That changed in Grade 11. By then, I got comfortable at the school, really got into music, and had some really cool friends to go with.
When I entered the school that Friday night in the Spring of 1986, I distinctly remember the song booming in the gym.
“I can’t wait, I can’t wait,” it bellowed.
It was Stevie Nicks with one of the songs off her latest solo album “Rock a Little”.
That album was my introduction to a singer who I came to know a lot about, and whose music I came to really enjoy.
It is Stevie Nicks’ birthday today, and it reminded me of “I Can’t Wait”, “Talk to Me” and so much more.
In the beginning
The first time I really heard about Stevie Nicks was just when I started getting into music, and after I received my first ghetto blaster for Christmas in 1984. I was listening to this nightly show on LA-107 FM called “Profile”.
The first time I really heard about Stevie Nicks was just when I started getting into music, and after I received my first ghetto blaster for Christmas in 1984. I was listening to this nightly show on LA-107 FM called “Profile”.
On this particular night they were profiling Fleetwood Mac. It would actually be a two-part profile because the band was so prolific. In any case, the part that sticks out for me is that Mick Fleetwood was in California scouting out studio space. Working in one of the studios was Lindsay Buckingham and his girlfriend Stephanie Nicks. Ultimately, they would meet, get together and put out some of the best music of the ‘70s and ‘80s.
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The album cover for Stevie Nicks 1985 album "Rock a Little". Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_a_Little (May be subject to copyright) |
Much was made about Stevie Nicks’ work with Fleetwood Mac and the amazing songs she wrote and sang. Those included “Dreams” which was the band’s lone number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart; as well as “Landslide”; “Rhiannon” and more.
But over time, I came to learn more about her solo success as well.
My first real exposure to Stevie Nicks as a solo artist was when she released “Rock a Little”, her third solo album, in November of 1985 when I was in Grade 11.
The first single off that album was fantastic. “Talk to Me” showcased her voice, and went all the way to number four on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. “Talk to Me” remains Stevie Nicks’ last top 10 solo single to date. She was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for her efforts.
The follow-up single was the aforementioned “I Can’t Wait”, which peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
I ended up buying “Rock a Little” on vinyl through Columbia House, and vividly remember the first time I ever played the album. It was a Friday afternoon, and my best friend Chris Vining had come over after school, riding the bus home with me. My parents were somewhere else, so we had the house to ourselves. I took the opportunity to use my Mom’s turn table and put on “Rock a Little”. I even recall pulling the plastic off the brand new album.
The problem was, Chris hadn’t told his mom he was coming over. He figured it would be no big deal, so he called her. Boy, was he wrong. She had made supper, and was waiting for him. The result was he was summoned home. I think she came out to the farm and got him. He told me they got into a huge fight, but ultimately he was wrong.
Needless to say, I had to wait another day to hear “Rock a Little” beginning to end.
Solo success
Two other features LA-107 FM had were the “Album highlight”, where they highlighted a just-released album, and “Spotlight”, where they showcased a particular artist or band, usually because they had something new coming out. I am pretty sure it was either when they highlighted “Rock a Little”, or spotlighted Stevie Nicks, they talked about her first two solo albums, referring more than once to her debut solo album “Bella Donna”.
Two other features LA-107 FM had were the “Album highlight”, where they highlighted a just-released album, and “Spotlight”, where they showcased a particular artist or band, usually because they had something new coming out. I am pretty sure it was either when they highlighted “Rock a Little”, or spotlighted Stevie Nicks, they talked about her first two solo albums, referring more than once to her debut solo album “Bella Donna”.
That debut album, which came out in 1981, yielded three songs that I have come to know well since then.
“Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”, performed with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number two on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. She was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for her efforts.
“Leather and Lace”, performed with Don Henley of the Eagles, went all the way to number six on the Billboard Hot 100, and is one of my favourite songs by either artist. It just touches my soul, kind of the way the inter-play of Nicks and Buckingham does in “Landslide”.
“Edge of Seventeen” peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts. Nicks was nominated for a Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for her efforts.
Her follow-up album, and second solo effort, was called “The Wild Heart”, released in 1983. The lead single was “Stand Back”, which peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts. She was again nominated for a Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for her efforts.
In 1985, she contributed the song “Violet and Blue” to “Against All Odds: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack”, for which she was part of a collective effort nominated for a Grammy for Best Album of Original Score written for a Motion Picture or Television Special.
She was also nominated for a Grammy in 1988 for Best Performance Music Video for “Stevie Nicks: Live at Red Rocks”.
By the time she released her album “The Other Side of the Mirror” in 1989, I had stopped following music as closely, because I focused all my attention on my university life. Wikipedia reveals her lead single for that album, “Rooms on Fire” peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it her last top 20 single to date, and peaked at number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
The years after
Stevie Nicks kept on writing, recording and performing. She has also been nominated twice more for the Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, in 1991 for “Whole Lotta Trouble”; and in 2002 for “Planets of the Universe”.
Stevie Nicks kept on writing, recording and performing. She has also been nominated twice more for the Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, in 1991 for “Whole Lotta Trouble”; and in 2002 for “Planets of the Universe”.
Of course, she continues to perform with Fleetwood Mac.
She is also the first woman inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – as a member of Fleetwood Mac in 1998, and as a solo artist in 2019.
Parting thoughts
Stevie Nicks has been heralded as one of the greatest songwriters and one of the greatest singers of all time. It is hard to disagree with that. Her lyrics are insightful and, when she brings them to life, they can touch your soul.
Stevie Nicks has been heralded as one of the greatest songwriters and one of the greatest singers of all time. It is hard to disagree with that. Her lyrics are insightful and, when she brings them to life, they can touch your soul.
The point was driven home to me when my spouse and I saw Fleetwood Mac in Calgary a few years ago.
When she sang “Dreams”, “Rhiannon”, “Landslide” and others, her voice was still just magical.
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