Stevie picks up the intensity level on “Nothing Ever Changes,” Track 8 of The Wild Heart. The track stands out for its strong hook and rock-driven arrangement, performed by an all-star cast of musicians, such as drummer Russ Kunkel, Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band pianist Roy Bittan, and former-Eagles guitarist Don Felder. Respected saxophonist Phil Kenzie (The Eagles, Paul McCartney, Al Stewart) also leaves his indelible mark, providing The Wild Heart‘s most riveting solo. As an album track, “Nothing Ever Changes” received moderate radio airplay, reaching No. 19 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.
‘I was feeling pretty cynical’
“This is another song that Sandy [Stewart] wrote the track for,” Stevie says, “When I’m writing, I’ll go and drag out 300 pages of lyrics and take a word from here, a line from there, a verse from here. And it doesn’t really matter since I always start from my basic idea and go back to my words. I always say it better on the typewriter than I’m gonna say it while the song’s going by. This was written about a year and a half ago. Maybe you can tell I was feeling pretty cynical at the time. This is the only cynical song on this album.”
Musicians
Piano: Roy Bittan
Guitar: Don Felder
Bass: Bob Glaub
Percussion: Bobbye Hall
Saxophone: Phil Kenzie
Drums: Russ Kunkel
Synthesizer: Sandy Stewart
Background vocals: Sharon Celani & Lori Perry
Produced by Jimmy Iovine. Recorded at Record Plant, Los Angeles.
Billboard charts
Mainstream Rock: 19 (July 30, 1983)
Lyrics
If it’s me that’s driving you to this madness
Then there’s one thing that I’d like to say
Would you take a look at your life and your lovers
Nothing ever changes
Ooh, it was just the first time
That I ever played for you
Oh, I could be the dancer of your dreams
I can turn all your music on
I can make you feel alive
I am gone but I’m never gone from you
It was just the first time
Come back, little boy
So baby come back, yeah, little boy
Ooh, it’s just me that lies waiting
Well, it could come from anywhere
Oh, it could come straight, straight from my heart
Nothing can be saved here
I can turn all your music on
I can make you feel alive
I am gone but I’m never gone from you
It was just the first time
Come back, little boy
So baby come back, yeah, little boy
Come back, little boy
So baby come back, yeah, little boy
Nothing ever changes, you know it doesn’t
Nothing ever changes, ooh, you know it doesn’t
Nothing ever changes, you know it doesn’t
Nothing ever changes
Come back, so baby, come back
Baby, come back, baby, come back
Come back, come back, come back
Come back, baby, come back
So baby, come back, baby come back
Come back, come back, come back
Come back, so baby, come back
Come back, come back, come back
Come back, come back
Come back, baby, come back
(Stevie Nicks, Sandy Stewart) © 1982 Welsh Witch Music (BMI) Admin by. Sony/ATV Songs, LLC / Sweet Talk Music/Three Hearts Music (ASCAP)
NEXT: Sable on Blond ~ Just how deep do you hold that dream in your hands each night… >
References
Modern Records. (1983). Stevie Nicks: The Wild Heart [Press release].
Whitburn, J. (2008). Joel Whitburn presents rock tracks 1981-2008. Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research, Inc.
Earlier this year, Stevie Nicks’ second solo album The Wild Heart turned 30. To celebrate this milestone, Stevie Nicks INFO looks back on each unique track that inspired the recording and captivated listeners around the world.
Wild Heart