Call Me Offered to Stevie

desertangel · #1 10-31-2006, 02:48 AM

Has this been mentioned here before?

I was watching Vh1's Top 100 songs of the 80s this eve. They mentioned the song "Call Me" had been offered first to Stevie by Georgio Moroder. When she turned it down, it was offered to the band Blondie. Deb Harry didn't like the arrangement and revamped it a little. The rest is history.

Normally I don't watch list shows cuz they drive me crazy, but this one was on right after Fast Times at Ridgemont High, so I was more or less an already captive audience. This particular list show was pretty good because it showed little "what are they doing now" blurbs after each song.

BombaySapphire3 · #2 10-31-2006, 03:28 AM

If I recall correctly the reason she turned down doing the song for American Gigilo was because she was out on the Tusk tour .

Travis · #3 10-31-2006, 09:33 AM

I read that too BombaySapphire3.

I know I’m in the minority here and while I do think “Call Me” ultimately ended up with the right singer (Debbie Harry) I can totally understand why Stevie was asked to do this song. She was the hottest thing in the late 70’s and I’m sure she was very much in demand. While the lyrics are so not Stevie, she ooozzzzed sexual appeal back then and I think she could have pulled it off.

vermicious knid · #4 10-31-2006, 10:02 AM

"These Dreams" by Heart was also offered to Stevie first. When that comes on the radio, I sometimes imagine Stevie singing it.

There is a song by Kenny G called "Going Home", which was a minor hit. His version is an instrumental, but Stevie was working on a version for The Other Side of the Mirror which had her own lyrics.

"Love Will Find a Way" was a number 30 hit for Yes. They offered it to Stevie first.

Bruce Springsteen has a song called "Janey, Don't You Lose Heart" which he used as a B-side. Here is an old thread which indicates Stevie was going to do it.

The Tower · #5 10-31-2006, 10:21 AM

Well, the way I hear it-

Stevie sat down and worked with Giorgio Morodor and wrote the music and lyrics to "Call Me". Initially, it was designed to be the showpiece for her solo career. However, at the last minute Stevie had a falling out with Giorgio over the fact that he wanted too much of a "disco spin" on the track instead of it being more rock and roll. She left him with the entire track recorded except for the vocal.

Later, after having several other singers come and go, Giorgio finally settled on Deborah Harry, despite his concerns that Deborah would not be able to handle the vocal track (after all, he had been used to Stevie's stellar powerhouse version for so long). Deborah came in and recorded the track about a dozen times and they picked the one they liked- although, Giorgio was never really happy with the finished product.

It's always amazing how Stevie gets involved in these projects- writing music and digging into the production- and then just drops it in favor of some other song and/or direction. Typical Gemini.

strandinthewind · #6 10-31-2006, 10:23 AM

^^^

That would mirror and confirm that she wanted a hige "Because the Night" kind of sound for Bella Donna.

I think she should just release these songs on the net when she hits 60 next year. I mean why not. It's not like she is ever going to use them again and if she does, the end product will be WAY different now if she re records it

Travis · #7 10-31-2006, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Tower

Well, the way I hear it-

Stevie sat down and worked with Giorgio Morodor and wrote the music and lyrics to "Call Me". Initially, it was designed to be the showpiece for her solo career. However, at the last minute Stevie had a falling out with Giorgio over the fact that he wanted too much of a "disco spin" on the track instead of it being more rock and roll. She left him with the entire track recorded except for the vocal.

Later, after having several other singers come and go, Giorgio finally settled on Deborah Harry, despite his concerns that Deborah would not be able to handle the vocal track (after all, he had been used to Stevie's stellar powerhouse version for so long). Deborah came in and recorded the track about a dozen times and they picked the one they liked- although, Giorgio was never really happy with the finished product.

It's always amazing how Stevie gets involved in these projects- writing music and digging into the production- and then just drops it in favor of some other song and/or direction. Typical Gemini.

It's Halloween, not April Fool's Day

HejiraNYC · #8 10-31-2006, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Tower

Well, the way I hear it-

Stevie sat down and worked with Giorgio Morodor and wrote the music and lyrics to "Call Me". Initially, it was designed to be the showpiece for her solo career. However, at the last minute Stevie had a falling out with Giorgio over the fact that he wanted too much of a "disco spin" on the track instead of it being more rock and roll. She left him with the entire track recorded except for the vocal.

Although I have a hard time trying to imagine Stevie singing this type of song, if you really think about it, musically it is very, very similar to "Edge of Seventeen" or even "Rhiannon" in that rocking minor-key kind of way. In fact, one could argue that the verse melody for "Call Me" was a near note-for-note copy of the verse melody for "Rhiannon."

I'm a big fan of that Doors/Blondie mashup "Rapture on the Storm" or whatever it was called... so I think a mashup of "Call Me" and "Rhiannon" would be utterly fab. You amateur DJs get to work on this, pronto!

PsychCat · #9 10-31-2006, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I think she should just release these songs on the net when she hits 60 next year.

OMG! Stevie Nicks? 60??
Then that means I'm.......

mikeschmike · #10 10-31-2006, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsychCat

OMG! Stevie Nicks? 60??
Then that means I'm.......

won't she be 59 next year?

ryan8472 · #11 10-31-2006, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

I'm a big fan of that Doors/Blondie mashup "Rapture on the Storm" or whatever it was called... so I think a mashup of "Call Me" and "Rhiannon" would be utterly fab. You amateur DJs get to work on this, pronto!

Rapture Riders is a silly thing, and I love it.

I think that Call Me/Rhiannon thing could be cool too.

SpyNote · #12 10-31-2006, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeschmike

won't she be 59 next year?

Yes, Stevie will turn 59 in May of next year.

I'm not sure if Call Me would have been an appropriate song for Stevie. But it's kind of crazy to think that they had her in mind. The opening bars sound a little like Rhiannon.

mikeschmike · #13 10-31-2006, 02:11 PM

I don't think the song would have been such a hit had Stevie kept it as her own. Call Me is all about sex appeal, and no one oozed sex appeal like Debbie Harry. Stevie certainly didn't slack in that area either, but she approached it differently then Debbie did. Stevie was sexy as all get out but she wasn't in your face about it. For the most part, when Stevie performed she was a lady the entire time. She was just a gorgeous being and kept people hypnotized with her soaring voice and floating movement. Debbie would get hot, sweaty, and be a gorgeous mess. Pure sex.

Rickypt · #14 10-31-2006, 02:13 PM

I wish Dissention were around, he'd probably have something to say on this issue.

mikeschmike · #15 10-31-2006, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickypt

I wish Dissention were around, he'd probably have something to say on this issue.

We'll have to do the best we can. There are some serious Blondie fans around here, so maybe somebody will throw their two cents in.