"Bella Donna"/"Wild Heart" Deluxe Sets - Reviews and Opinions

[SpyNote]

The reissues are great! I'm glad they picked demos that haven't been widely circulated already. They definitely did their research I'm also glad they picked a different writer, besides David Wild, to write the liner notes. I do prefer The Wild Heart reissue more, probably because the demos from these sessions are more elusive.

I love the BD live CD. It's great they added some of the songs from the radio broadcast.

[blinker12]

I might be biased because "The Wild Heart" is my absolute favorite Stevie Nicks solo album, but I think this "expanded edition" is far superior to "Bella Donna", both in capturing the spirit of the era and with the outtakes included that have never seen the light of day until now.

Could not agree more sorcerer999. Blown away by the Wild Heart bonus disc! Love each and every track. I think it could stand on its own as a finished album, perhaps one of Stevie's best.

This upbeat, non-self-pitying "I Sing for the Things"!

This epic "Sable"! (Move over "Wild Heart"!)

This weird and rootsy "Sorcerer," with its unfamiliar lyrics! ("the mystery...")

This tender, nostalgic "Are You Mine"!

I could go on, but I've run out of exclamation points.

[Jondalar]

Her voice was so strong.

Sorcerer frustrates me. I always thought Jimmy did the best version for Marilyn because of her range. Now I know Stevie could of done it. I really like this version but Marilyn's is the definitive version. The lyrics are so decadent like Alice in a wonderland strung out on a drug binge. Very Hollywood. Very Stevie.

[BLY]

I'm dying to hear the entire tracks on the alt discs. Amazon hasn't even shipped yet. I also love her voice during this time I sure hope these releases keep coming out . I have been waiting for her reissues for a long time.

[KarmaContestant]

I just finished listening to the remastered Bella Donna on CD. And then I thought about it for about 10 minutes, and now here I am.

I have a decent stereo system. Nothing audiophile quality, but better than average these days. A friend gave me his old 48" floor speakers from Kenwood a few years back, and I can turn them up loud, so I did.

There's some tape hiss at the start. It was super annoying but went away by the first chorus. I think... By the time Kind Of Woman started I didn't hear it, so it was either just at the beginning or it gets buried in the other sounds. First impression is that it's a loud remaster. Initial disappointment of a sort set in. Very suspiciously, I continued to listen, telling myself it doesn't sound bad, just different when compared to my decades-old vinyl or original CDs from the late 80's.

My initial impressions of loudness diminished as the album played, and things turned around when Think About It started. One of my top 3 favorites from this album. It sounds amazing. So crisp and clear and Stevie's voice is so there, up front in a great way and I love it. Then, After The Glitter fades - also amazing - also a favorite, and then Edge, and it was great - Edge of Seventeen took my breath away - and then I started reading the liner notes, and I got distracted, and sort of tuned out for How Still My Love. And I totally skipped Stop Draggin' My Heart Around. And Leather and Lace. Yeah? So?

Outside The Rain sounds better than ever. The final of my three favorites - The Highwayman - also benefited greatly from this remaster. Maybe I was imagining it, but I could pull out Don Henley's parts more clearly. I finished the album feeling impressed and satisfied.

One criticism from me would be the liner notes. Um, so, I guess, based on the initial hype, it sounded to me as if each song would have a write up from Stevie herself, and that together, they would tell the story of the album and it's making. This isn't the case, but the liner notes that are included are good. Well written, there's a lot of dialog from Stevie about the album and the songs and recording them, and what was going on at the time emotionally. I think the liner notes deliver, but not what I expected.

There are seven pictures from the Bella Donna cover shoot, including the cover shot. The one right inside the cover of the booklet is my favorite! An outtake of the Stevie and girls on the big bed from the BD liner photo is also in the booklet. There are a handful of small candid photos taken in the studio included also.

OK - I'm off to listen to the outtakes CD. Be back later.

[SpyNote]

Anyone get their vinyl copies yet? Mine hasn't been shipped yet.

Japan is releasing the reissues too (in January) on their notorious SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) format. The verdict is still out on these and may only be appreciated by audiophiles. Japan is also releasing the remastered albums as single discs in jewel cases.

[bwboy]

Thanks for the great review, KarmaContestant! My CDs are supposed to arrive tomorrow and I Can't Wait!

[KarmaContestant]

The Bella Donna outtakes CD.

Some highlights:

How Still My Love. So this thing starts out sort of scratchy and and then about halfway through an intensity came into the song that took me by surprise. I can imagine that, if given a longer solo tour, How Still My Love might have evolved into something like this on stage, with an extended vampy ending.

