"If Anyone Falls" is a song by American singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks. It was the second single from her second solo studio album The Wild Heart (1983). The song peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached number eight on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
Background The song is based on an instrumental synthesizer track called "The Last American," written by singer-songwriter Sandy Stewart. Dallas studio owner and producer Gordon Perry sent the track to Nicks. "The next thing I know, I’m on the phone and Gordon’s saying, 'You can’t have it back. They want to use it on Stevie's next album," Stewart told Record magazine in 1984.
Critical reception Reviewing the song for Music Week Tony Jasper commented on Nicks vocals, saying that she "rides along attractively with some vocal fire, but even multi-tracked, the full potential is not realised." Cash Box said that the song "manages to be familiar and sure-footed without being predictable."
Personnel
Stevie Nicks – vocals Waddy Wachtel – guitar Sandy Stewart – synthesizer Bob Glaub – bass Roy Bittan – synthesizer, piano Russ Kunkel – drum overdubs Bobbye Hall – percussion Sharon Celani – background vocals Lori Perry-Nicks – background vocals Carolyn Brooks – background vocals
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for "If Anyone Falls" Chart (1983) Peakposition US Top Rock Tracks (Billboard) 8US Cash Box Top 100 15US AOR/Hot Tracks (Radio & Records) 12US Contemporary Hit Radio (Radio & Records) 9
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for "If Anyone Falls" Chart (1983) PositionUS Cash Box Top 100 98US AOR/Hot Tracks (Radio & Records) 83US Contemporary Hit Radio (Radio & Records) 80
Notes Timespace – The Best of Stevie Nicks, liner notes Crystal Visions – The Very Best of Stevie Nicks, liner notes and commentary
References