Top 10 Stevie Nicks Albums

Stevie Nicks Albums

Photo: Awil916 / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Our top 10 Stevie Nicks Albums list takes a look at all the excellent and very powerful, passionate-filled albums Stevie Nicks has released throughout her marvelous solo career. We love every single one of them, and it’s tough even to rank them. In many ways, we are not ranking them in order of quality; we are just listing them in order of our favorites. They are all fabulous albums, and we highly recommend every single one of them to anybody who’s never heard the albums before.

Stevie Nicks’ first solo album, entitled Bella Donna, was released in 1981. The album was a huge success. The follow-up album, The Wild Heart, was released two years later in 1983. So far, as of 2024, Stevie Nicks has released eight studio albums. She has also released five compilation albums and one fantastic live album. And, of course, besides all these brilliant solo albums was her work with Fleetwood Mac, which this article does not explore.

This Top 10 Stevie Nicks album article is all about her solo work. It mixes her studio records, live albums, and an extraordinary compilation release. We hope you enjoy this great list, and check out any of these Stevie Nicks albums you are unfamiliar with.

# 10 – Timespace: The Best of Stevie Nicks

Stevie Nicks Albums Timespace: The Best of Stevie Nicks

We open up our top 10 Stevie Nicks albums list in an unusual way compared to most of our other top 10 album lists. This is the first time we’ve put a greatest hits package on an artist’s top 10 albums list. There are two reasons for this. First is the point that Stevie Nicks only released eight studio albums. The other reason is there are three new songs on this record. Furthermore, many of the songs on this album were remixed and sounded very different from the originals. Even if you have every Stevie Nicks studio album, we still highly recommend this one because of the unreleased songs and the new mixes.

# 9 – Street Angel

Stevie Nicks Albums Street Angel

Stevie Nicks Street Angel album was released in 1994. The album was supposedly released during a troublesome time in Stevie Nicks’ life. Over the years, Stevie Nicks has mentioned many issues with the recording. Nonetheless, It’s still a Stevie Nicks album and one that we have really enjoyed over the years. The standout track has always been the great song “Blue Denim.”

# 8 – Trouble in Shangri-La

Stevie Nicks Albums Trouble in Shangri-La

Continuing with our list of top 10 Stevie Nicks albums, we turn to the album Trouble in Shangri-La. The record featured one of our all-time favorite Stevie Nicks album covers. Trouble in Shangri-La was released in 2001. The album featured a Rumours outtake which was newly recorded called “Candlebright.” The record also contained the song “Sorcerer,” which had been recorded for The Wild Heart album but had been used on the Streets Of Fire soundtrack instead.

Stevie Nicks’ friendship at the time with Sheryl Crow led Stevie Nicks to record a  Sheryl Crow song on the record called “It’s Only Love.” Sheryl Crow played guitar and bass and performed backing vocals on the record. Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench from the Heartbreakers were also on board. Other rock star guest appearances included Lindsey Buckingham, Macy Gray, and Sarah McLachlan.

# 7 – In Your Dreams

Stevie Nicks Albums In Your Dreams

In 2011, Stevie Nicks released the album In Your Dreams. It was her first new studio album in ten years. It’s hard to believe that Stevie Nicks took ten years in between her solo albums, but then again, she got involved once again with Fleetwood Mac during that time period. The album was produced by Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, who had also built up an impressive resume of production credits, including six albums with Ringo Starr. The album was also produced by Glen Ballard, who was known not only as a great songwriter but also as the producer of Alanis Morissette’s debut album, Jagged Little Pill. 

# 6 – The Other Side of the Mirror

Stevie Nicks Albums The Other Side of the Mirror

Another great album, another great cover, and another record full of passionate vocals and performances by the beautiful Stevie Nicks. The album The Other Side Of The Mirror was released in 1989. Four great singles were released from the album, including the songs “Rooms on Fire,” “Long Way to Go,” “Two Kinds of Love,” and “Whole Lotta Trouble.”

