24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault explained

24 Karat Gold - Songs from the Vault
Type:Studio
Artist:Stevie Nicks
Cover:Stevie Nicks - 24 Karat Gold (Official Album Cover).png
Border:yes
Recorded:April 20–May 5, 2014
Genre:Rock
Label:Reprise
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24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault is the eighth solo studio album by the American singer-songwriter and Fleetwood Mac vocalist Stevie Nicks, released on September 30, 2014, through Reprise Records.

Background

Recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles, the album includes new versions of demos that Nicks primarily recorded between 1969 and 1987, though two songs date back to 1994 and 1995.[1] There is one cover on the album, "Carousel", a song originally written and performed by Vanessa Carlton on her album Rabbits on the Run (2011). Nicks put it on the album because it was her mother's favorite song in her last days and Carlton was present during her death. Nicks was inspired to record the album after her assistant showed her bootlegs on YouTube of the demos Nicks had recorded over the years. Included on the album is "Blue Water", a song that features Lady A on vocals.

The album sold 33,000 copies in its first week of release and debuted at #7 on the Billboard 200, giving Nicks her sixth top ten album on that chart.

Release

Album

The album was released as standard and deluxe editions. The standard edition contains 14 tracks and features several previously unpublished polaroid photos of Nicks throughout her career. The limited quantity deluxe edition features a different track list order with two bonus tracks ("Twisted" and "Watch Chain") in addition to a full color 48-page photo book of never-before-released photos.[2] The set was also released on vinyl with the deluxe edition track listing on two 125-gram LPs housed in a gatefold package.

Singles

The album was supported by three singles. Additionally, several promotional singles were made available for download from the album prior to its release. "The Dealer", was released on August 5, 2014, followed by "Lady" on August 25, "Starshine", on September 16, and the title track on September 23, 2014.

Critical reception

24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault received mostly positive reviews from music critics upon its release. At Metacritic, the album has received a Metascore of 73 out of 100 based on 11 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic rated the album four and a half stars out of five and calls it "the best-sounding record she's made since 1983's The Wild Heart."[3] Writing for New York Daily News, Jim Farber gave the album three stars out of five and states: "We get pure Stevie — needier than some might find comfortable, but also unexpectedly wise. It's too much for the casual listener but catnip for the devoted."

Commercial performance

The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at #7 with sales of 33,000 giving Nicks her sixth top 10 album. The album also debuted on the UK Albums chart at #14 with sales of 5,508, giving Nicks her fifth UK Top 20 album.

Nicks made various TV appearances to promote the album, including the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon where she performed "Lady".

Personnel

Main Performers

Session Musicians

Charts

Year-end charts

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Edition(s)LabelRef
United KingdomSeptember 30, 2014Digital downloadDeluxe
United States
United KingdomOctober 6, 2014CDStandard
United StatesOctober 7, 2014

Notes and References

  1. News: Stevie Nicks Details Release Plan for New Solo Album '24 Karat Gold'. Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. August 20, 2014. August 8, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140808092905/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/stevie-nicks-details-release-plan-for-new-solo-album-24-karat-gold-20140724. live.
  2. Web site: Stevie Nicks mines the past for '24 Karat Gold' album. USAToday.com. 3 August 2014. 27 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140727182936/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/07/24/stevie-nicks-mines-the-past-for-24-karat-gold-album/13113981/. live.
  3. Web site: 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault - Stevie Nicks . . . October 6, 2014 . Erlewine, Stephen Thomas . Stephen Thomas Erlewine . October 6, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006054340/http://www.allmusic.com/album/24-karat-gold-songs-from-the-vault-mw0002711273 . live .
  4. Web site: Top 100 Artist Album, Week Ending 9 October 2014 . . August 6, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180502210853/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240002&arch=t&lyr=2014&year=2014&week=41 . dead . May 2, 2018.
  5. Web site: Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2014. Billboard. January 26, 2022.