In 1981, Stevie Nicks entered a makeup chair for a photo shoot with photographer Annie Leibovitz, and an unexpected moment of creativity occurred. The photos taken during this session captured Nicks in a flowing white dress and slouchy boots, accompanied by a cockatoo. However, it was her passionate singing of an unfinished version of “Wild Heart” during this time that has continued to resonate with fans. This moment was recorded on video, which has since been enjoyed by many.
At the time, Nicks was promoting her first solo album, Bella Donna. While sitting for makeup, she began to sing, seemingly unable to hold back her emotions. Despite being in a relaxed setting, her powerful voice transformed the atmosphere. The makeup artist quickly realized she was witnessing the early stages of an impressive song. As the music began, the artist made eye contact with Nicks and encouraged her with a little dance.
Amanda Petrusich, writing for The New Yorker, described how Nicks, dressed in a white dress with spaghetti straps, began to sing while getting her makeup done. A backup singer joined in, and the makeup artist eventually set aside her tools to enjoy the moment. Petrusich noted the contrast between the polished studio recording of “Wild Heart” and this raw version, which felt light and joyful.
Petrusich highlighted Nicks’ clear love for singing, noting that her voice had an energetic quality. It seemed that once she started, there was no stopping her, capturing the joy she felt in that moment.
Filmmaker Ryan Booth posted a shorter clip from this scene on Threads, sharing its significance to him and others who appreciate great talent. He mentioned that he has saved multiple copies of the video. In the comments, Booth explained that Nicks’ Fleetwood Mac bandmate Lindsey Buckingham had recorded the demo. He referenced a moment where Nicks mentioned they had sung a line in the car on the way to the shoot.
The music Nicks sang to was an early demo of Buckingham’s song “Can’t Go Back,” originally titled “Suma’s Walk.” This song served as a foundation for “Wild Heart,” which would later appear on her second solo album. Booth noted that the dark-haired backup singer harmonizing with Nicks was Lori Perry, and he reiterated Nicks’ comment about singing together on the way to the shoot.
Many viewers expressed their preference for this raw version over the studio recording, stating that the vocals captured the song’s true magic. Comments on a YouTube clip highlighted Nicks’ beautiful voice and the special atmosphere in the room during the performance. How do you feel about this early version of “Wild Heart”?
Sources:
Source: Upworthy, by Cecily Knobler