Gold Dust Woman
Encyclopedia
"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 "You Make Loving Fun
" single. Along with "Rhiannon
" and "Dreams
", it is often regarded as a signature song of Stevie Nicks
' of her recordings with Fleetwood Mac
.
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.
On the 2004 2-disc special edition release of Rumours
, two demos of "Gold Dust Woman" are included, one of which features vocal melody and lyrics in its coda which would later be developed into the stand-alone single "If You Ever Did Believe" in 1997. Nicks recorded this with close friend Sheryl Crow
as part of the early sessions for her 2001 Trouble in Shangri-La
album, but the track was chosen as the theme song for the 1998 Warner Bros.
Nicole Kidman
and Sandra Bullock
vehicle Practical Magic
. To date, the track has only been available on the film soundtrack album.
for Spin
in October 1997, Nicks said:
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
album Rumours
Rumours
Rumours is the eleventh studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac. Largely recorded in California during 1976, it was produced by the band with Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut and was released on 4 February 1977 by Warner Bros. Records. The record peaked at the top of both the...
. It was written and sung by Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
and released as a B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
to the "You Make Loving Fun
You Make Loving Fun
"You Make Loving Fun" is a song written by Christine McVie of the British-American band Fleetwood Mac. "You Make Loving Fun" was separately published as the fourth and final 45 rpm single from the band's album Rumours in 1977. McVie also sang the lead vocal for this song, and she did so for many...
" single. Along with "Rhiannon
Rhiannon (song)
"Rhiannon" is a single released by Fleetwood Mac in 1976. The song was written by Stevie Nicks."Rhiannon" was voted #488 in The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine. Its US chart peak was in June 1976, when it hit #11...
" and "Dreams
Dreams (Fleetwood Mac song)
"Dreams" is a song written by singer Stevie Nicks, for the group Fleetwood Mac's 1977 album, Rumours. The song was the only U.S. number one hit for the group, and remains one of their best known songs.-Background and writing:...
", it is often regarded as a signature song of Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
' of her recordings with Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
.
The take chosen for release on the 1977 Rumours
Rumours
Rumours is the eleventh studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac. Largely recorded in California during 1976, it was produced by the band with Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut and was released on 4 February 1977 by Warner Bros. Records. The record peaked at the top of both the...
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.
On the 2004 2-disc special edition release of Rumours
Rumours
Rumours is the eleventh studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac. Largely recorded in California during 1976, it was produced by the band with Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut and was released on 4 February 1977 by Warner Bros. Records. The record peaked at the top of both the...
, two demos of "Gold Dust Woman" are included, one of which features vocal melody and lyrics in its coda which would later be developed into the stand-alone single "If You Ever Did Believe" in 1997. Nicks recorded this with close friend Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
as part of the early sessions for her 2001 Trouble in Shangri-La
Trouble in Shangri-La
-Videos:Two promotional videos were shot for single releases; "Every Day" features Nicks performing in an enchanted forest setting, and "Sorcerer" featured Nicks with Sheryl Crow, both playing guitars in a straight forward performance set in a room where the lyrics to various Nicks songs magically...
album, but the track was chosen as the theme song for the 1998 Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Mary Kidman, AC is an American-born Australian actress, singer, film producer, spokesmodel, and humanitarian. After starring in a number of small Australian films and TV shows, Kidman's breakthrough was in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm...
and Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock
Sandra Annette Bullock is an Academy Award winning American actress and producer who rose to fame in the 1990s after roles in successful films such as Demolition Man, Speed, The Net, A Time to Kill, and While You Were Sleeping. She continued with films such as Miss Congeniality, The Lake House,...
vehicle Practical Magic
Practical Magic
Practical Magic is a 1998 American fantasy film directed by Griffin Dunne and starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as witches who carry on a family legacy of witchcraft and tragedy. The film is based on a book of the same name by Alice Hoffman...
. To date, the track has only been available on the film soundtrack album.
Interpretations
When asked about the song in an interview with Courtney LoveCourtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
for Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
in October 1997, Nicks said:
Cover versions
- A cover version by American alternative rockAlternative rockAlternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band HoleHole (band)Hole is an American alternative rock band that originally formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The band is fronted by vocalist/songwriter and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love, who co-founded Hole with former songwriter/lead guitarist Eric Erlandson...
was released as their ninth single in 1996 on CD by GeffenGeffen RecordsGeffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
. It was also featured on the soundtrack to The Crow: City of AngelsThe Crow: City of AngelsThe Crow: City of Angels is a 1996 action film directed by Tim Pope. It is a sequel to the 1994 cult film The Crow.-Plot:The film is set in Los Angeles, where drug king Judah Earl controls it all...
and was produced by former CarsCARSCars, or automobiles, motor cars, are wheeled motor vehicles used for transporting passengers.Cars or CARS may also refer to:-Entertainment:* Cars , a Disney/Pixar film series...
leader Ric OcasekRic OcasekRic Ocasek is an American musician and music producer. He is best known as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the rock band, The Cars....
. - Sister HazelSister HazelSister Hazel are an alternative rock band from Gainesville, Florida, whose style also blends elements of folk rock, pop, classic rock 'n' roll and southern rock. Their music is characterized by highly melodic tunes and generally optimistic lyrics. The band's instrumentation often features abrupt...
recorded a cover of the song for the 1998 tribute album Legacy: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac's Rumours - The Spill CanvasThe Spill CanvasThe Spill Canvas is an alternative rock band from Sioux Falls, South Dakota.-Career:The Spill Canvas started as a side project for lead singer, Nick Thomas, who at the time, was guitarist and backup vocalist for Metalcore outfit Nodes of Ranvier ....
included a cover of the song on their 2007 EP Denial Feels So GoodDenial Feels So GoodDenial Feels So Good is the second EP from the emo/rock band The Spill Canvas. It was released on May 1, 2007. It was the band's first release under Sire Records.-Track listing:... - Country legend Waylon JenningsWaylon JenningsWaylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
recorded a country/blues version of the song in 1978 on the LP Waylon & WillieWaylon & WillieWaylon & Willie is a duet album by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, released on RCA Victor in 1978. It was number 1 album on country charts for ten weeks. The record contains three songs sung individually by each of the two artists, as well as five duets...
. - Sheryl CrowSheryl CrowSheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
performed the song on her live album Sheryl Crow and Friends: Live from Central Park alongside Stevie Nicks. - The song was covered live in 2009 by Grace Potter and The NocturnalsGrace Potter and the NocturnalsGrace Potter and the Nocturnals is an American rock band from Waitsfield, Vermont.-Career:Grace Potter and the Nocturnals' lead vocalist is multi-instrumentalist Grace Potter, who attended St. Lawrence University for two years before pursuing music professionally...
as they opened for Gov't MuleGov't MuleGov't Mule is a Southern rock jam band formed in 1994 as an Allman Brothers Band side project by Warren Haynes and Allen Woody.The band released their debut album Gov't Mule in 1995...
, with occasional performances on the same tour by Gov't Mule with Grace Potter guesting on lead vocals. - Hard-rock band Hydrogyn covered the song on their 2010 album Judgement.
- Elle Jonas covered this song in 2009, and it can be found on her Myspace page.
Charts
| Chart (1996) (Hole version) |
Peak Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Modern Rock Tracks Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs... |
31 |
Appearances in other media
- The original 1977 song appeared in 2011 as a downloadable track for the music video game Rock Band 3Rock Band 3Rock Band 3 is a music video game, developed by Harmonix Music Systems. The game was initially published and distributed by MTV Games and Electronic Arts, respectively, with Mad Catz taking over both roles a year later. It is the third main game in the Rock Band series...
.