Bella Donna  by Stevie Nicks

Bella Donna from 1981 is the first solo album by Stevie Nicks, who was already globally known as a member of Fleetwood Mac. It is considered one of the most important pop/rock albums of the early '80s, as it proved that Nicks could stand as an independent artist. Jimmy Iovine and Tom Petty were the album's producers.

The recording took place between the fall of 1980 and the spring of 1981 at Studio 55 and Goodnight LA. The album includes contributions from great musicians such as Don Henley (Eagles), Roy Bittan (E-Street Band), and Waddy Wachtel. The musical style of the album is Pop Rock with elements of country and soft Rock. It is characterized by Nicks' poetic lyrics and a more "rough" rock aesthetic compared to the polished production of Fleetwood Mac. Bella Donna released four successful singles that entered the US Top 40: "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" (with Tom Petty), No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Leather And Lace" (with Don Henley) No. 6, "Edge Of Seventeen" No. 11, which is now considered her trademark, and "After The Glitter Fades."

Bella Donna served as a blueprint for female artists who wanted to pursue a solo career outside of successful bands. It established Nicks' image as the "Goddess of Rock" and allowed her to express her personal vision without the constraints of her band. The album has sold over 8,000,000 copies worldwide, with more than 4,000,000 in the US alone, where it has been certified 4 times platinum.