Crucial Track for June 5, 2026

"Bombay Sapphires" by Stevie Nicks

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I was in my computer class, freshman year. I was browsing the web ignoring my assignment. I don't remember how I stumbled on it, but I stumbled on the entire Trouble in Shrangri-La album for download on a forum or some such thing and I downloaded it to my student folder and listened to it start to finish and was blown away. I had heard Edge of Seventeen as a child obviously and Rhiannon etc but I didn't know who Stevie Nicks was. But that pirated copy of Trouble in Shangri-La (Which I went on to purchase several times over the years to make up for that act) was my baptism into the cult of Stevie Nicks. This is my number one favorite album of all time. No contest. And of course the singles on the album are all good, but so are the other songs. Amongst them one rises above. Bombay Saphires. A cool song that I can only describe as a mystical island groove. I know its technically not, but hearing it in my mind I feel like I am on a beach as a thunder storm is rolling in, and there is a heavy blue filter being used and everything is just blue. Other worldly. Featuring guest vocals from Macy Gray (whom I also love), the song is an absolute vibe. If you are ever able to get ahold of demos from the album, the demo for Bombay Saphires is so damn good. But the album version is equally so.