Classic Tune of the Week 15

Today I am posting one of my favorite Stevie Nicks songs. “After The Glitter Fades” is a country tinged ballad that peaked at #32 on the Billboard Charts back in 1981. The song was one of four hit singles from Nicks’ debut solo album Bella Donna. The album was released in July of 1981 and reached #1 in September. The album held onto the #1 spot for only one week but achieved platinum status in October. Bella Donna is Nicks’ most successful solo album and has sold over 4 million copies worldwide. Other hits from the album include “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”, “Leather and Lace”, and “Edge of Seventeen”.

My crush on Stevie Nicks is well known to all who know me. While I’ve always felt Nicks was a beautiful woman it was her voice that really hooked me. You recognize Nicks’ voice from the first note no matter the song. The other thing that drew me to Stevie Nicks was that there always seemed to be something a little sad about her. Maybe it was just the effect of her doe-like brown eyes but I’ve always gotten the impression that there is a bit of melancholy within Nicks.

"After The Glitter Fades" is very different from other Stevie Nicks songs. It could easily pass for a pure country song. Maybe that is why it doesn’t get much airtime these days. In any case, it remains one of my favorites. The video below is a recording of the actual piano only demo tape of the song with Nicks playing, singing, and providing her own backing vocals. A slide show of Nicks pictures is included. I hope you enjoy it.



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