Stevie Nicks stands as one of rock music’s most enchanting and enduring voices, captivating audiences for over five decades with her mystical presence and unforgettable songwriting. From her groundbreaking work with Fleetwood Mac to her remarkable solo career, Nicks has crafted a catalog of songs that blend ethereal melodies with deeply personal storytelling. This comprehensive collection explores the 20 greatest hits that showcase her evolution as an artist, including recent releases that prove her continued relevance in today’s music landscape.
Whether you’re exploring the best songs of all time or looking to upgrade your listening experience with premium headphones to fully appreciate her intricate arrangements, Stevie Nicks’ timeless compositions demand to be heard in their full glory. Her ability to weave magic through music has made her a beacon for multiple generations of fans and artists alike.
“Dreams”
Fleetwood Mac’s only number one hit in the United States, “Dreams” represents the pinnacle of Stevie Nicks’ songwriting prowess. The song was written by Nicks and features her on lead vocals, delivered as both blessing and curse while she fluently controls the break-up narrative. The track experienced renewed popularity in 2020 when it soundtracked a viral TikTok video, proving its timeless appeal to new generations of listeners.
“Rhiannon”
Stevie Nicks laid the groundwork for her mystical reputation with the release of “Rhiannon,” which was the second single from Fleetwood Mac’s eponymous White Album. This haunting ballad about a mythical Welsh witch became one of her most recognizable compositions and helped establish her ethereal stage persona. The song’s mystical lyrics and Nicks’ captivating performance style created a template that would define her career for decades to come.
“Landslide”
Perhaps no song captures the vulnerability and introspection that defines Nicks’ best work quite like “Landslide.” This deeply personal reflection on change and growing older has become one of the most covered songs in popular music history. The track’s simple yet profound meditation on life’s transitions resonates with listeners across all demographics, making it a staple at both intimate acoustic performances and massive stadium shows.
“Go Your Own Way”
While primarily a Lindsey Buckingham composition, Nicks’ vocal contributions to “Go Your Own Way” helped make it one of Fleetwood Mac’s most enduring anthems. The song’s raw emotional power stems from the real-life breakup between Nicks and Buckingham during the tumultuous Rumours recording sessions. Her harmonies and backing vocals add layers of complexity to what could have been a straightforward rock song, transforming it into a masterpiece of tension and release.
“Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”
The iconic duet was written by Tom Petty and released as Stevie Nicks’ first single from her debut solo album Bella Donna, spending 21 weeks on the chart and becoming Nicks’ biggest Hot 100 hit. Though the song was originally penned by Tom Petty for use on a Heartbreakers album, producer Jimmy Iovine conjured up the idea for Nicks to come in and record it. The collaboration showcased Nicks’ ability to hold her own alongside rock royalty while maintaining her distinctive vocal style.
“Edge of Seventeen”
Ever inspired by conversational minutiae, Nicks caught one of her greatest songs from a chat with Tom Petty’s wife, Jane, when she mentioned she met her husband “at the age of seventeen,” and Nicks misheard “edge of seventeen”. The song has become one of Nicks’ most enduring solo songs, having been covered by many artists over the years and recently sampled by Miley Cyrus on her single “Midnight Sky”. The track’s distinctive guitar riff and powerful vocals make it a quintessential example of early 1980s rock.
“Gold Dust Woman”
Haunting and witchy, the song is a “symbolic look at somebody going through a bad relationship, and doing a lot of drugs, and trying to just make it, trying to live, trying to get through it to the next thing,” Nicks told Spin Magazine. This dark, hypnotic track from the Rumours album showcases Nicks at her most mysterious and compelling. The song’s swirling arrangement and cryptic lyrics perfectly capture the decadent atmosphere of 1970s rock culture while serving as a cautionary tale about excess.
“Gypsy”
Gypsy shuns Nicks’ often abstract lyricism for a more straightforward narrative, where superstar Stevie pines for “The Velvet Underground” – a San Francisco boutique where she’d window shop for clothes she couldn’t afford. The song represents one of Nicks’ most nostalgic compositions, looking back on her pre-fame days with Lindsey Buckingham. Its wistful melody and relatable lyrics about longing for simpler times struck a chord with audiences, making it one of Fleetwood Mac’s biggest hits of the 1980s.
“Stand Back”
A just-married Nicks was listening to Prince’s “Little Red Corvette” and humming an alternate melody while on the way to her honeymoon, and what started as something to pass the time became the demo for “Stand Back”. After Nicks told Prince the story, the music icon himself contributed synthesizers to the recording. The song became one of her biggest solo hits and remains a favorite in her live performances, showcasing her ability to create infectious dance-rock anthems.
“Silver Springs”
Though “Silver Springs” doesn’t appear on the original version of Rumours, it has slowly become a standout track thanks to its inclusion on the deluxe edition of the record and a particularly seething rendition from Nicks in 1997. This intensely personal song about lost love features some of Nicks’ most emotionally charged vocals. The track’s exclusion from Rumours was a source of long-standing tension within the band, but its eventual release proved it to be one of her finest compositions.
“Leather and Lace”
“Leather and Lace” was an early solo hit for both Stevie and the Eagles’ Don Henley, which propelled both of their fledgling careers outside of their respective mega-bands. Originally written for Waylon Jennings and Jessi Coulter, the song became a perfect showcase for the chemistry between Nicks and Henley. The tender duet combines country influences with soft rock sensibilities, creating one of the most romantic songs in either artist’s catalog.
