. Nancy fell in love with the song. She had to sing. I'm sure the arrangement stayed pretty much the same as it was presented to Stevie.You can actually hear Stevie have a drug filled breakdown on that album.

People were writing Stevie songs for Rock a Little because the songs she was presenting to Jimmy weren't up to snuff and everybody knew it. He was trying to put together a good record but she was drugged up and full of herfelf, there was not much he could do. What gets me is she had good demos already written and never used them. What the hell was she saving them for. She surely never pulled them out for TOSOTM or Street Angel.

The world may never know.

I think after all this time, we've become so used to the raw original demos of her songs, that once they (if ever) see the light of day of a record in the finished process, will they still seem as good or better? Without that voice during the 80's? It's hard to tell and sometimes with the songs that did make the cut of an LP, sometimes I preferred the raw demo arrangement better. Planets/No Light is a good example.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by fringed n fab

I preferred the raw demo arrangement better. Planets/No Light is a good example.

Totally agree, although Planets on TISL has a certain charm to it. Unlike Smile At You - she never could top that demo.

Although, Lady From The Mountain reimagined as Moonlight was totally reborn, and absolutely gorgeous, so it's a mixed bag.

[fringed n fab]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Totally agree, although Planets on TISL has a certain charm to it. Unlike Smile At You - she never could top that demo.

Although, Lady From The Mountain reimagined as Moonlight was totally reborn, and absolutely gorgeous, so it's a mixed bag.

Regarding Planets, I admit I do like both, the demo and the TISL cut. The finished version did turn out good and I listen to both.

[NoFear♥OnlyLove]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

Heart became successful again, because they quit writing their own material. It was like the best of their writing was gone. They were part of corporate rock. At least they were honest. It kept their career alive and put them into the stratosphere eventhough I like their 70s stuff more. I think These Dreams was a REAL song, and real songs were so rare on rock a little. Nancy fell in love with the song. She had to sing. I'm sure the arrangement stayed pretty much the same as it was presented to Stevie.You can actually hear Stevie have a drug filled breakdown on that album.

People were writing Stevie songs for Rock a Little because the songs she was presenting to Jimmy weren't up to snuff and everybody knew it. He was trying to put together a good record but she was drugged up and full of herself, there was not much he could do. What gets me is she had good demos already written and never used them. What the hell was she saving them for. She surely never pulled them out for TOSOTM or Street Angel.

BIB: The state of her drug addiction at the time and the fact that her song writing was suffering is what I was getting at. Even though the song was most likely presented to her the way it was presented to Heart, if she'd felt like she wanted the song, she probably would have insisted on changing it up and making it her own. In doing so, the Stevie version probably wouldn't sound like the the song we know today and it might not have been as successful as what Heart ultimately recorded. I guess the question is, if she'd accepted the song, would she have wanted to change it in any way and would Jimmy have allowed her to do so.

Originally Posted by fringed n fab

I think after all this time, we've become so used to the raw original demos of her songs, that once they (if ever) see the light of day of a record in the finished process, will they still seem as good or better? Without that voice during the 80's? It's hard to tell and sometimes with the songs that did make the cut of an LP, sometimes I preferred the raw demo arrangement better. Planets/No Light is a good example.

Totally agree.

[mfn]

Originally Posted by David

Wasn't there a Springsteen song that was written for Stevie, but yanked right back again when the two quarreled over changing the title?

I believe the song was "Janie, Don't You Lose Heart" (or "Janie, Don't Lose Heart",) which became a mid-eighties B-side for Springsteen. It would have been retitled "Baby, Don't (You) Lose Heart."

[Phil]

I believe "Call Me" was originally titled "Man Machine" and Stevie passed on the song because she couldn't make sense of the lyrics. I remember reading this in the English music press over 20 years ago, but don't ask me where.

Yes mfn, that's correct about "Janey, Don't You Lose Heart" written by Bruce Springsteen for Stevie to record on the Bella Donna album. The dispute is as described regarding the title change. It's an okay song and probably could have been turned into something great during 1980/81 recording sessions. It eventually became the b-side of Bruce's "I'm Goin' Down" single in 1985.

In addition to "Malibu", Courtney Love/Billy Corgan also co-wrote a track for Stevie entitled "When Everything Falls Apart". Both tracks were handed over during the Trouble In Shangri-La sessions in 1998.

PS Has anyone heard The Pretenders rather loose take on "Reconsider Me"? It's barely recognisable as being the same song Stevie recorded during the Rock A Little sessions.

[skuncles]

Originally Posted by mfn

I believe the song was "Janie, Don't You Lose Heart" (or "Janie, Don't Lose Heart",) which became a mid-eighties B-side for Springsteen. It would have been retitled "Baby, Don't (You) Lose Heart."

As I understand it Stevie wanted to change it to "Jimmy Don't You Lose Heart" the Jimmy being Jimmy Iovine. I really like Springsteens song, but can't hear Stevie doing it at all.
One song she was never offered (as far as I know) but I wish she would have done (and she sort of did) was Tom Petty's "A Thing About You" from his "Hard Promises" album. I say she sort of did it because she's singing it during the 1981 Rolling Stone photo shoot.

[GypsySorcerer]

Originally Posted by Rod~A~Little

I actually liked the song Malibu by Hole. (Actually that album was superb although Courtney sabotaged her own career)....but it has some really interesting chord changes and I think Stevie would have done a GREAT job with this song.

Agreed. I never knew Stevie turned this song down, but I think she would've done a fantastic job with it.