Bella Donna 40th anniversary

[Macfan4life]

In the studio with Redbeard. I love how she always exaggerates and says she only got 2 songs for Tango In The Night. In any event, this thread is to celebrate its 40th anniversary for Bella Donna. IMHO, its one of the best albums of the 80's decade. Come in......out of the darkness

https://www.inthestudio.net/online-o...la-donna-40th/

[HomerMcvie]

One of the greatest albums of all time!

[Macfan4life]

July 27, 1981 is the official release date. A horrific incident happened that day and Adam Walsh was kidnapped outside Sears in Hollywood, FL.
The summer of 1981 had incredible music. I remember Styx dominating the charts and also REO Speedwagon.

Bella Donna would stay on the charts for years and the singles would be on the charts until Mirage was issued the following year. It sold so well that in 1983, according to Billboard it sold more copies than The Wild Heart. In 1983 Bella Donna finished the year at #61 and The Wild Heart at #80. That is an incredible statistic since The Wild Heart peaked at #5 with huge sellers Thriller and Flashdance just above it.

https://www.billboard.com/charts/yea...ard-200-albums

[HomerMcvie]

Because Bella Donna is a perfect album(as is Rumours). The Wild Heart isn't.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Because Bella Donna is a perfect album(as is Rumours). The Wild Heart isn't.

Oddly enough, I bought Bella Donna before Wild Heart during the summer of 1983 even though Wild Heart was on the charts and I was going to Stevie's solo concert that summer. I did not buy Wild Heart until Dec 1983.
It really is a brilliant album and flawless. The writing, the singing, the music.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Oddly enough, I bought Bella Donna before Wild Heart during the summer of 1983 even though Wild Heart was on the charts and I was going to Stevie's solo concert that summer. I did not buy Wild Heart until Dec 1983.
It really is a brilliant album and flawless. The writing, the singing, the music.

As I've said a thousand times, it sounds like The Eagles are her backing band.

Too bad $he strayed from that sound.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Because Bella Donna is a perfect album(as is Rumours). The Wild Heart isn't.

I see why it’s widely regarded her best solo album. I’ve never been a huge fan of it as a sequence of songs but certain songs on it blow me away.

Still, I suppose my ambiguity about the record comes from my having bought it after Mirage and TWH. By around early 1984, I was pretty much over my Stevie obsession and had thrown myself into early Mac records—and anything featuring Christine.

My biggest complaint about BD is the decision to leave “Gold and Braid” off of it because it’s such a great song and vocal. Not a bad complaint to have!

Also, “How Still My Love” (along with “Trouble”) is the best non-Mac Fleetwood Mac song of the eighties.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I see why it’s widely regarded her best solo album. I’ve never been a huge fan of it as a sequence of songs but certain songs on it blow me away.

Still, I suppose my ambiguity about the record comes from my having bought it after Mirage and TWH. By around early 1984, I was pretty much over my Stevie obsession and had thrown myself into early Mac records—and anything featuring Christine.

My biggest complaint about BD is the decision to leave “Gold and Braid” off of it because it’s such a great song and vocal. Not a bad complaint to have!

Also, “How Still My Love” (along with “Trouble”) is the best non-Mac Fleetwood Mac song of the eighties.

And Got A Hold On Me is nothing to sneeze at!

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I see why it’s widely regarded her best solo album. I’ve never been a huge fan of it as a sequence of songs but certain songs on it blow me away.

Okay, I'm dating myself(I still date myself daily!), but Bella Donna is literally the LAST 8 track I ever purchased. And, the sequencing was different than the album. It STILL throws me off when I listen to it, because it's not the song order I learned.

[BigAl84]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I see why it’s widely regarded her best solo album. I’ve never been a huge fan of it as a sequence of songs but certain songs on it blow me away.

Still, I suppose my ambiguity about the record comes from my having bought it after Mirage and TWH. By around early 1984, I was pretty much over my Stevie obsession and had thrown myself into early Mac records—and anything featuring Christine.

My biggest complaint about BD is the decision to leave “Gold and Braid” off of it because it’s such a great song and vocal. Not a bad complaint to have!

Also, “How Still My Love” (along with “Trouble”) is the best non-Mac Fleetwood Mac song of the eighties.

You're not alone. Even in my Stevie Nicks fandom heyday, I always thought the hype around Bella Donna was a little overblown. The second half of that record drags a$$ IMO. Kind of Woman, Think About It, and The Highwayman are all run-of-the-mill, not standout tracks IMO. Sleeping Angel and Golden Braid would have improved the album immensely. Even the studio version of Outside The Rain seems really lacking compared to what it became live.

The fact that she had such immense help from the heartbreakers, jimmy, and Don Henley is what really elevated the material on that record. The lack of their involvement is really evident when listening to Wild Heart.