“Talk to Me”
Though Stevie wasn’t a fan of ‘Talk To Me’ at first, she managed to transform the song into a number four hit on the US Billboard charts, though she struggled to hit the right notes in the studio. Written by Chas Sandford, the song required considerable effort from Nicks to master, but the result was worth it. The powerful ballad showcased her ability to take external material and make it completely her own through the force of her distinctive vocal interpretation.
“Seven Wonders”
This synth-driven track from Fleetwood Mac’s Tango in the Night album represents the band’s successful adaptation to 1980s production styles. Nicks’ mystical lyrics about ancient mysteries perfectly complement the song’s atmospheric arrangement. The track became one of the band’s biggest hits of the decade, proving that their chemistry could transcend changing musical trends and production techniques.
“I Can’t Wait”
Stevie’s carefree attitude to life and loving was infectious, which was the driving force behind writing ‘I Can’t Wait,’ with Nicks later recalling about her 1985 hit: “To understand this song, you sort of have to let yourself go a little crazy”. The song’s exuberant energy and rock-oriented production marked a departure from her more ethereal material. This top 20 hit demonstrated Nicks’ versatility as a performer and her willingness to experiment with different musical styles.
“Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You?”
Stricken by the story the Eagles’ guitarist Joe Walsh told her about the death of his three-year-old daughter and the song he wrote to her, Stevie felt compelled to write a song for him and his grief, with Nicks later recalling: “So he wrote a song for her, and I wrote a song for him”. Nicks has called “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You?” the most “committed song I ever wrote”. This deeply moving piano ballad showcases Nicks’ empathy and ability to channel profound emotion into her songwriting.
“Nightbird”
The last of the three singles from The Wild Heart may not have managed to crack the Top 20, stalling at the No. 33 position, but Nicks has nonetheless described the song as her favorite track on the album. Co-written with Sandy Stewart, the song features some of Nicks’ most atmospheric vocals over a haunting arrangement. The track’s mysterious lyrics and ethereal production create a perfect showcase for her mystical persona.
“After the Glitter Fades”
No Nicks song captures her voice like “After the Glitter Fades,” beginning ruefully looking out from the Hollywood Hills where she “never thought she’d make it” in Tinseltown. Nicks wrote “Glitter” in 1972, before she joined Fleetwood Mac, when she wasn’t sure she could make it in music and was fed up trying. The song’s country-tinged arrangement and introspective lyrics provide a fascinating glimpse into Nicks’ pre-fame mindset and her relationship with success.
“If Anyone Falls”
Written by Nicks and released in 1983, “If Anyone Falls” boasts one of the catchiest choruses in ’80s music and became a top-20 hit. The song’s upbeat tempo and optimistic lyrics about romantic possibilities showcase a different side of Nicks’ songwriting. Its infectious energy and radio-friendly production helped establish her as a solo artist capable of creating hits independent of Fleetwood Mac.
“Planets of the Universe”
“Planets of the Universe” is one of the many songs Nicks wrote about Lindsey Buckingham, penned while working on Rumours, but it didn’t make it past the demo stage until 2001. The song was a huge hit on the dance charts that year and later appeared on the expanded re-release of “Rumours” in 2004. This delayed release proved that Nicks’ songwriting from any era could find new audiences decades later.
“The Lighthouse”
Stevie Nicks has released a brand new single titled “The Lighthouse,” her first original song since 2020, co-written with Magnus Birgersson and Vincent Villuis. Nicks wrote this song a few months after Roe v. Wade was overturned, saying “It seemed like overnight, people were saying ‘what can we, as a collective force, do about this…’ For me, it was to write a song”. This powerful anthem demonstrates that Nicks continues to create relevant, impactful music that addresses contemporary social issues while maintaining her distinctive artistic voice.
The song showcases her evolution as an artist who remains unafraid to tackle difficult subjects through her music. With its pulsing rhythm and anthemic chorus, “The Lighthouse” proves that Stevie Nicks’ ability to create meaningful songs that resonate with current events remains as strong as ever, even as she approaches her eighth decade.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Stevie Nicks’ biggest hit song?
“Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” with Tom Petty remains Nicks’ highest-charting song, reaching number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spending 21 weeks on the chart. The collaboration became both artists’ biggest hit and launched Nicks’ successful solo career.
Which Stevie Nicks songs are included in Rolling Stone’s greatest songs list?
Her Fleetwood Mac songs “Landslide,” “Rhiannon,” and “Dreams,” along with her solo hit “Edge of Seventeen,” have all been included in Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. These tracks represent the pinnacle of her songwriting achievement.
What is Stevie Nicks’ most recent original song?
“The Lighthouse” is Stevie Nicks’ most recent original song, released on September 27, 2024, marking her first original composition since 2020. The song addresses women’s rights and was written in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
How many times has Stevie Nicks been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Nicks is the first woman to have been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; she was inducted as a member of Fleetwood Mac in 1998 and as a solo artist in 2019. This unique honor reflects her extraordinary contributions to popular music both as a band member and solo performer.
What are Stevie Nicks’ most popular Fleetwood Mac songs?
Her most beloved Fleetwood Mac contributions include “Dreams,” “Rhiannon,” “Landslide,” “Gold Dust Woman,” “Gypsy,” and “Silver Springs.” These songs showcase her ability to blend personal experiences with universal themes, creating timeless music that continues to find new audiences through different generations and enhance any quality earbuds listening experience.