Stevie Nicks

Country of origin:

U.S.

Type of music generally:

Pop/rock

Status:

Most recent release, 24 Karat Gold—Songs From The Vault (unreleased song compilation, 2014); most recent release of new material, In Your Dreams (2011)

See also:

Stevie Nicks' official site

Wikipedia's entry for Stevie Nicks

The Ectophiles' Guide entry for Fleetwood Mac. She has also been part of Fritz and BuckinghamNicks.

Comparisons:

She is who others are compared TO. (rocketstail@aol.com)

Ferron (voice), Cyndi Lauper (voice). (jbr@casetech.dk)

Covers/own material:

Own

General comments:

Stevie Nicks probably has one of the roughest voices around, with a lot of tremolo in the voice too. Excellent.... (jbr@casetech.dk)

Stevie is the Queen of Rock and Roll...enough said! (rocketstail@aol.com)

Comments about live performance:

I've seen Stevie twice, once solo and once with Fleetwood Mac...I get chills everytime the woman opens her mouth and sings a note. Her live show is electric, even though her set lists don't vary too much—she is powerful and commands the stage. Her fans give her the energy to perform, you can tell by her smile onstage. She gets better with age! (rocketstail@aol.com)

Recommended first album:

Bella Donna. (rocketstail@aol.com)

Recordings:

• Bella Donna (1981)
• The Wild Heart (1983)
• Rock a Little (1985)
• The Other Side of the Mirror (1989)
• Timespace: The Best of... (compilation, 1991)
• Street Angel (1993)
• Enchanted (a three-cd boxed set, 1998)
• Trouble in Shangri-La (2001)
• Crystal Visions: Very Best Of Stevie Nicks (compilation, CD or CD/DVD, 2006)
• The Soundstage Sessions (live, 2009)
• In Your Dreams (2011)
• 24 Karat Gold—Songs From The Vault (unreleased song compilation, 2014)

Bella Donna

Release info:

1981—Modern Records

Availability:

Widely available

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Stevie Nicks—vocals

Guest artists:

David Adelstein—synthesizer
Roy Bittan—piano
Richard Bowden—bass
Mike Cambell—guitar
Sharon Celani—vocals
Dick Dunn—bass
Bill Elliott—piano
Don Felder—guitar
Bob Hall—percussion
Stan Lynch—drums
Lori Perry—vocals
Waddy Wachtel—guitar
Don Henley—vocals, drums
Tom Petty—vocals, guitar
Benmont Tech—keyboards, organ

Produced by:

Jimmy Iovine

Comments:

Stevie's first solo outing away from Fleetwood Mac seems to have unleashed the true songwriter/performer inside her. Although her stuff was brilliant with Fleetwood Mac, "Bella Donna" is all hers! The ten songs on this multi-platinum album all have a mystical rock feel contributed to Stevie as well as terrific melodies and BRILLIANT lyrics! Even when singing with rock veterans Tom Petty and Don Henley, Stevie showcases her ability to wrap her emotional voice around anything! This is a must have for everybody! It includes the hits "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around", "Edge of Seventeen", and "Leather and Lace" but it's songs like "Bella Donna" and "Outside the Rain" that are the masterpieces. (rocketstail@aol.com)

The Wild Heart

Release info:

1983—Modern Records

Availability:

Widely Available

Ecto priority:

Highly Recommended

Group members:

Stevie Nicks—vocals

Guest artists:

