Top 10 Stevie Nicks Songs

Photo: By Khiltscher (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Our Top 10 Stevie Nicks songs list looks at the solo work of one of rock and roll’s most cherished artists. For this article, we will ignore the brilliant songs Stevie Nicks wrote and recorded with Fleetwood Mac and entirely focus on her eight solo albums. It could be argued that Stevie Nicks has established herself as having one of the most distinctive voices and personalities in the history of popular music. The mystical white witch persona has been shaped by a body of work that uniquely delivers songs of romanticism.

Stevie Nicks’ first solo album, Bella Donna, was released in 1980. Since that album’s initial release, Stevie Nicks has released seven more solo albums, with her latest 24 Karat Gold: Songs From The Vault being issued in 2014. Aside from her solo efforts, Stevie Nicks has frequently collaborated and appeared as a guest vocalist on albums and songs by rock superstars such as Sheryl Crow, Tom Petty, Walter Egan, Chris Isaak, Don Henley, Todd Rundgren, Ringo Starr, John Stewart, Vanessa Carlton, Bob Welch, Rick Zitto, Robin Zander, and BB. King and Taylor Swift.

Stevie Nicks is one of those rare artists who has celebrated chart success while maintaining an incredible display of integrity and originality. Stevie Nicks has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards throughout her solo career. She has reunited with Fleetwood Mac numerous times since the initial breakup. Our Top 10 Stevie Nicks Songs list looks at some of our favorite Stevie Nicks songs, which are entirely subjective. However, if you are unfamiliar with her catalog, you should listen to these 10 Stevie Nicks songs first.

# 10 – Destiny – Street Angel

Stevie Nicks’ song “Destiny” was released on her 1994 album Street Angel. It’s hard to believe, but Street Angel was the only album Stevie Nicks released in the 1990s. Her reunion with Fleetwood Mac in 1997 for the Dance Tour seemed to keep her pretty occupied for the time being. Stevie Nicks also found the time to record with Lindsey Buckingham for the Twister Movie Soundtrack in between her shows with Fleetwood Mac. While her Street Angel album may not have fared well commercially speaking, the album still contained a multitude of treasures.

Songs like “Blue Denim, Rose Garden, and Street Angel” were terrific pieces of music that stand up well against many of her big hits. However, our favorite song on the album was the double entendre titled “Destiny.” It is a beautiful song that echoes some of Stevie Nicks’s best work.

# 9 – Sorcerer – Trouble in Shangri-La

The haunting song “Sorcerer” was issued on Stevie Nicks’ Trouble in Shangri-La album. The record was released on May 1st, 2001. It was Stevie Nicks’ first album since her acclaimed box set, Enchanted, was released in 1998. The album included several tracks produced by Sheryl Crow. One of those tracks, entitled “Sorcerer,” blended the mystique of Stevie Nicks’ past and present with a tremendous, dark rhythmic groove anchored by Sheryl Crow’s harmonies.

While Sheryl Crow was an enormous star in the late 1990s and early 2000s, her admiration for Stevie Nicks helped channel her energy into delivering a wonderfully produced version of a Stevie Nicks song that had never been released or recorded, only in previous demo versions. The collaboration between Stevie Nicks and Sheryl Crow was a perfect match of talent and creativity, seemingly inspired by friendship and admiration for each other. It was a collaborative effort that greatly benefited fans of both artists.

# 8 – Rooms on Fire – Other Side of the Mirror

Stevie Nicks’ song “Rooms on Fire” was released on her album The Other Side of the Mirror. The album was released in May of 1989. The song “Rooms on Fire” opened the album and was also the first single released. The song reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was a songwriting collaboration between Stevie Nicks and Rick Nowels. We have chosen “Rooms on Fire” to be included on our Top 10 Stevie Nicks songs list because the song somehow seemed to bridge the gaps between Stevie Nicks’ dance-oriented material with her pop sensibilities and Wild Heart writing style. In essence, it was a pure pop single filled with artistic brilliance and substance.

# 7 – If Anyone Falls In Love – The Wild Heart

Stevie Nicks’ follow-up album to her solo debut, Bella Donna, was released on June 10th, 1983. The album entitled The Wild Heart featured three single releases, including “Stand Back If Anyone Falls and Nightbird.” It was an album featuring some of the most influential rock musicians of the time. Guest appearances included Bruce Springsteen’s pianist Roy Bittan, Toto’s Steve Lukather, Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Waddy Watchell, Don Felder, Russ Kunkel, and even an appearance by Prince.

If we had to choose our favorite Stevie Nicks album, The Wild Heart would be our choice. As every song on the record has become a sentimental favorite, choosing only a few to be represented on our Top 10 Stevie Nicks Songs list became quite challenging. We have chosen three. “If Anyone Falls In Love” becomes the first to be listed here. We will let the music speak for itself on this one.

Read More: Top 10 Stevie Nicks Ballads

# 6 – Leather and Lace – Bella Donna

There have been so many wonderful rock and roll duets recorded in classic rock history. Many rock and roll duets have featured a mega artist teaming up with a backup singer or a lesser-known artist. Rarely have we seen a collaboration between two mega artists that worked as well as the duet between Stevie Nicks and Don Henley.

