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Thirty-three years ago today, in 1981 Stevie Nicks released Bella Donna, her first solo album. Four tracks from the LP reached the Top 40 list in the U.S. including “Leather and Lace,” (with Don Henley), “After Glitter Fades,” “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” (with Tom Petty) and “Edge of Seventeen.” Today, the Fleetwood Mac frontwoman releases the first single from her upcoming solo album 24 Karat Gold – Songs From the Vault. This will be her first full length album since her 2011 LP In Your Dreams. The new track, “The Dealer” was produced by herself, Dave Stewart, and guitarist Waddy Watchel, and was presented with a lyric video, enabling you to sing along sooner than you normally would.
“The Dealer” was originally written and recorded by Nicks with Fleetwood Mac in the late 70’s while the band finished up their 1979 album Tusk. “The Dealer” demo didn’t make the cut, and was eventually leaked. Nicks said in an interview with the Associated Press, that she was inspired by the bootleg copies of previously written songs after happening to find a bundle of the leaked tunes on YouTube. “We found all the songs that, somehow, were taken from my house or picked up or loaned out or whatever,” she said, adding: “I call them my 24 karat gold songs.” She continued, according to Rollingstone, in the press statement, “Each song is a lifetime. Each song has a soul. Each song has a purpose. Each song is a love story. They represent my life behind the scenes, the secrets, the broken hearts, the broken hearted and the survivors. These songs are the memories — the 24 karat gold rings in the blue box. These songs are for you.”
The new single is piano-driven, with a swinging rhythm to it, a song about misguided love, admitting your mistakes and ultimately learning your lesson. On the chorus Nicks sings, “I was the mistress of my fate, I was the card shark / If I’d’ve looked a little ahead, I would’ve run away,” her plush voice advising that she has indeed learned her lesson when she concludes with “If I’d really known you then / You’d’ve had to watch out.”
Warner Brothers will release 24 Karat Gold on October 7th on this year. For fans who just can’t wait, and happen to love vinyl, the limited edition double LP is available for pre-ordering now, and will be available for pick up September 29th. Check back in with FDRMX for more news on preview tracks to come from Stevie Nicks. Order her album and find out more here.