Does anyone know the name of the Prince song that inspired Stevie Nick's song Stand Back from 1983? She mentions him in the liner notes to her greatest hits cd but not the song. Also, any info on the relationship / meetings between the two?

It was Little Red Corvette.

I'd read this before, but I didn't know the song was "Little Red."

Stand Back is a favorite because its a lot of fun, its a lot of fun and its a dancing song I mean its like even for me its like you know, hearing when it starts out, I almost feel like I 'm hearing it coming out of a club or something, so that's why its so much fun.
~Stevie Nicks, Radio Interview, WMGK Radio, July 1998

I got married the day I wrote this song. We were driving to Santa Barbara and a new song by Prince came on, so we pulled over somewhere and got the tape. It just gave me an incredible idea, so I spent many hours that night writing a song about some kind of crazy argument, and it was to become one of the most important of my songs. I've been doing this song for years, Fleetwood Mac does it also, and I never get tired of it. 'Stand Back' has always been my favorite song onstage, because...when it starts, it has an energy that comes from somewhere unknown...and it seems to have no timespace. I've never quite understood this sound....but I have NEVER questioned it.

I become a different person, and I like that, because usually I make up my OWN characters...but the lady in 'Stand Back' was not my idea. By the way, Prince did come into the studio the night I called him and told him about the song, and he played incredible synthesizer on it...and then he just walked out of my life, and I didn't see him for a long time.

It was extraordinary...
~Stevie Nicks, Timespace Liner Notes, 1991

I phoned Prince out of the blue, hummed a melody, and he listened," says Nicks of the latter hit's gestation. "I hung up, and he came over within the hour. He listened again, and I said, 'Do you hate it?' He said, 'No,' and walked over to the synthesizers that were set up, was absolutely brilliant for about twenty five minutes, and then left. He was so uncanny, so wild, he spoiled me for every band I've ever had because nobody can exactly re-create - not even with two piano players-what Prince did all by his little self.
~Stevie Nicks, Rock Lives, by Timothy White,1991

I can't even really tell you what Stand Back is about. Stand Back's kinda about more than one thing. There was a lot going on when Stand Back was written so it kinda pulled together all the things that were happening so it wasn't about one thing. It was written very quickly and I really did hum along to Little Red Corvette. ...and of course, now you can go home and do it too. If you search you will be able to find it. So, it was kinda more built around that whole thing, you know? Stand Back and Dreams are my two favorite songs to perform on stage.
~Stevie Nicks, Jim Ladd Interview, 1998

[On what the lyrics You'll be standing in a line mean] To be standing in a line…like a welfare line… to be standing in a line waiting to get money or something… to be standing in a line waiting… you'll be standing in a line. It was another angry song! (laughs)
~Stevie Nicks, Jim Ladd Interview, 1998

Standback comes from a place unknown even to me. A hush surrounded it from the very beginning~and a feeling that it had always been was there from the first. 'Standback' lives in it's own timespace. It never belonged to me, it has always belonged to the world~and to Prince, who inspired the entire song.
~Stevie Nicks, Timespace Tourbook, 1991

I posted a while back a random article I found about Stevie talking about the making of this song. I have to find the article again-it's hysterical. From what I remember, Fleetwood Mac was playing a show in 1982 not too far from Minneapolis. Prince apparently picked Stevie up in his car and she said b/c they only had a few hours to work on STAND BACK before she had to be at the Fleetwood Mac show, Prince drove like a maniac and she jokingly added that she yelled at him that he would get a speeding ticket and she didn't think she'd make it to the concert alive.

They were kind of an item for a brief bit, weren't they?

I love the fact she honours Prince whenever she can. That's something the then Prince must have learned from...

kinaldo said:

It was "Little Red Corvette".I think Stevie's song 'Stand Back" is supposed to be some kind of answer song,coming from a woman's point of view.

Love me some Stevie. She's still an attractive woman.

Cloudbuster said:

She is still quite attractive but she was particularly gorgeous back in the 70s and 80s. I downloaded some old live and video clips and was quite stunned at just how stunning she was. But I must say the Stand Back video is as cheesy as cheese can be, even for an 80's video.

purplegypsy said:

Yeah, I've seen this article as well. They dated for a bit in 83. As for "Stand Back",when the song was released, MTV talked about P's involvement. He played keyboards AND guitar, and actually helped arrange the music, but asked Stevie not mention him in the credits.

blackguitaristz said:

At an award show in P's hometown in 83, Stevie was P's date and they danced together all night. Again in 83 in March, I went to the 1999 show in L.A.. It was definately a star studded event. Bruce Springstten, Stevie Wonder, members of the Jacksons, and so on were there. I personally saw Stevie Nicks at that show. I remember back in 80, seeing Stevie at the airport in Arizona. I always had a crush on Stevie when I was a kid, so it was very cool seeing her there. I remember thinking "Wow, she's really short." Funny, I would later go on thinking the same exact thing when I saw P up close. Visually, they definately fit as a couple.

blackguitaristz said:

Also, I think they were perfect for each other because of the, how shall I say?
Dark elements they both had at that time. I remember thinking after seeing P on his 1999 tour, that his boots were straight off of Stevie's "Belladonna" album. I'm curious if purplegypsy ever noticed this. I'm sure that she has. Look at Stevie's boots with the ruffled material and the buttons on the sides. Exactly what Prince started wearing a year later in 82. I think Stevie "influenced" that.

purplegypsy said:

Great story!

blackguitaristz said:

I believe those are leg-warmers over platform boots...but it's hard to tell....Ive read here and there that her boots are custom made for her...

Ive seen that she also wears platform tennies...

MrTation said:

It's made to look like legwarmers. The buttons are on the boots.

blackguitaristz said:

gotcha

Okay, call me stupid.

Back in the day before I really knew much about Fleetwood Mac. I always thought that Lindsey Buckingham was Stevie Nicks and Stevie Nicks was Lindsey Buckingham. I just always assumed(operative word) that Stevie was a boys name and Lindsey was a girls name.

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

Lindsey is a boy's name, but Lindsay is a girl's name. Maybe that's where you got confused.

I couldn't resist...

I just heard "Stand Back" on the radio not coming home. Unforunately, it was on a station that didn't come in very well. Love that song.

purplegypsy said:

Cool! She's such a hottie!

"Stand Back" is actually registered under copyright with both Stevie and Prince as songwriters. Apparently, Stevie deliberately downplays his involvement, per P's request.

My girl!!!!

Stevie is due for another solo album! Last one was in 2001.

You know... years past by before I caught that the synth line on this song was the same as Little Red Corvette.

"Stand Back" was one of my favorite pop songs of 1983. I also liked "If Anyone Falls In Love".


Brother 9/15

It was cool to see Stevie at the opening night of the recent Musicology tour.