# 5 – The Soundstage Session

Stevie Nicks Albums The Soundstage Session

Although it is unfair to rank a live album among an artist’s studio albums because it can also serve as a greatest hits package, the Soundstage Sessions CD is just too good not to rank this high. Additionally, the CD mixes Stevie Nick’s live performance with a string section overdubbed in the studio and mixed onto the live recordings. Stevie Nicks lit the room on fire on that October evening in 2007, and this CD defines every minute of it, especially the ballads.

# 4 – Rock a Little

I always loved this album in a sort of separate way from Bella Donna and Wild Heart. It was a departure from her first two solo albums regarding production and arrangements. Part of the reason for the change in sound was the departure of Stevie Nicks’ longtime producer, Jimmy Iovine, although he had produced four songs on the record. Yet, of course, the album retained that mystical Stevie Nicks spirit. The album’s title track, “Rock A Little,” is especially addicting and perhaps the most underrated song on the album. Probably because it stood in the shadows of some of the album’s big hit singles like “Talk To Me” and “I Can’t Wait.” The album also presented Stevie Nicks fans with one of the most beautiful ballads of her career, the wonderful song “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You?”

The album featured an all-star cast of musicians as usual with members of the bands Little Feat and Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers performing on the record. Former Allman Brothers Band guitarist Les Dudek also played on the album and co-wrote one of the songs. Four separate drummers played on the album, including Steve Jordan, Russ Kunkel, Andy Newmark, and Denny Carmassi. The same went for guitarists and bass players. Marilyn Martin sang background vocals on the record. Marilyn Martin would release a few solo albums and have a couple of big time hits in the mid to late 1980s with the songs “Night Moves,” and a duet with Phil Collins entitled “Separate Ways.”

# 3 –24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault

Stevie Nicks Albums 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault

Stevie Nicks’ album 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault was an unexpected surprise for Stevie Nicks fans. The album featured a collection of demos that Stevie Nicks had put down on tape from 1969 to 1987. However, the album did not feature the original demos but instead newly recorded versions of those songs.

Some fans had heard some of the songs due to bootleg versions circulating over the years. Nonetheless, Stevie Nicks’ newly recorded versions of these songs were fabulous. The songs also defined the many changes Stevie Nicks songwriting has gone through over the years. Yet, despite any stylistic changes, the one constant apparent in this material was the magical soulfulness and mystical qualities that have always been inherent in her music. Don’t miss this one!

# 2 – Bella Donna

Stevie Nicks Albums Bella Donna

Stevie Nicks Bella Donna album was the legendary artist’s first solo record. The closest Stevie Nicks had ever come to a solo record during her career was the duet album she did with Lindsey Buckingham entitled Buckingham Nicks which was released before the two joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975. Nonetheless, Stevie Nicks fans were thrilled to finally receive a full album of Stevie Nicks songs instead of the Fleetwood Mac records that usually contained no more than two or three Stevie Nicks songs and lead vocals. Some were worried that maybe an entire album of Stevie Nicks songs would lessen the effect of her music when compared to the limited release of her songs on Fleetwood Mac albums. Nothing could be further from the truth. Bella Donna was further proof of the sheer talent and brilliance in the soul of that Stevie Nicks heart. It was a brilliant debut album that exceeded expectations and brought much to Stevie Nicks fans and music fans.

The Bella Donna album featured some pretty big hits. The Bella Donna record was released during the summer of 1981. Four singles were released from the album. The album’s first single, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” was written by Tom Petty and Mike Campbell. The song was a smash success, reaching the number three position on the Billboard Top 100 in 1981. The song was played on MTV’s inaugural day during that summer. The video featuring Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty went into high rotation, further fueling the song’s success. The second single released from the album was a duet Stevie Nicks sang with the Eagles Don Henley entitled “Leather and Lace.” It was a gorgeous song that melted the hearts of so many Stevie Nicks fans.

After releasing two singles recorded as duets, Stevie Nicks released the rocker “Edge of Seventeen” as the album’s third single but only featured herself on lead vocals. The album’s fourth and final single release was another ballad entitled “After the Glitter Fades.” Over time, Stevie Nicks’ album Bella Donna has become the biggest-selling album of her solo career.

