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5 Classic Rock Icons You Forgot Played a Part in Stevie Nicks’ 1981 Solo Debut
Stevie Nicks' 1981 solo debut album, Bella Donna, is often remembered as a defining moment in her career away from Fleetwood Mac, but it also relied heavily on contributions from other prominent rock musicians. Released that summer, the record blended Nicks' distinctive songwriting with input from established performers and in-demand session players, several of whose roles have since been largely forgotten.
Tom Petty gave Nicks the song "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around", which became a duet after she kept his guide vocal on the recording, while Don Henley of the Eagles sang alongside her on "Leather And Lace", a track originally intended for Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter. E Street Band keyboardist Roy Bittan played on several songs, including "Edge Of Seventeen", and co-wrote "Think About It", while veteran session musicians Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass and Waddy Wachtel on guitar added further instrumental depth across the album.
In short
- Stevie Nicks' 1981 album Bella Donna featured several uncredited rock stars.
- Tom Petty and Don Henley both sang duets with Nicks on the record.
- Session players Roy Bittan, Duck Dunn and Waddy Wachtel also contributed.
Explained simply
Stevie Nicks, the vocalist and songwriter of Fleetwood Mac, released her solo debut album Bella Donna in summer 1981. The album arrived whilst she remained an active member of the band.
The record featured contributions from several prominent rock musicians. Tom Petty provided and performed "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" as a duet with Nicks, Don Henley of the Eagles sang on "Leather And Lace", Roy Bittan of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band played keyboards and co-wrote another track, and session musicians Donald Dunn and Waddy Wachtel contributed bass and guitar. These collaborators were all established figures in rock music at the time.
Beyond Nicks' own songwriting and arrangements, Bella Donna drew significantly on contributions from these other musicians across multiple roles. Their input shaped the album's final sound and the record marked a convergence of several major rock artists' talents into a single project.
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