Their recording of “Leather and Lace” has become one of the most earnest and heartfelt duets ever recorded. The song was released on Stevie Nicks’ 1981 Bella Donna LP. The song “Leather and Lace” was the second single released from the album on October 6th, 1981. Besides the beautiful vocals that Don Henley provided on the track, the ex-Eagles member also contributed drums to the track.

Read More: Top 10 Stevie Nicks Album Covers

# 5 – Stand Back

Stevie Nicks ‘ “Stand Back” was the first single released from her Wild Heart LP. The heavy keyboard-dominated track may sound a bit dated, but it fits perfectly into the sonic landscape of early 1980s synth-dominated radio. The early 1980s saw a renaissance of disco, infused with a modern sound shaped by the Flashdance soundtrack and the success of Michael Jackson’s Thriller album.

The term “disco” would be changed to “dance music,” as brass horn sections and four-on-the-floor bass drums were absent. The advent of synthesizer technology created a new sound that modeled the reemergence of dance and post-punk/new wave. The video “Stand Back” defines the influence of dance on pop culture.

# 4 – Edge of Seventeen – Bella Donna

It’s hard to believe that the iconic song “Edge of Seventeen” was not the first single released off the Bella Donna LP. But then again, one cannot really argue against the logic of releasing “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” and “Leather and Lace” as the first two singles. That being said, Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen” may be the heaviest song of her career. Waddy Wachtel’s dynamic guitar work at the song’s start prepped Stevie Nicks to deliver one of the fieriest vocals she has ever recorded. Along with “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around, “Stevie Nicks “Edge Of Seventeen” was one of the most frequently played videos on MTV at the dawn of the music video era.

# 3 – Bella Donna – Bella Donna

For most of us, the song “Bella Donna” was the first Stevie Nicks song we ever heard outside of Fleetwood Mac. The song was the opening track to her first solo album, Bella Donna. And what are the ways to begin a solo career? Even though Stevie Nicks would continue to record and perform with Fleetwood Mac, “Bella Donna” firmly established her as one of the most cherished female singer-songwriters in history.

We all loved her solo songs in Fleetwood Mac, but “Bella Donna“ delivered on what we all wanted: more Stevie Nicks songs. One song, “Bella Donna,” defined the mystical presence that had become synonymous with songs like “Rhiannon” and “Gold Dust Woman.” The album and song “Bella Donna” took that mystique to a whole new level.

# 2 – Wild Heart – The Wild Heart

What had begun with “Bella Donna” evolved with The Wild Heart. While the mystical enchantment forces still resonated throughout her work, The Wild Heart album took on a more romantic perspective. The focus defined the concepts of heartbreak, abandonment, and the search for true love against the counter-concepts of lust and freedom. The album’s self-titled opening track may never have been released as a single, but it was easily our favorite song on an album we previously called our favorite Stevie Nicks album of all time. So, in essence, that is saying a great deal about the song “Wild Heart.”

Everything we love about Stevie Nicks is represented in the “Wild Heart.” Our character flaws, mistakes, and heartbreak can be felt most earnestly while listening to the song. And somewhere within the lyrics, melody, and the sound of Stevie Nicks’s voice is a communal redemption that serves as a rescue mission. Not many songs can ever serve to repair the damage that life can inflict on so many hearts. Stevie Nicks achieved that rare liberation of the soul that defined the importance of art in the world we live in.

Read More: Top 10 Stevie Nicks Albums

# 1 – Beauty and the Beast (Soundstage Sessions)

Choosing the Number One spot on our Top 10 Stevie Nicks Songs list was a grueling experience because of the emotional connection we feel toward many of her songs. We grew up with Stevie Nicks songs. They played a massive role in our lives. Her music is so genuine that it connected with me on so many personal levels. Nonetheless, the fun of writing and viewing lists is seeing what lies at the top. With the help of Paul Buckmaster’s fantastic string section and his masterful experiences writing arrangements for pop musicians, “Beauty and the Beast” stands as one of the most spectacular performances in a career of breathtaking performances.

The song “Beauty and the Beast” closed out The Wild Heart. It was a perfect song to close out an album filled with various romantic perspectives. While we love the version of “Beauty and the Beast” on The Wild Heart album, the version recorded for her Soundstage album is even more breathtaking.

Ten more Stevie Nicks Fans Love

It was so hard to pick only ten; here are ten more we have listened to repeatedly, and that many others have picked as their favorites. Once again, we are just sticking to her solo songs…….

# 10 – Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)

The great duet between Stevie and Tom Petty was released on her debut solo album, Bella Donna, in 1981. MTV used to play this one every hour

# 9 – All The Beautiful Words

This song was released on the 2014 album 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault.

# 8 – Blue Denim

“Blue Denim” was the opening track from her 1994 album release entitled Street Angel. Blue Denim was the album’s second single.

# 7 – Talk To Me

This great song was released from her most underrated album, titled Rock a Little. The album was released in 1985. “Talk To Me” was the album’s first single release.

# 6 – For What It’s Worth

The song “For What It’s Worth” was written by Stevie Nicks and Mike Campbell. The song was released on the album In Your Dreams. The album was released in 2011. This is one of the most spectacular songs Stevie Nicks has released in the 21st century.