In this installment of Vintage Videos, Stevie talks about her favorite Christmas memory: waking up on Christmas Eve to find her dad unexpectedly building a baby buggy for her because “Santa was very, very busy tonight.” The interview is followed by Stevie’s Top of the Pops performance of “Silent Night,” which she recorded for A Very Special Christmas in 1987. She is joined by Robbie Nevil, best known for his hair and Top 10 1986 hit “C’est La Vie.”
Like on the classic ’80s music-countdown show Solid Gold, guests of Top of the Pops seemed to lip-synch their performances. But Stevie has the distinction of being one of the few artists to have sung live on both shows — extremely rare for the time. That’s nothing to keep silent about! Well, to be accurate, most singers performing on Solid Gold did actually sing live, according to Michael Miller, the show’s musical director for eight years. “The vocals were live and the music was taped. The reason for taping the music is that live music didn’t always sound quite as good as it should have when played through a television’s audio system.”
This rarely-seen video for “Edge of Seventeen” has moments of pure telenovela, which just beg for Stevie’s retrospective commentary. For example, why was brother Christopher shaking Stevie so violently (at 3:38)? Did he want her magical doll? Why is Stevie walking on the beach in her beautiful black dress? Many unanswered questions! So it’s a surprise to see it missing from the Crystal Visions…The Very Best of Stevie Nicks DVD video compilation, when the equally-campy “Scarlett Version” of “Stand Back” was included. Like that video, “Edge” has everything that we love most about Stevie Nicks videos: drama, passion, and endless spinning! Stevie’s lip-syncing skills, still in their formative years, would probably get her voted off RuPaul’s Drag Race, but there is certainly no shortness of creativity, uniqueness, nerve, and talent in this raw, over-the-EDGE performance.
Stevie’s performance of “Blue Denim” on Late Night with David Letterman (and her entire Street Angel saga) is memorable for a number of reasons. Stevie had recently completed treatment for a debilitating addiction to prescription medication and finally released her fifth solo recording Street Angel after several delays and attempts to “fix” the album.
Despite the tepid critical response to the album, Stevie forged on with the necessary promotion, which included a national tour and requisite TV appearances, such as the Letterman performance. Rather than sulk or go through the motions, Stevie gave it her all — busting out the bold costumes, whimsical set designs, and powerhouse vocals that longtime fans wanted her to unleash once again. Not all of the transformations worked out, but her gallant efforts proved to the world, and most importantly to her fans, that Stevie Nicks was a rock and roll survivor, crimped hair and all! Perhaps she was channeling the look of future drummer Jimmy Paxson…?
“Sisters of the Moon” from Fleetwood Mac’s 1982 concert at the Los Angeles Forum is an essential performance by most longtime fans’ standards. “Intense silence” as she walks onto the stage, Stevie channels the spookier elements of “Rhiannon” and “Gold Dust Woman.” With her blond locks teased forward and black chiffon pulled over her head, she transforms from fragile gypsy beggar to high-octane rock and roll ballerina. It’s always sheer excitement to see Stevie so engaged and impassioned in tour-de-force rock mode, but the rest of the band seem to be having a great time, as well. With Lindsey rocking a verse, Christine head-banging at her keyboards, bug-eyed Mick fixated on Stevie’s curious movements, and even the normally-stoic John swinging his bass around a few times, “Sisters of the Moon” remains an unforgettable band moment in the Fleetwood Mac live catalog. It’s been more than 30 years since Fleetwood Mac performed the song in concert, but the anticipation has been building ever Stevie revealed on Thursday at SXSW that a resurrection is approaching on April 4…just in time for Easter. Perfect!
“Gold and Braid” is a track from the Bella Donna recording sessions. Although it was never recorded for the album (or ANY album for that matter), it quickly became the elusive fan favorite, kind of like the “Silver Springs” of Stevie’s solo career. The iconic live version of “Gold and Braid” finally found a home on Stevie’s 1998 Enchanted box set.
Diehards will turn to this performance from the 1981 White Winged Dove Tour to rekindle fond memories of marching high kicks and a flying tambourine, as Stevie cheers “Don’t hide behind your hair, it’s a bit of gold and braid!” And that incredible band.
When Stevie performed “Gold and Braid” during her millennium shows in December 1999, she told the crowd — who had been singing and dancing along to the obscure song — how flabbergasted she was by its popularity among her fans. “This song was never recorded,” Stevie said with sheer astonishment, “That song we just played, I never recorded it. It was recorded as a demo and it went out on a million bootleg tapes. It’s amazing to me that so many people know this song that was never on a record.”
Why Stevie never completed the song in the studio remains unknown, but the enduring appeal of this concert classic is crystal clear: It’s “her life…her mystery!”
Lyrics
Though deep set and somewhat shadowed
Her life… her mystery
Well, it’s not so different than the way that he said
“Well, don’t hide your eyes from me that way, baby”
In his heart he wishes her stardom
His eyes want for her much more
That’s not so different
Than the way that he said
“There are so very few stars left”
Ooh ooh ooh…
Well, don’t hide behind your hair
It’s a bit of gold and braid
Easy come the tears
You see a pathway ending with a doorway
You slip toward the doorway
Been waiting there all day
All these years
In his heart he wishes her stardom
His eyes want for her much more
But that’s not so different
Than the way that he said
“Well, don’t hide your eyes from me that way, baby”
Well, don’t hide behind your hair
It’s a bit of gold and braid
Easy come the tears
You see a pathway ending with a doorway
You slip toward the doorway
Been waiting there all day
All these years
Don’t hide that…
In his heart (in his heart)
He wishes to forget her
Like to make her better
And to hold her like a child…
In his heart he wishes her stardom
His eyes want for her much more
But that’s not so different
Than the way that he said
“Don’t hide behind your hair that way, baby”
Well, don’t hide behind your hair
It’s a bit of gold and braid
Easy come the tears
You see a pathway ending with a doorway
You slip toward the doorway
Been waiting there all day
All these years
Don’t hide your eyes that way
Don’t hide anything not anymore
Because I never did not love you
I never did run from you
In a dream I said to you
That I’d always love you…
Stevie’s rare live rendition of “Nightbird” with Lori Nicks on Solid Gold is an unforgettable television performance. Looking absolutely radiant and giving a strong nuanced vocal, Stevie was in top form. Thanks to John Seger was posting such a clean copy of the more than 30-year-old footage.
