ALBUM OF THE WEEK # 79 STEVIE NICKS - BELLA DONNA (1981)

[RJhog (Admin)]

Artist: Stevie Nicks

Album: Bella Donna

Producer: Jimmy Lovine/Tom Petty

Band Members: Various

Singles: Stop Draggin' My Heart Around/Leather And Lace/Edge Of Seventeen/After The Glitter Fades

Best Single/Best Hidden Gem: Stop Draggin' My Heart Around/Kind Of Woman

Best Of The Rest: Bella Donna/After The Glitter Fades/Edge Of Seventeen/Leather And Lace/The Highwayman

RIAA Certification: 4 X Platinum

Album Cover: 7/10

 



This week's album is Stevie Nicks' Bella Donna, from 1981.  This was Stevie's first solo album and it reached the top of the Billboard charts.  In addition to selling over 4 million copies in the U.S., it spawned 4 top 40 hits, including 2 top 10's, those being Stop Draggin' My Heart Around (#3) and Leather And Lace (#6).  She wrote or co-wrote every song except for Stop Draggin' My Heart Around, which was written by Tom Petty and Mike Campbell.

 

I've always wanted this album, but for some reason, I just never bought it until now.  I think it's pretty good.  I like all of the singles, but I really don't think there is a bad song on the album.  It's very easy to listen to all the way through.  If nothing else, you should definitely check out the first two tracks, which you've probably never heard.  Bella Donna really reminds me of the long lost song Silver Springs, that was originally intended for Rumours, but was left off.  It was eventually released by FM on a greatest hits collection, but the title track is really reminiscent of it.  Also, I think the guitar playing on Kind Of Woman is quite nice.

 

Overall, I think it's a nice album and it's pretty cheap if you buy it used from Amazon Marketplace.  Of course, this year is it's 30th anniversary, and from the looks of things according to Wikipedia, she has a wealth of unreleased material from this time period.  So I wouldn't be surprised at all to hear an announcement soon on a deluxe remaster of Bella Donna.

 

By the way, I love the above scene in School Of Rock.  I really dig movies that name check awesome classic rock artists and there music.  Every time I hear Edge Of Seventeen, I immediately think of this scene, so that's why I included it.

 

Next Week:  One more week of the Mac attack.

 

1. Bella Donna

2. Kind Of Woman

3. Stop Draggin' My Heart Around (with Tom Petty and

    the Heartbreakers)

4. Think About It

5. After The Glitter Fades

6. Edge Of Seventeen

7. How Still My Love

8. Leather And Lace (with Don Henley)

9. Outside The Rain

10. The Highwayman

[Scott]

She looked really good in this era!  I have it on vinyl and never rebought it on CD.  Still think its a great album though, so I have no explanation as to why. 

'After the Glitter Fades' and 'Leather and Lace' are just truly instense listens!  Maybe thats why I havent spun it more and rebought it, its a very emotional album. 

 

I prefer the follow up, Wild Heart, as my favorite from her solo albums.  I think I will put this on my watch list, if its gets a nice remastering and deluxe packaging treatment then I will pull the purchase trigger.

[Niels (Mod)]

I started listening, but after a few tracks, I thought "Nah, I want to listen to some GOOD music". It's not THAT bad, but this kind of music is not for me.

[Alan Christensen]

"this kind of music is not for me."

I kind of thought that too, but this is a good one to listen to while driving in the car with others! :)

[Jon]

Love this album, bought it when it first came out way back then and have it on CD. Have had a few of her others on vinyl but, as with Lindsey Buckingham, never got around to replacing.

[Alan Christensen]

I found this on vinyl, and I ejoy it. Stop Dragging My Heart around, yeah, that was a FORGOTTEN song for me. Edge Of Seventeen, yeah, I guess that song is OK, but not really my favorite. I like the slower songs on this album. Very nice!

[Alan Christensen]

I also found The Other Side Of The Mirror on CD used for $3, thought about it, didn't buy it. Thought again, went back and it was gone.