Leather And Lace. Well color me surprised! This was amazing and refreshing. The uptempo on the first chorus was a nice touch! Another A+

Bella Donna. I didn't listen to but a few moments of this when it was previewed a couple weeks back. Tonight, I found that sweet spot in the room where the very best sound is between the speakers, and closed my eyes. This is lovely, and while not complex, demonstrates Stevie's ability to draw you in - you just wanna hear what she's gonna say - so you gotta be still and listen carefully.

Gold And Braid. I loved this version. It is familiar to me from the master reels (the Orson Welles reference in the beginning). Great alternate lyrical improvs, and Stevie's vocals are fierce. There's a story here I love, about two shadowed people who meet in a sliver of light, and at thier darkest moments, when all the light is gone, there is lightning. Someone from another life. "In a dream I said to you that I'd always loved you."

The Dealer. Hmm. I love this one: https://youtu.be/Beug6tu82Tc And this one: https://youtu.be/888-uMCYzzQ

[sorcerer999]

Originally Posted by SpyNote

Anyone get their vinyl copies yet? Mine hasn't been shipped yet.

Yes. Mine came with the CDs. They are 180 gram and sound spectacular!!!

I can't stop listening to the "Wild Heart" bonus disc. I think I've changed my mind. I do believe the alternate "Sable On Blonde" might be better than the album cut. It's so emotional. So much darker. And indeed so much longer. The ending just goes on and on (as Stevie is want to do in a lot of her songs. "Annabelle Lee, anyone? ) but I actually don't mind it.

Likewise, the alternate "I Sing For The Things" is just so uplifting, especially with the added harmonies from both Stevie and the gals.

"Are You Mine" is just pure, unabashedly F*CKING GOLD!!!

And like blinker12 said, "Sorcerer" is just very rootsy and cool as a cucumber. Probably the one solo version that comes the closest to the bluegrassy Buckingham Nicks version.

I can't get enough of these.

[sorcerer999]

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

Bella Donna. I didn't listen to but a few moments of this when it was previewed a couple weeks back. Tonight, I found that sweet spot in the room where the very best sound is between the speakers, and closed my eyes. This is lovely, and while not complex, demonstrates Stevie's ability to draw you in - you just wanna hear what she's gonna say - so you gotta be still and listen carefully.

Gold And Braid. I loved this version. It is familiar to me from the master reels (the Orson Welles reference in the beginning). Great alternate lyrical improvs, and Stevie's vocals are fierce. There's a story here I love, about two shadowed people who meet in a sliver of light, and at thier darkest moments, when all the light is gone, there is lightning. Someone from another life. "In a dream I said to you that I'd always loved you."

These are my two faves off the "Bella Donna" bonus disc, for sure! I also love the remaster of the lush "Blue Lamp" and the slightly remixed "Sleeping Angel". Although, I was slightly bummed that the ending of "Sleeping Angel" is now a "fade out" instead of a definitive end, like the "Enchanted" box set version.

[AnthonyMI]

Originally Posted by sorcerer999

These are my two faves off the "Bella Donna" bonus disc, for sure! I also love the remaster of the lush "Blue Lamp" and the slightly remixed "Sleeping Angel". Although, I was slightly bummed that the ending of "Sleeping Angel" is now a "fade out" instead of a definitive end, like the "Enchanted" box set version.

That is the original mix from the Soundtrack. The version of Sleeping angel that has been playing on Apple Match is that version. My Enchanted version is long gone and is only on the CD packed away. It makes sense that the version presented here is the original mix from the original release. I do however prefer the Enchanted version with the single mandolin soloist and the extended piano outro. I don't mind having the original though but I do miss the Enchanted one that is not available on iTunes.

[KarmaContestant]

So I just finished the Wild Heart bonus disc. And wow. I'm completely impressed with this collection of songs.

Every track...okay, not Dial The Number ....but every other track is superb. Violet And Blue and Garbo sound great, too. I am blown away by these outtakes. All of them. The ending of the Wild Heart session is fantastic. I Sing For The Things in this form is so welcomed. Sable On Blond is stunning. I couldn't be happier.

The Wild Heart liner notes are outstanding. I definitely felt like Stevie was really having fun telling this story. She's been able to talk about Bella Donna so many times, but it's not often we get to hear about other albums. Good stuff here.

[KarmaContestant]

One more thing - if any industry people are lurking - please release the Wild Heart bonus disc on vinyl for Record Store Day. Or something. Just do it!

[rubylounge]

Originally Posted by kak125

Sable on Blonde is so freaking good its killing me today! I would die to hear this one in concert just once in my lifetime.

Me too, that would be just too cool!!

[sorcerer999]

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

One more thing - if any industry people are lurking - please release the Wild Heart bonus disc on vinyl for Record Store Day. Or something. Just do it!

Yes, yes, a THOUSAND TIMES, YES!!!