Rock a Little is Stevie Nicks‘ third solo album, following The Wild Heart (1983). It features the hit singles “Talk to Me” and “I Can’t Wait,” as well as the moving ballad “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You.”
Tracklist
- I Can’t Wait (4:35)
- Rock a Little (Go Ahead Lily)* (3:39)
- Sister Honey (3:52)
- I Sing for the Things (3:45)
- Imperial Hotel (2:53)
- Some Become Strangers (3:29)
- Talk to Me^ (4:12)
- The Nightmare (5:08)
- If I Were You (4:31)
- No Spoken Word (4:12)
- Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You (4:35)
^An alternate version of “Talk to Me” appears on Time/Life’s Sounds of the Eighties: 1986 compilation.
* An alternate version of “Rock a Little (Go Ahead Lily) appears on the Australasian/European single release of “I Can’t Wait.”
Background
Stevie Nicks began recording Rock a Little in 1984. Following the commercial success of Bella Donna (1981) and The Wild Heart (1983), Nicks initially reunited with producer Jimmy Iovine. However, due to rising creative and personal tensions, Iovine departed the project before the album’s completion. Nicks finalized the record with various other producers, most notably Rick Nowels, in a process that lasted more than a year.
With a heavy emphasis on synthesizers and programmed drums, Rock a Little embraced the prevailing musical trends of the era—elements Nicks would continue to explore on her 1989 follow-up, The Other Side of the Mirror.
Despite receiving mixed reviews and selling significantly fewer copies than her previous two efforts, the album spawned the hit singles “Talk to Me” (No. 4) and “I Can’t Wait” (No. 16), both of which had music videos that featured heavily on MTV. These successes firmly established Nicks as one of the decade’s premier rock artists.
Dedication
Stevie Nicks dedicated Rock a Little to three groups of people: Her colleagues (the great singers and players), veterans of the Vietnam War, and Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh. The dedication included lyrics from “Thousand Days,” a song about Prince, rehearsed for Rock a Little and later recorded during the early Street Angel sessions in 1992.
And I,
like some kind of Time/Life edition
tradition, competition~
Being the only things that I really have
to remember~
The great singers, and the great, great players
This music is dedicated to the great singers~
and the great, great players (my teachers)~
And to those who have survived the Viet Nam War~
“No, we do not forget you…”
And, thank you, Joe
Release
Modern Records released Rock a Little on November 18, 1985. The album debuted at No. 12 on Billboard’s Hot 200 Albums and produced the singles “Talk to Me” (4), “I Can’t Wait” (16), “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You” (60), and the Australia-issued “Imperial Hotel” (99). To help promote the album, Stevie filmed music videos for “Talk to Me” and “I Can’t Wait,” which aired regularly on MTV.
Other Released Songs
- One More Big Time Rock and Roll Star (b-side of the Talk to Me single)
- Battle of the Dragon (from American Anthem: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
- Reconsider Me (duet with Don Henley, from Enchanted: The Works of Stevie Nicks)
- Mirror Mirror (original album title, b-side of Blue Denim 1994 single)
Accolades & Sales
For the 29th Annual Grammy Awards, Stevie Nicks earned a nomination in the category of Best Rock Female Vocalist for “Talk to Me.” The award went to Tina Turner for “Back Where You Started.”
The RIAA has certified Rock a Little platinum for the shipment of one million units to retailers.
Charts
Talk to Me
| Billboard Charts | Peak |
| Pop Singles | 4 |
| Adult Contemporary | 14 |
| Album Rock Tracks | 1 |
I Can’t Wait
| Billboard Charts | Peak |
| Pop Singles | 16 |
| Dance | 26 |
| Album Rock Tracks | 6 |
Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You
| Billboard Chart | Peak |
| Pop Singles | 60 |
Imperial Hotel
Released only in Australia
| Kent Music Report | Peak |
| Pop | 99 |
Promotional Videos
Talk to Me
I Can’t Wait
Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You
Imperial Hotel
News & Coverage
- Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You November 18, 1985 - "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You" is Track 11 on Rock a Little (1985), Stevie Nicks third's solo album.… More
- No Spoken Word November 18, 1985 - "No Spoken Word" is Track 10 on Rock a Little (1985), Stevie Nicks' third solo album. It follows "If I… More
- If I Were You November 18, 1985 - "If I Were You" is Track 9 on Rock a Little (1985), Stevie Nicks' third solo album. It follows "The… More
- The Nightmare November 18, 1985 - "The Nightmare" is Track 8 on Rock a Little (1985), Stevie Nicks' third solo album. It follows "Talk to Me"… More
- Talk to Me November 18, 1985 - "Talk to Me" is Track 7 on Rock a Little (1985), Stevie Nicks' third solo album. It follows "Imperial Hotel"… More
- Some Become Strangers November 18, 1985 - "Some Become Strangers" is Track 5 on Rock a Little (1985), Stevie Nicks' third solo album. It follows "I Sing… More
- Imperial Hotel November 18, 1985 - "Imperial Hotel" is Track 5 on Rock a Little (1985), Stevie Nicks' third solo album. It follows "I Sing for… More
- I Sing for the Things November 18, 1985 - "I Sing for the Things" is Track 4 on Rock a Little (1985), Stevie Nicks' third solo album. It follows… More
- Sister Honey November 18, 1985 - "Sister Honey" is Track 3 on Rock a Little (1985), Stevie Nicks' 3rd solo album. It follows "Rock a Little… More
- Rock a Little (Go Ahead Lily) November 18, 1985 - "Rock a Little (Go Ahead Lily)" is Track 2 on Rock a Little (1985), Stevie Nicks' third solo album. It… More
