Stevie Nicks - Bella Donna

While Stevie Nicks had the most recognizable voice in Fleetwood Mac, there was no guarantee she could craft the same kind of pop-rock magic without the help of the Mac's guiding musical force, Lindsey Buckingham. As such, Bella Donna found her emerging surprisingly strongly as a solo talent. Part of the credit goes to Tom Petty, who gave her an excellent song in "Stop Dragging My Heart Around" (and duets with her on it). But other high points are Nicks's own creations, including the urgently rocking "Edge of Seventeen" and the country-tinged ballad "Leather and Lace" (a duet with Don Henley). A few tunes here are forgettable, but overall Nicks started her solo career on a high note. --Peter Blackstock Amazon.com

 my Bella Donna
The first song to the last are excellent. I think her songs on this album are perfect, I am glad that I made this purchuse. April 6, 2008

 DOin all you cAn for me?
My dear you have a rose here.My love I'll always show my dear: The world music you can't ignore in "Edge of SeventEen" reminiscent of Santana's first,and his "Blues for Salvador".A love for thE mystical lady who guides us "Outside The Rain." Will Dan Seqavy see this?Does not matter as my punker friends were secretly enamoured of Ms. Nicks,and Eric Radke used to chase around the table before were ever any love:Just iNnocenCe:Long Boots,Wiccan nights.I must join rAnks of those like Sarolta in order to bEat them.Stevie Nicks will be my guide:Arianrhod makE room for Rhiannon. June 18, 2007

 Stevie Nicks - Bella Donna
This is a must have for any lover of classic Stevie Nicks! Bella Donna May 8, 2007

 Stevie Nicks: Bella Donna is great for her first solo album!!
Stevie Nicks's Bella Donna album from 1981 is absolutely a great title. This album could be a "mixed bag" of various genres. Rock, easy listening, and country-like are the various genre sounds contained in here. I have heard at least most of the songs on this album; I will not describe the ones I have not yet heard. I will only describe the ones I have heard. The album starts off with the title track, which has a hard rock like sound to it. Stop Draggin' My Heart Around, which has a rock sound to it, is great, as Stevie and Tom Petty share the mike with this one. After the Glitter Fades has a nice mellow country-like sound to it, but with a touch of sadness blended in. After that, you start to hear one of her greatest and most well-known songs, Edge of Seventeen. This song is filled to the brim with a massively bold and hard rock sound to it. Midway through the song, you hear Stevie give out a wailing shout before the brief instrumental solo. Edge of Seventeen is one of my most favorite songs of Stevie's. Leather and Lace is another duet song, this one with the Eagles' Don Henley. This one has a very easy and mellow sound to it; their vocals are blended beautifully together on this. This is another one of my favorite songs of hers. The Highwayman is great, as well; soft, smooth, and mellow country-like sound blended together, but a touch of sadness as well. I own this album on LP, tape and CD and it's a joy to listen to. I had two copies of this album on LP when I was in high school, then bought the CD, and then bought the tape. This title is highly recommended to any fan of Stevie Nicks. In letter grade form, I would give this album an A+!!! November 21, 2006

 Stevie Nicks - Bella Donna (1981)
Stevie Nicks' solo career was off to a strong start before the 1981 release of her first solo album Bella Donna. Nicks had major hits via a duet with Kenny Loggins in 1978 ("Whenever I Call You Friend") and John Stewart in 1979 ("Gold"). In addition, half of the hits from Fleetwood Mac's 1979 Tusk album were penned by Nicks ("Sara" and "Sisters of the Moon"). The songs of Bella Donna take these successes as their starting point and fill the rest of the album with Nicks' more typically output.

The result was a shrewdly crafted classic rock album that appealed strongly to both her existing fan base and the general listener. Top 10 duets such as "Stop Dragging My Heart Around" and "Leather and Lace" catapulted the album to the #1 spot, making Nicks the first (and ultimately the only) member of Fleetwood Mac to earn solid commercial success outside the group. So much for the question of whether she's a viable solo act.

However, Bella Donna was much more than a calculated star vehicle. "Edge of Seventeen" is Stevie in all her mystical glory and has become a rock standard outlasting the more standard fare such as "Stop Dragging My Heart Around." Other Nicks' songs, notably "Kind of Woman" and "After the Glitter Fades," are songwriting jewels proving she has the goods regardless of who she partners with. "Outside the Rain" is a great track if you're a Nicks fan, but a solo album for a star like Stevie Nicks should cater to the fans.

Bella Donna was the perfect album to get Nicks established as a solo artist, and it does so without compromising her image or style. That Nicks could pull this off in the all boys' club of late seventies rock was no mean feat. As great as Bella Donna is, however, Nicks' next album, The Wild Heart, would be even better. June 27, 2006

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