Stevie Nicks in 50 Songs
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
A visually stunning, definitive tribute to rock’s most enigmatic, enduring, and stylish icon, Stevie Nicks, written by New York Times bestselling music journalist Annie Zaleski.
This beautifully illustrated book goes beyond the glitter and shawls to explore the raw artistry, resilience, and magic that define Stevie Nicks’s five-decade career. From singing “Are You Mine” with her grandfather in Phoenix to becoming the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice, Stevie’s story is as sweeping and bold as her stage presence. Stevie Nicks in 50 Songs covers it all: her early musical roots, folk and country influences, first guitar at sixteen, and fateful harmony with Lindsey Buckingham on “California Dreamin’”—a moment that launched one of rock’s most complicated partnerships.
This is not just a music biography. It’s a deep dive into Stevie’s powerful songwriting and mythmaking. The book analyzes iconic tracks like “Rhiannon,” inspired by Welsh mythology, “Landslide,” written during a pivotal moment in her relationship with Buckingham, and “Stand Back,” created with an uncredited synth assist from Prince. It covers breakout Fleetwood Mac hits like “Dreams” and “Gold Dust Woman,” along with cult classics from the Buckingham Nicks era and her solo work, like “Edge of Seventeen.” The book also offers surprising insights into her personal life: her friendships, her struggle with addiction, her political engagement, and advocacy work. Nick's unmatched fashion legacy shines through these pages, too. A dedicated section explores her famous shawls and capes, her di Fabrizio boots, the mystical Rumours look, and her real-life wardrobe inspirations. Beyond the music and style, Stevie Nicks in 50 Songs dives into the artist's cultural impact, like her pop mentorship of artists Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and more.
Featuring rare photos, extensive track breakdowns, and revealing quotes, Stevie Nicks in 50 Songs is not just a celebration of a career. It’s a celebration of a woman who twirled through heartbreak and fame and emerged bolder than ever.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Music historian Zaleski (Taylor Swift) chronicles the career of Fleetwood Mac frontwoman Stevie Nicks in a series of brisk, colorful recaps of the making of her most formative songs. Zaleski explores the backstories of hits like 1975's "Rhiannon" (whose title character's "wild, unfettered" energy was inspired by the legend of the "goddess of steeds and maker of birds" from the Mabinogion, a collection of early Welsh folklore); 1993's "Landslide" (a song of "delicate folk-pop beauty" that captured the emotional chaos Nicks experienced over her father's health struggles and the uncertainty of her early music career); and 1981's "Edge of Seventeen," whose "impressionistic" lyrics drew from multiple strands of her life (the song's white-winged dove references a drawing Nicks once saw on an airplane menu). Along the way, Zaleski explores Nicks's musical influences, including the Mamas & the Papas and the Stone Poneys; the relationships—romantic and professional—that defined her life; and her struggles with addiction to cocaine and prescription drugs. Zaleski doesn't shy away from her subject's artistic and personal challenges but assumes a triumphant tone throughout, celebrating Nicks's music, idiosyncratic fashion style, and influence on artists like Sheryl Crow, Harry Styles, and Taylor Swift. The result is an enjoyable, accessible survey of the creative inspirations of one of the most dynamic voices in rock music. Photos.