Jonathan Abramowitz—cello
Seymour Barab—cello
Julien Barber—viola
John Beal—bass, violin
Gene Bianco—harmonica, harp
Roy Bittan—piano, synthesizer
David Bluefield—synthesizer
Carol Brooks—vocals
Mike Campbell—guitar
Marvin Caruso—drums
Sharon Celani—vocals
Harry Cykman—violin
Peter Dimitriades—violin
Kenny Edwards—bass
Lewis Eley—violin
Max Ellen—violin
Howie Epstein—bass
Don Felder—guitar
David Foster—piano
Paul Gershman—violin
Bob Glaub—bass
Harry Glickman—violin
Bob Hall—percussion
Bobbye Hall—percussion
Theodore Israel—viola
Phil Kenzie—saxophone
Russ Kunkel—drums
Jesse Levine—viola
Jesse Levy—cello
Steve Lukather—guitar
Stan Lynch—drums
Chet McCracken—drums
David Monday—guitar
Marvin Morgenstern—violin
Dean Parks—guitar
Lori Perry—vocals
John Pintavalle—violin
Matthew Raimondi—violin
Brad Smith—drums, percussion
Herbert Sorkin—violin
Roger Tausz—bass
Benmont Tench—keyboards, organ
Richard Wachtel—guitar
Waddy Wachtel—guitar
Ian Wallace—percussion
Ruth Waterman—violin
David Williams—guitar
Paul Winter—violin
Harry Zaratzian—viola
Frederick Zlotkin—cello
Mick Fleetwood—percussion
Tom Petty—guitars, vocals
Sandy Stewart—vocals, keyboards

Produced by:

Jimmy Iovine

Comments:

Stevie's second solo album is often described as bolder than Bella Donna in the fact that Stevie seems a little more comfortable with her songs without Fleetwood Mac. Jimmy Iovine produced this, yet again and gives Stevie's songs a nice mix of rock and pop twists. This album contains her hit "Stand Back" as well as the heartbreaking "Beauty and the Beast". You can't go wrong with "The Wild Heart"! (rocketstail@aol.com)

Rock a Little

Release info:

1985—Modern Records

Availability:

Widely available

Ecto priority:

For fans of Stevie

Group members:

Stevie Nicks—synthesizer, vocals
George Black—bass, drums, guitar, synthesizer, vocals, background vocals
Mike Cambell—guitar
Denny Carmassi—drums
Sharon Celani—vocals, background vocals
Bill Cuomo—Keyboards
Kenny Edwards—bass
Bob Glaub—bass
Bob Hall—percussion
Bobbye Hall—percussion
Steve Jordan—drums
Rick Nowels—Keyboards, synthesizer, vocals, background vocals
Bill Payne—synthesizer
Lori Perry—vocals, background vocals
Greg Phillinganes—Keyboards, percussion, synthesizer, Tympani [Timpani]
Mike Porcaro—bass
Waddy Wachtel—guitar
and many other studio musicians

Guest artists:

Les Dudek—guitar
Benmont Tech—keyboards, organ

Produced by:

Jimmy Iovine, Stevie Nicks, and Rick Nowles

Comments:

Welcome to the 80s! Stevie bursts into "80s music" with this album, her lyrics are still VERY much her own but I think the production was a little weak on certain songs. This album does contain some great tracks, "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You?" is probably one of her most brilliant pieces of work since "Landslide". (rocketstail@aol.com)

The Other Side of the Mirror

Release info:

1989—Modern Records

Availability:

Widely Available

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Stevie Nicks—percussion, tambourine, vocals

Guest artists:

Mike Campbell—guitars, slide acoustic guitar
Sharon Celani—backing vocals
Geoff Dugmore—drums, keyboards
Gary Grant (The L.A. Horns)—brass
Jerry Hey (The L.A. Horns)—brass
Rupert Hine—keyboards, percussion, programmed drums, additional percussion, keyboard bass, bass
Vail Johnson—bass
Kelly Johnston—whistle
Tony Levin—stick bass, bass
Jerry Marotta—drums
Derek Murphy—bass
Rick Nowels—guitars, acoustic guitar
Lori Perry-Nicks—backing vocals
Mark Russo (The L.A. Horns)—brass
Waddy Wachtel—acoustic guitars, guitars
Jamie West-Oram—guitars
Larry Williams (The L.A. Horns)—brass
Kenny G.—saxophone
A HREF="guide.cgi?artists/hornsby.bruce">Bruce Hornsby—piano, vocals

Produced by:

Rupert Hine

Comments:

This is by far my favorite Stevie Nicks album! It took awhile for it to grow on me but in my opinion it is her most personal album...which was always Stevie's greatest talent, her ability to connect with listeners through her lyrics. The lyrics are strong throughout the whole album and the songs are incredible (give and take a few). "Ooh My Love", "Rooms on Fire", and "Juliet" are standouts! (rocketstail@aol.com)

Though Stevie Nick's voice is well prominent on this album and some of the lyrics are quite good too (reminiscent of Sarah McLachlan's), the overall impression is too much pop. The problem is probably a combination of too weak melodies and overproduction. There's nothing like another "Rhiannon" on this album. (jbr@casetech.dk)

Timespace: The Best Of...

