This week, Randy and Anthony tackle Stevie Nicks’ second solo album, ‘The Wild Heart.’ Released on June 10, 1983, it reached #5 on the Billboard album chart, and spent nearly a year on the charts, thanks in part to the lead single ‘Standback.’
Stevie toured this album for over nine months, and it was Anthony’s first Stevie solo concert (oh to be a fly on that wall!)
Stevie began recording this album immediately after Fleetwood Mac wrapped up the ‘Mirage,’ tour in October 1982. She was dealing with the death of her best friend Robin Anderson, and subsequent short-lived marriage to Robin’s widower, Kim.
As we mention in the podcast, this is a breakup album. Stevie and Jimmy Iovine have ended their romantic relationship, and her marriage to Kim Anderson is almost over before it began. No where is that more apparent than in the opening track ‘Wild Heart.’
The song began as a lyric over the Fleetwood Mac ‘Mirage,’ track, ‘Can’t Go Back.’ Stevie is filmed during the 1981 Rolling Stone cover shoot by Annie Leibovitz. As she is having makeup applied, Stevie sings the chorus of ‘Wild Heart,’ over the backing track. It has been circulated for years and is known as The Dressing Room demo.
Another ‘Mirage,’ touchstone is ‘Enchanted.’ You can hear Stevie singing ‘I Hope You Make It!’ as Fleetwood Mac jams out to ‘Eyes of the World,’ (and if your a nerd like Randy, you can sing the entire ‘Enchanted,’ song)
Of course, the STAND out track is ‘Standback!’ The genesis of this song is recounted in the episode, but we thought you’d like to see the two videos that were shot for this single (and Randy stands by his assertion that Stevie never thought she was fat). The first video (or Scarlett version as it is known) can be viewed here. The released version, recently re-mastered by Rhino, fits the song better.
Finally, the closing track (which is the grandest, most sophisticated Stevie song ever), is ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ Originally, this song was demoed for ‘Tusk.’ We’re so glad it didn’t make the cut. The solo version is lush, romantic, and operatic in a way that Stevie had never done before. The live performances of this song always stop the show.
Where’s Raven?
Raven doesn’t have a lot to do in The New Teen Titans #32. We think she took time off from the Teen Titans to help Stevie write ‘Nighbird.‘
Dig Deeper
Randy’s ‘Earth 2 Wild Heart,’ playlist isn’t as comprehensive as the one for ‘Bella Donna,’ but there are some standout tracks that were left off the album:
- Garbo
- All The Beautiful Worlds
- Sorcerer (which deserves it’s own episode)
- Sable on Blonde (alternate take)
- Julia (AGAIN)
The Generic, Non Specific Stevie Nicks Podcast 