10 Albums Saved By Ridiculously Last Minute Changes

The entire album making process is a bit of a rigorous endeavor. Not only do you have to come up with the catchiest material you can, but you also have to try to frame it in the right context where every song speaks to each other in the right way.

In the case of these albums, some of the most essential parts of the album were created almost as an afterthought. Whether it be the production, the running order, or even just one track, the album's potential was boosted ten-fold once the band found their groove. These tracks would not only go on to be hits, but would also drastically change the flow of the album and even become mini game-changers in the genre as a whole.

The end of the record is commonly thought to be the point in the album process when you start to see the true professionalism in an artist. In that respect, these are the changes that took these artists from being just another bunch of good musicians to the seasoned pros of their respective genres. It may have been a bit of a hectic process, but these last minute changes have surely paid off in the long run.

As the 80's were dawning, Stevie Nicks finally decided to venture beyond the confines of Fleetwood Mac. With more than a dozen classic pop songs under her belt, Nick's debut solo effort Bella Donna would have a more earthy approach that had more in common with country music.

Wanting to make her album sound great, she chose Jimmy Iovine to be her producer, who had previously worked with Tom Petty, John Lennon, and Bruce Springsteen among others. When Petty came down to visit the studio one day, Iovine told him that Stevie's record was great but was missing an actual hook. After combing through his back catalog, Nicks asked if Petty would write a song for her, which turned into "Stop Draggin My Heart Around."

Upon completion, Nicks was a bit skeptical about the 11th hour duet, given that most of the record was written by herself. In a politely blunt manner, Iovine and Petty told Nicks that while her songs were good, "Stop Draggin My Heart Around" was the hit that could really drive the album.

Their suspicions proved correct, with the tune launching her solo career into high gear and establishing her as her own entity rather than just 'the girl from Fleetwood Mac.'