The Smiley Smile Message Board

A question that needed to be asked








Feel I should leave this as explanation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hg7M8qI5m8

I take the Mac.

I like the Mac.

It's odd what useless crap the mind holds onto for years. I don't need to view the youtube link to know that it's for the Reynolds Sisters song "I'd Rather Jack". The chorus went "No heavy metal, rock ' n' roll, music from the past. I'd rather Jack than Fleetwood Mac!"

I love the Buckingham/Nicks era of Fleetwood Mac. Rumours is one of those rare albums that sold zillions and still holds up as a great record years later. I also urge anyone who hasn't to check out the Bob Welch era too. They made some really good stuff with him in the lineup that sadly doesn't get the recognition it deserves..

I'd rather jack than listen to the Mac too, huhuhu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pZipYTm_9o

Taking a page out of hypehat's Dark Side book, I'm listening to a Fleetwood Mac album (Rumours) straight through for the first time in my life. Up to now, I've always had a kind of superficial aversion to them that I won't bother trying to explain or justify because it's not especially important. So I've known some songs from Greatest Hits of the 70s album commercials and classic rock radio and the Clinton presidential campaign and a "classic albums" documentary.

Listen to Tusk.

I'm not a huge fan, and have heard most of their albums. I like the Buckingham leads the most, can't stand Nicks for (my own) personal reasons. That's All For Everyone (as linked above) is a great track. I can imagine that as a Carl-sung BB album track in the early 70s. Tame Impala cut a version of that recently for a cover/tribute album. Came out all psychedelic and Lennon-y, as things by Tame Impala are wont to sound.

My favorite FM album is "Mirage". I think it has a keen pop sensibility. "Oh Diane" is a lost classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U22-fl_aDug

I'm going to try their catalog again. Think it's worth another shot.

Will listen to albums in their entirety, but is there a list somewhere of the songs that have lead vox sung by Buckingham? I'd like to make a comp of those before I delve into the full albums.

I'm a huge fan of Stevie and Christine, and if I wasn't, I doublt I would like the band too much. But, off the top of my head, these are the Lindsey tracks up through Mirage:

Monday Morning
Blue Letter
Crystal
World Turning (shared with Christine)
I'm So Afraid
Second Hand News
Never Going Back Again
Don't Stop (shared with Christine)
Go Your Own Way
The Chain (shared with Stevie)
I Don't Want To Know (shared with Stevie)
The Ledge
Save Me A Place
What Makes You Think You're The One
Not That Funny
That's All For Everyone
That's Enough For Me
I Know I'm Not Wrong
Walk A Thin Line
Tusk
Oh Well (live)
Don't Let Me Down Again (shared with Stevie)
Farmer's Daughter (shared with Stevie and Christine)
Can't Go Back
Book Of Love
Empire State
Oh Diane
Eyes Of The World

I forgot Cool Water. Would make a nice coda to the disc.

Thank you, I really appreciate that. I'm indifferent to Christine McVie, I simply don't care for Stevie Nicks. But, like I said, I'm willing to give the catalog, starting with '75 S/T, another shot.

Listening to "Law And Order" by Buckingham now and loving it.

Great album. One of the quirkiest records ever from a "classic rock" artist. If you can handle super-80's production, you may want to check out the Go Insane album, and the DW Suite (as in Dennis Wilson).

Can't believe you have never listened to Rumours, Luther!

Believe it. (And shouldn't I say the same about you and Dark Side?)

Honestly, the only Mac songs I like are "Never Going Back Again" and "The Chain". Everything else strikes me as very well-crafted and arranged but... distant? Like each instrumental part is hermetically sealed off from one another and no one really seriously believes what they're singing. I dunno dudes. I sorta feel like they're the ABBA of '70s pop/rock.

What a great compliment!

Touché  ;D

They were all writing and singing the songs about each other - to the extent where Lindsey would mumble words on his demos so Stevie wouldn't kick the shite out of him upon hearing them, and so forth. So to say they don't sound involved is bizarre.

Also, listen to Tusk. No self respecting ABBA would put that out.

I do say that somewhat complimentary since I do like ABBA but... they also seem rather formalist at times, and as if (because English is not their native language?) some of the maybe more deeply-felt lyrics they've written aren't sung with much conviction, like they don't quite grasp the meanings behind them sometimes? But I suppose I should listen to Tusk since I do like weird, off-kilter pop music and I hear that album goes pretty far out (not that I'm expecting Mac in Smiley Smile mode, cool as that would probably be, haha).

Would you rather Jack off then listen to Fleetwood Mac?  :o

Youtube the song The Ledge.

I've given each of the albums s/t '75 thru Tango multiple listens over the past few days, and still think Mirage is their best, most consistent effort. I know Rumours is supposed to be one of the greatest albums of all time but I feel it runs out of steam on side two. I have a newfound appreciation for Tusk. I love the stereo panning on Lindsey's somewhat minimalist tracks.

"Only Over You" (from Mirage) has a very apparent Beach Boys influence.

Mirage is a great record, because there is no heavy, conceptual sturn und drang about it, it is just an unpretentious collection of 12 pop songs, the style of record that has been out of favor among major rock acts since the beginning of the 70's. But even for a Stevie fan such as myself, Straight Back is awful. But her 70's vintage country tune That's Alright makes up for it.

I seem to listen to Lindsey's first two solo albums more than his 'Mac stuff these days. I imagine with all the money he must have made off Rumors he could afford to be a quirky as he liked. I also love this....       
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMduDFJNfWI

Would I be "not hip" if I admitted my favorite Mac songs are Little Lies and Everywhere?

No, those are great songs.