ROCK A LITTLE (1985)

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 heartfelt ballad “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You.”

Stevie Nicks Rock a Little album cover

Track List

  1. I Can’t Wait (4:35)
  2. Rock a Little (Go Ahead Lily)* (3:39)
  3. Sister Honey (3:52)
  4. I Sing for the Things (3:45)
  5. Imperial Hotel (2:53)
  6. Some Become Strangers (3:29)
  7. Talk to Me^ (4:12)
  8. The Nightmare (5:08)
  9. If I Were You (4:31)
  10. No Spoken Word (4:12)
  11. 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), Stevie initially worked with returning producer Jimmy Iovine. But due to rising creative and personal tensions between them, Jimmy left the project before completing the album. Stevie patched together the rest of the album with other producers, namely Rick Nowels, who helped produce the remaining tracks. The album took more than a year to complete.

With an emphasis on synthesizers and programmed drums, Rock a Little followed some of the music trends of the time. (Stevie would continue to apply some of these trends to her fourth album The Other Side of the Mirror in 1989.)

Despite receiving mixed reviews from music critics and selling significantly less than Bella Donna and The Wild Heart, Rock a Little firmly established Stevie Nicks as one of rock music’s top recording artists of the decade. 

Stevie Nicks Sharon Celani Lori Nicks
Stevie Nicks with background vocalist Sharon Celani and Lori Nicks

Dedication

Stevie 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

Stevie Nicks - Talk To Me (Official Music Video) [HD Remaster]

YouTube

I Can’t Wait

Stevie Nicks - I Can't Wait (Official Video) [HD Remaster]

YouTube

Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You

Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You

YouTube

Imperial Hotel


YouTube

News & Coverage

< The Wild Heart | The Other Side of the Mirror >

LIVE IN CONCERT (2023-2024)

Billy Joel and Stevie NicksStevie Nicks

November 29, 2023
San Diego, CA
Viejas Arena

December 2, 2023
Inglewood, CA
The Kia Forum

December 5, 2023
Palm Desert, CA
Acisure Arena

December  8, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Phoenix, AZ
Chase Field

December 12, 2023
Sacramento, CA
Golden 1 Center

December 15, 2023
San Francisco, CA
Chase Center

February 10, 2024
Atlantic City, NJ

Mark G Etess Arena
On Sale Friday, September 29. 2023

February 14, 2024
Belmont Park, NY

UBS Arena
On Sale Friday, September 29. 2023

February 21, 2024
Greenville, SC

Bon Secours Wellness Arena
On Sale Friday, September 29. 2023

February 24, 2024
Hollywood, FL

Hard Rock Live ^
On Sale Friday, September 29. 2023

February 28, 2024
New Orleans, LA

Smoothie King Center
On Sale Friday, September 29. 2023

March 3, 2024
Omaha, NE

CHI Health Center
On Sale Friday, September 29. 2023

March 6, 2024 – North Little Rock, AR
Simmons Bank Arena
On Sale Friday, September 29. 2023

March 9, 2024 – BILLY JOEL
Arlington, TX
AT&T Stadium

Two Icons One Night presented by Live Nation
^ Non-Live Nation show


Previous 2023 dates

March 10, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Los Angeles, CA
SoFi Stadium

March 15, 2023
Seattle, WA
Climate Pledge Arena

March 18, 2023
Las Vegas, NV
T-Mobile Arena

May 12, 2023
Raleigh, NC
PNC Arena

May 16, 2023
Knoxville, TN
Thompson-Boling Arena

May 19, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Nashville, TN
Nissan Stadium

May 22, 2023
Atlanta, GA
State Farm Arena

May 25, 2023
Orlando, FL
Amway Center

June 16, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Philadelphia, PA
Lincoln Financial Field

June 20, 2023
Toronto, ON (Canada)
Scotiabank Arena

June 23, 2023
Chicago, IL
United Center

June 27, 2023
Louisville, KY
KFC Yum! Center

August 5, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Columbus, OH
Ohio Stadium

August 8, 2023
Milwaukee, WI
Fiserv Forum

August 12, 2023
Houston, TX
Toyota Center

August 15, 2023
Austin, TX
Moody Center

August 19, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Kansas City, MO
Arrowhead Stadium

September 23, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Foxborough, MA
Gillette Stadium

September 27, 2023
Pittsburgh, PA
PPG Paints Arena

October 1, 2023
New York, NY
Madison Square Garden

October 4, 2023
Buffalo, NY
KeyBank Center

October 7, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Baltimore, MD 
M&T Bank Stadium

October 28, 2023
Memphis, TN
FedEx Forum

November 1, 2023
Savannah, GA
Enmarket Arena

November 4, 2023
Allentown, PA
PPL Center

November 7, 2023
Detroit, MI
Little Caesars Arena

November 10, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Minneapolis, MN
U.S. Bank Stadium



2022 Tour

Stevie Nicks

Jazz Aspen Snowmass
Snowmass, CO
Labor Day 2022

Ravinia Festival
Highland Park, IL
September 8, 2022
September 10, 2022

Pine Knob Music Theatre
Clarkston, MI
September 13, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Sea Hear Now Festival
Asbury, NJ
September 17, 2022

Xfinity Center
Mansfield, MA
September 19, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Maine Savings Amphitheatre
Bangor, ME
September 22, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Sound on Sound Festival
Bridgeport, CT
September 24-25, 2022

Ohana Festival
Dana Point, CA
September 30, 2022

Hollywood Bowl
Los Angeles, CA
October 3, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

POSTPONED
Ak-Chin Pavilion

Phoenix, AZ
October 6, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

POSTPONED
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

The Woodlands, TX
October 9, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Alpharetta, GA
October 12, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Ascend Amphitheater
Nashville, TN
October 16, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Credit One Stadium
Charleston, SC
October 19, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

PNC Music Pavilion
Charlotte, NC
October 22, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Tampa, FL
October 25, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
West Palm Beach, FL
October 28, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Orion Amphitheatre
Huntsville, AL
October 31, 2022

RESCHEDULED SHOWS

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
The Woodlands, TX
November 2, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Ak-Chin Pavilion
Phoenix, AZ
November 5, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton


For What It’s Worth (2022)

Edge of Midnight (2020)

Beautiful People Beautiful Problems (2017)

New Release

Stevie Nicks, Stand Back 1981-2017, compilation

Archive