STEVIE NICKS INFO

Tag: Song of the Day

  • Lady

    Lady

    “Lady” is a track from 24 Karat Gold — Songs from the Vault (2014), Stevie Nicks’ eighth solo album. 

    “Lady” dates back to the early 1970s when she and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham were living in producer Keith Olsen’s house. According to Stevie, it was the first song she had ever written on a piano. At the time, she and Lindsey were recording as the duo Buckingham Nicks, struggling to succeed as recording artists in Los Angeles. In the song, Stevie reveals her fears, restlessness, and uncertainty about this time in her life, pondering, “What is to become of me?”

    “I think ‘Lady’ was written at the end of 1971 or beginning of 1972,” Stevie recalls, “when Lindsey and I got our first piano. I think it was the first song I ever wrote on a piano.” 

     

    Lyrics

    Come lately
    I just keep on waitin’
    I see nothin’ out there
    The sun keeps throwin’ out
    The light from the clouds
    But there’s no light in here

    I know that things have gotta change
    But how to change them isn’t unclear
    I’m tired of knockin’ on doors
    When there’s nobody there
    You know I’m tired of knockin’ on doors
    When there’s nobody there

    And the time keeps goin’ on by
    And I wonder what is to become of me
    And I’m unsure
    I can’t see my way
    And he says Lady you don’t have to see

    And the time keeps goin’ on by
    And I wonder what is to become of me
    And I’m unsure
    I can’t see my way
    And he says Lady you don’t need to see
    And he says Lady you don’t need to see

    Come lately
    I just keep on waitin’
    I see nothin’ out there
    The sun keeps throwin’ out
    Its light from the clouds
    But there’s no light in here

    I know that things have gotta change
    But how to change them isn’t unclear
    I’m tired of knockin’ on doors
    When there’s nobody there
    You know I’m tired of knockin’ on doors
    When there’s nobody there

    And the time keeps going on by
    And I wonder what is to become of me
    And I’m unsure
    I can’t see my way
    And see says Lady you don’t need to see

    And the time keeps goin’ on by
    And I wonder what is to become of me
    And I’m unsure
    I can’t see my way
    And he says Lady you don’t need to see

    And the time keeps goin’ on by
    And I wonder what is to become of me
    And I’m unsure
    I can’t see my way
    And he says Lady you don’t need to see
    And he says Lady you don’t need to see
    And he says maybe you don’t need to see
    Oh, no…

    (Stevie Nicks) © 2014 Welsh Witch Music (BMI). Administered by Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing (BMI)

  • Sister Honey

    Sister Honey

    “Sister Honey” (3:52) is Track 3 on Rock a Little (1985), Stevie Nicks’ 3rd solo album. 

    During the “Sister Honey” writing sessions, Stevie drew a picture of a female figure that would become the Sister Honey portrait. “There’s a song called ‘Sister Honey’ that I wrote…with a man whose name is Les Dudek; he’s a guitar player. And he and I wrote this song called ‘Sister Honey’ and right when we were writing it, I started drawing Sister Honey. So Sister kind of came out of this song, and I did it [in my room] and even when it was dark, I would just kind of zero in on throwing color in and mushing it around, and I’d go up to the light for a while and go work on her. And she just grew and she became a person.”

    1985 Sister Honey drawing

    Lyrics

    Sister…

    Alright, baby
    Alright
    (Alright)
    Alright, baby
    Ooh, alright

    Well, I think you will like Sister Honey
    She will help you make up your mind
    And even if you don’t need her
    Tell her you need her
    She needs you brother
    (Sister)
    She needs you brother
    (Sister)

    Strange fascination
    Some kind of temptation
    To know Sister
    Never having allowed yourself
    Do you understand the word pleasure
    (Sister)
    Well, you say it’s just never crossed your mind
    (Sister)
    And she believes you

    Can we still be friends
    The answer’s always yes
    Even best intentions turn around one day
    Saying

    Ow, nobody’s right, baby
    Oh, all the time
    And a fool never knows what he’s leaving behind
    So take some time to know the real story
    ‘Cause a soul that’s true is your ride to glory
    Don’t let that golden hair get in your way, baby
    (Sister)
    (Sister)

    Can we still be friends
    The answer’s always yes
    Even best intentions turn around one day
    Saying

    (Alright…)
    (Sister)
    (Sister)

    Come back solemn stranger
    It’s your last chance
    She’s almost gone now

    And she’ll go fast like a jet plane
    And then fast like a star stream
    She’ll hit you with a fury
    Whispering the words one more time, baby
    (Alright…)
    One more time
    (Sister)
    (Sister)

    And she says don’t let that golden hair
    (ooh woo)
    Get in your way
    (ooh woo)
    And she says don’t let that golden hair
    (ooh woo)
    Get in your way
    (ooh woo)

    (Sister)
    (Sister)

    ‘Cause she’ll go fast like a jet plane
    And then fast like a star stream
    She’ll hit you with a fury
    Whispering the words, well, one more time now
    Just one more time

    Well, I think you will like Sister Honey
    She will help you make up your mind

    (Stevie Nicks/Les Dudek) © 1985 Welsh Witch Music (BMI)

    Musicians

    George Black Synth bass, guitar, and background vocals
    Sharon Celani Background vocals
    Les Dudek Guitar
    Charlie Judge Synthesizer
    Michael Landau Guitar
    Marilyn Martin Background vocals
    Lori Nicks Background vocals
    Stevie Nicks Lead vocals
    Rick Nowels Synthesizer
    Jamie Sheriff EMU programmer
    Maria Vidal Background vocals
    Waddy Wachtel Guitar

    Production Credits

    John Kovarek, Robert Feist, David Leonard, and Gabe Veltri Recording Engineers, Music Grinder, Village Recorders, Westlake Sunset Sound 
    George Black and Rick Nowels Mixer
    Rick Nowels Producers
    Rick Nowels, George Black, and Charles Judge Arrangers

    Release History

    References

    Nicks, S. (1985). [Liner notes]. In Rock a Little [CD]. Los Angeles: Modern Records.