# 1 – The Wild Heart

Stevie Nicks Albums The Wild Heart

While Stevie Nicks’ debut album Bella Donna was welcomed with open arms by Stevie Nicks fans, it was the follow-up album entitled The Wild Heart which would be the record we had all been waiting for. Hands down, The Wild Heart is Stevie Nicks’ masterpiece. It is a compelling, heartwarming, brilliant record in which every track is a work of genius. But it was not so much the album’s brilliance that Stevie Nicks fans sounded so gripping; it was the album’s emotional core that felt so genuine. It began instantly on the title track “Wild Heart.” Anyone who ever suffered through a relationship that ended badly or just ended could relate to the song so dearly. It hurt,  yet it healed. It made you feel like your pain was not just yours alone.

The Wild Heart was another album filled with guest appearances by some of the most talented musicians and artists in the business. Tom Petty and many of his bandmates were on board again with the great song “I Will Run To You.” Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac played drums on the track “Sable on Blond.” Steve Lukather, who stands as one of the greatest studio guitarists of all time, besides being the founding member of the band Toto, also played on the record.


Professional Sources, research, experience, and citations

Charting and career information used in the analysis and research of the commercial success of these albums comes from the following sources
https://www.billboard.com/charts/
https://stevienicksofficial.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Nicks
http://rockalittle.com/
https://www.biography.com/musicians/stevie-nicks

Further analysis and original thoughts are provided by the writer Brian Kachejian’s experience as a professional musician and music collector for over 50 years and his experience as a New York State certified music and history educator and professional music journalist with the New York Press.

Top 10 Stevie Nicks Albums article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024

DMCA.com Protection Status

Add Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Living Colour Songs
Top 10 Living Colour Songs
Modest Mouse Songs
Top 10 Modest Mouse Songs
Killswitch Engage Songs
Top 10 Killswitch Engage Songs
Mountain Songs
Top 10 Mountain Songs
Eagles Albums
Picking Out Our Favorite Eagles Albums
George Harrison Albums
Our Favorite George Harrison Albums
Electric Light Orchestra Albums
10 Electric Light Orchestra Albums Everyone Should Own
Stevie Nicks Albums
Top 10 Stevie Nicks Albums
Monsters of Rock Cruise 2024: Day Five Review
Justin Hawkins of The Darkness Monsters Of Rock Cruise 2024: Day Four Review
Monsters Of Rock Cruise 2024: Day Four Review
M3 Rock Festival Is Back For 15th year! May 4 & 5 In Columbia, MD
Monsters of Rock Cruise 2024: Day Three Review
Russell Marsden Interview
An Interview With Russell Marsden of Band Of Skulls
Jeff Fabb of Black Label Society Interview
An Interview With Jeff Fabb of Black Label Society
Joey Vera of Armored Saint: The ClassicRockHistory.com Interview
Mel Gaynor Interview
An Interview With Mel Gaynor, Formerly Of Simple Minds
Ace Frehley Albums
Complete List of Ace Frehley Albums And Discography
Status Quo Albums
Complete List Of Status Quo Studio Albums And Discography
Phantom, Rocker & Slick Albums
Complete List Of Phantom, Rocker & Slick Albums
Paul Young Albums
Complete List Of Paul Young Albums And Discography
Music CDs Comeback
Why Music CDs Have No Chance Of Making A Comeback
Classic Rock Bands Still Together But Overdue For A New Album
Classic Rock Bands Still Together But Overdue For A New Album
When Glam Bands Went Grunge In The 1990s
When Glam Bands Went Grunge In The 1990s
25 Most Famous Female American Singers Now!
25 Most Famous Female American Singers Now!
11 Tracks Of Whack Album Review
Walter Becker – 11 Tracks of Whack Album Review
Sammy Hagar Album Review
Why Sammy Hagar’s 1977 ‘Sammy Hagar’ LP Was One Of His Best
Grand Funk On Time Album Review
Looking Back At Grand Funk Railroad’s Debut Album ‘On Time’
Ghost Writer Album Review
How ‘Ghost Writer’ Turned Us On To The Music Of Garland Jeffreys