“Stevie Nicks is in top form in these sessions, providing arresting versions of favorites and delivering her trademark vocals and whirling-dervish dance moves.” —NetFlix
Soundstage: Stevie Nicks Live in Chicago (2009) is Stevie Nicks’ first concert release since Stevie Nicks Live at Red Rocks (1987). Stevie performed many of her biggest hits, such as “Dreams,” “Stand Back,” and “Edge of Seventeen.”
Background
On October 25, 2007, Stevie Nicks recorded PBS Soundstage before a live studio audience at WTTW’s Grainger studio in Chicago. She recorded the special concert while on tour for Crystal Visions…The Very Best of Stevie Nicks, her third solo retrospective release. Stevie performed her Fleetwood Mac and solo hits and covered Dave Matthew’s “Crash into Me” and Bonnie Raitt’s “Circle Dance.” She also performed “The One,” a duet with Vanessa Carlton.
On July 17, 2008, PBS premiered the concert as a two-part special; Part 1 airing on the premiere night and Part 2 airing a week later on July 24, 2008. The network broadcast 16 of the 18 songs that Stevie performed for the concert, but omitted “Dreams” and Beauty and the Beast.” PBS also shuffled the order of the songs for the two-part special.
One of the highlights of the concert was “Sara.” According to Stevie, director Joe Thomas wrote her a cheeky, one-page letter explaining the importance of recording “Sara” for the broadcast. She agreed to perform the song, humorously referring to Thomas’ efforts as a “guilt letter.”
In 2008, Stevie and Joe worked on a CD to promote The Soundstage Sessions. They tweaked the existing recordings at Ocean Way Recording in a Nashville, adding string arrangements and new vocals.
Release
On Tuesday, March 31, 2009, Reprise Records released Stevie Nicks Live in Chicago on DVD, with an accompanying 10-track CD, The Soundstage Sessions. On the same day, Stevie made a rare public appearance to sign autographs at Barnes and Noble in New York’s Union Square.
Different versions
There are two versions of the DVD and Blu-ray. The PBS edition, Stevie Live!, includes 16 songs from the original two-part special, but omits “Dreams” and the orchestra version of “Landslide.” The Reprise Records edition, Stevie Nicks: Live in Chicago, includes 17 of the 18 songs that Stevie performed at the concert. Strangely, neither edition contains the footage for “Beauty and the Beast,” though its audio track appears exclusively on Reprise’s accompanying 10-track CD, The Soundstage Sessions. Though PBS aired scenes during the end credits of what appears to be Stevie bowing after singing “Beauty and the Beast,” the actual performance footage remains officially unreleased.
DVD / Blu-ray (PBS)
- Stand Back
- Enchanted
- If Anyone Falls in Love
- Rhiannon
- Crash Into Me
- Sorcerer
- The One (Feat. Vanessa Carlton)
- Gold Dust Woman
- I Need to Know
- Circle Dance
- Landslide
- Sara
- Fall From Grace
- How Still My Love
- Edge of Seventeen
- Rock & Roll
Dreams & Landslide (Orchestra Version) omitted
DVD / Blu-ray (Reprise Records)
- Stand Back
- Enchanted
- If Anyone Falls in Love
- Rhiannon
- Crash Into Me
- Dreams
- Sorcerer
- The One (Feat. Vanessa Carlton)
- Gold Dust Woman
- I Need to Know
- Circle Dance
- Landslide
- Sara
- Fall From Grace
- How Still My Love
- Edge of Seventeen
- Rock & Roll
Bonus track: Landslide (Orchestra Version)
Bonus CD (Reprise Records)
- Stand Back
- Crash
- Sara
- If Anyone Falls in Love
- Landslide (Orchestra Version)
- How Still My Love
- Circle Dance
- Fall From Grace
- Sorcerer
- Beauty and the Beast
Produced and directed by Joe Thomas
Official Videos
News & Coverage
- Soundstage January 9, 2008 - Stevie is currently not listed as one of the featured performers for Season 6 of Soundstage. Obviously, this raises an… More
- Revamped Soundstage CD/DVD to be released October 6, 2008 - Stevie Nicks Live In Chicago — featuring most of the songs performed at Stevie's taping of Soundstage — is tentatively slated for release… More
- Q&A: Stevie Nicks March 5, 2009 - Fleetwood Mac’s singer on their new tour, turning 60 and making mixtapes By Austin Scaggs Rolling Stone Thursday, March 5,… More
- Edge of Seventeen (Live in Chicago) March 31, 2009 - More