    Nicks, S. (1985). Interview.

  • If Anyone Falls

    If Anyone Falls

    “If Anyone Falls” is from The Wild Heart (1983), Stevie Nicks‘ second solo album. Riding high from the success of Bella Donna (1981), Stevie began working with fellow singer-songwriter Sandy Stewart, a partnership that would continue Stevie’s string of Top 40 hits.

    Sandy had written the instrumental track on a synthesizer. She had been working on demos with producer Gordon Perry, but couldn’t come up with lyrics for this particular track. So she gave the track to Stevie, who added lyrics that would become the song “If Anyone Falls.”

    Somewhere in the back of your mind…

    • Second single from The Wild Heart
    • Inspired by guitarist Waddy Wachtel
    • Reached No. 14 on Billboard Pop Singles chart

    “[If Anyone Falls] is the first song that I wrote with Sandy, Stevie recalls. “I’ve probably prayed for so many years that I’d find somebody I could write songs with, and I finally found her. She lives in Houston, and she’s totally crazy. She’s a brilliant musician and what she does for me is she writes a song, goes in with a band and records it, sends me the track, track sounds great. I go into my bathroom, put it on my stereo, plug in my tape recorder, sing along, record it right there. I play it for everybody the next day, everybody goes crazy, and that’s it.

    Stevie shot a music video for “If Anyone Falls” and remembered having trouble with some of the dance moves. “The director wanted me to dance with this guy and throw my head back, and I couldn’t do it. We had to call in a backup singer to do it. I called her my stunt neck.” 

    The music video also featured a cameo from Mick Fleetwood, who was returning the favor of Stevie appearing in his music video for “I Want You Back” (1983). 

  • Sorcerer

    Sorcerer

    “Sorcerer” is one song in Stevie Nicks’ vast catalog with an interesting and unusual recording journey.

    Stevie wrote “Sorcerer” back in the early 1970s, as she and Lindsey Buckingham started to navigate the Los Angeles music scene and business. Buckingham Nicks rehearsed the song but did not include it on their debut album.

    In 1983, Stevie rehearsed the song again for The Wild Heart sessions, recording a version that later surfaced on the deluxe edition of The Wild Heart (2016).

    In 1984, Stevie gave the song to Marilyn Martin to record for the Streets of Fire motion picture soundtrack. Martin’s version, with Stevie on backup vocals, featured a piano-driven arrangement and alternate lyrics.

    Streets of Fire Stevie Nicks Sorcerer Marilyn Martin 1984
    Streets of Fire Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1984)

    Stevie finally recorded the song for herself on Trouble in Shangri-La, staying true to the original Buckingham Nicks demo with the help of Sheryl Crow. “Sheryl challenged me to explore different areas of my voice,” Stevie recalls, noting the soulful falsetto that she reaches during the song’s initial verses. “It was fun to do, and it wound up working so well within the song’s arrangement.

  • Garbo

    Garbo

    Stevie Nicks wrote “Garbo” about the “infamous photo session for the Buckingham Nicks cover.” Despite her reluctance to pose nude on the cover, which would have shocked her parents, Stevie went along with the idea “for art, for the music.” Stevie later reflected on the awkward experience in the acoustic “Garbo,” comparing herself to female movie stars and pondering whether they had done uncomfortable things for the sake of their craft or careers…perhaps Greta Garbo?

    During the 1998 Enchanted Tour, the only time that “Garbo” has been performed onstage, Stevie revealed how she spent her last $110 on a beautiful blouse to wear for the photo session, only to be asked to remove it later.

    Interestingly, Stevie wrote “Greta” for Street Angel (1994), but it was about a completely different topic!

    Lyrics

    I love to waltz with a man in a dark linen suit
    All alone at a party with someone I knew
    From a time gone by turned into stone

    You could be Garbo or even Marlene
    You could be Marilyn
    Or you could forget

    I play the part but then all of us do
    And I do it so well as I do it to you
    In this town full of strangers
    In this town full of fools
    Venus doesn’t glitter when she stands next to you
    When you’re waltzing through stardom
    You miss what you lose

    Lose yourself in a silvery dress
    For you think you must do what you feel you do best
    And you mustn’t give it up for you’re still but a guest

    You could be Garbo or even Marlene
    Or you could forget

    Forget…
    Forget…
    Forget…
    You could be Garbo…
    You could forget…
    You could forget…

    (Stevie Nicks) © 1982 Welsh Witch Music (BMI) / Admin. by Sony/ATV Songs LLC (BMI)

    Musicians

    Bob Glaub: Bass
    Bobbye Hall: Percussion
    Russ Kunkel: Drums
    Benmont Tench: Organ
    Waddy Wachtel: Guitar
    Sharon Celani & Lori Perry: Background vocals

    Produced by Jimmy Iovine

    Reference

    Nicks, S. (1998). Enchanted: The Works of Stevie Nicks.