Release info:

1991—Modern Records

Availability:

Widely available

Ecto priority:

Recommended

Guest artists:

Jon Bon Jovi—guitar

Comments:

A very well put together retrospective of the solo career of Stevie Nicks, but it pales in comparison to her boxed set. This collection is a great starter disc for people but the new tracks don't offer much for the long time fan. (rocketstail@aol.com)

Street Angel

Release info:

1993—Modern Records

Availability:

Widely available

Ecto priority:

For fans of Stevie Nicks

Group members:

Stevie Nicks—vocals, harmony vocals

Guest artists:

Kenny Aronoff—drums, tambourine
Roy Bittan—piano, synthesizer
Ron Blair—bass
Mike Campbell—guitar, electric guitar
Sharon Celani—harmony vocals
Joel Derouin—synthesizer, electric violin
Pat Donaldson—bass
Andy Fairweather-Low—electric guitar, harmony vocals
Ethan Johns—drums, electric guitar, percussion, slide guitar
Glyn Johns—drum programming
Bernie Leadon—acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmony vocals, mandocello, mandolin, National Steel guitar
Peter Michael—drums, percussion
Lori Nicks—harmony vocals
Bob Dylan—guitar, harmonica
David Crosby—harmony vocals
Dave Koz—saxophone
John Pierce—bass
Tim Pierce—guitar, electric guitar
Benmont Tench—organ, Hammond organ, piano, synthesizer
Waddy Wachtel—guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar

Produced by:

Stevie Nicks, Thom Panunzio, and Glen Parrish

Comments:

Considered by many to be Stevie's weakest album, I have grown to love most of the tracks on this album...I just don't recommend anyone begin their collection with Street Angel. (rocketstail@aol.com)

Enchanted

Release info:

1998—Atlantic Records

Availability:

Widely Available

Ecto priority:

Highly Recommended

Comments:

Three CD retrospective that touches every aspect of Nicks' solo career including a song from her first album BuckinghamNicks that has never been released on CD before. The tracks on the first two cds are vintage Stevie including the hits and a few B-sides. The greatest thing about this set is the third CD which includes rareities, soundtrack songs, and demos never before heard. Included is a nice piano version of "Rhiannon" and a great live version of "Edge of Seventeen"! (rocketstail@aol.com)

24 Karat Gold: Songs From the Vault

Release info:

2014—Reprise Records—544476-2

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Recommended

Group members:

Stevie Nicks—vocals, background vocals

Guest artists:

Sharon Celani, Lori Nicks—background vocals
Michael Rhodes—bass
Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley—backing vocals (4)
Dan Dugmore—banjo, mandolin, guitar, steel guitar
Chad Cromwell—drums
Waddy Wachtel—guitar, background vocals
Tom Bukovac, Dave Stewart, Mike Campbell, Davey Johnstone—guitar
Michael Rojas, Benmont Tench—keyboards, piano, organ
Zach Rae—keyboards
Lenny Castro—percussion
Kieran Kiely—whistles, accordion
Jim Hoke—clarinet, horn arrangement (5)
Vinnie Ciesielski—trumpet (5)
John Hinchey—trombone (5)
Ana Marie Calhoun—violin, string arrangement (13)
Irina Chirkova—cello (13)

Produced by:

Dave Stewart, Waddy Wachtel, and Stevie Nicks

Comments:

Most of these songs probably should have stayed in the vault. The high rating is mostly due to the fact that I just love her voice. Rating: 60/100. Best tracks: "She Loves Him Still," "Blue Water," "Mabel Normand," "All the Beautiful Worlds." (raschee@gmail.com)

Thanks to Eric (rocketstail@aol.com) and JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.