Released 1977 Genre Rock Label Warner Bros. | Recorded 1976 Length 5:02 | |
A-side "You Make Loving Fun" (US)
"Don't Stop" (UK) | ||
"Gold Dust Woman" is a song from the best-selling Fleetwood Mac album Rumours. It was written and sung by Stevie Nicks and released as a B-side to the "Don't Stop" single (in the UK) and the "You Make Loving Fun" single (in the US).
Contents
The 2004 two-disc special edition release of Rumours includes two demos of "Gold Dust Woman". One demo features vocal melody and lyrics in the coda which would later be developed into the stand-alone single "If You Ever Did Believe" in 1997, which Nicks recorded with close friend Sheryl Crow as part of the early sessions for her Trouble in Shangri-La album. The track was instead chosen as the theme song for the 1998 Warner Bros. film Practical Magic and is only available on the film's soundtrack album.
Background
The take chosen for release on the 1977 Rumours album was reportedly recorded at 4 a.m., after a long night of attempts in the studio. Just before and during that final take, Stevie Nicks had wrapped her head (though not mouth) with a black scarf, veiling her senses and tapping genuine memories and emotions. Many unusual instruments were used in the recording, including an electric harpsichord with a jet phaser, which was marked with tape so Mick Fleetwood could play the right notes. To accentuate Stevie's vocals, Mick broke sheets of glass. "He was wearing goggles and coveralls — it was pretty funny. He just went mad, bashing glass with this big hammer. He tried to do it on cue, but it was difficult. Eventually, we said, ‘Just break the glass,’ and we fit it all in."
Slant critic Barry Walsh described the song as finding Nicks "at her folky (not flaky) best with one of her most poignant character studies".
Interpretations
When asked about the song in an interview with Courtney Love for Spin in October 1997, Nicks said:
In an interview for VH1's Classic Album series, Nicks offered further insight into the song's meaning:
Personnel
Hole
A cover version by American alternative rock band Hole was released in 1996 as their ninth single on CD by Geffen. It was also featured on the soundtrack to The Crow: City of Angels and was produced by Ric Ocasek of The Cars.