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View Full Version : Songs from Soundstage VS. PAst Performances


Hawkeye
10-10-2008, 10:53 PM
We've discussed Stevie's Soundstage a lot, but I wanted us to say how we feel all the songs stack up to all her past performances and which ones (if any) were actually the best ever. Im primarily talking officially released versions, but also just to a lesser extent bootlegs:

Stand Back: This Stand Back is very good and starts the concert off great, but I can barely call it the best Stand Back of the Crystal Visions tour. Take most of the Stand Backs on YouTube from 2007, take concord for examplke and they just have more umph. And I think the best Stand Backs EVER were from the SYW Tour- LIB Stand Back was I thought as good as it got, but just recently I saw one from Green Bay 2004 that was even better. Go look that up now. Then there's older versions like SNL 83 and actually the wild heart tour in general. So yeah great version for sure, but not even in the top half of all the stand backs I've seen or heard.

Enchanted: lowlight of this concert, didn't expect anything from it, but was actually even less happy that I thought.

If Anyone Falls: I don't know how some could say these weren't good vocals. They're great albeit weird vocals, seeing as she removes high notes from parts of the song and puts them where they never actually were :laugh: (like COMES THROUGH THE DOOR) This song was never officially released anywhere live so that fact alone makes this version great, but I actually think I like this version better then the Wild Heart Tour videos I've seen.

Rhiannon: Better then the Dance is all I can say for sure. This isn't for the woman in general as you will read in later songs, but Rhiannon for some reason just CAN'T maintain its greatness from past eras like Stand Back, Edge of 17 or Gold Dust Woman. And its not just 75-80 which OBLITERATE this. But even that Concord 91 show that was kindly posted on her a few days ago is way better. So like I said, better then the dance and "maybe LIB" but it just doesn't matter which of those are better, it's sad how Rhiannon is theses days. BUT I'm happy to say its just Rhiannon and doesn't spread to all her older songs!

Sorcerer: For a new song there's lots of official performances to compare this too (Leno, Sheryl Crow's 2002 special...). And this version kicks all of their asses. Alos I LOVE the rare live version unearthed a few years ago by BuckinghamNicks, but I still prefer soundstage. And a little better then Soundstage is that version from Vegas in December of 06 ithink.

I Need To Know: Not bad at all but the best version of this ever by far is the one from Tom Petty's gainsville show thats on his DVD. The same goes for SDMHA. Better even then her HBO Bella Donna version of either of those songs.

Gold Dust Woman: I'm very happy to be able to say that I "could" call this the very best Gold Dust Woman ever. There's a hell of a lot of competition so i'm not saying firmly oh yeah this is the best ever but the fact that its even in the running says a lot considering Rhiannon's old performances can't be touched with a ten foot pole. What I know for sure is this is better then all her 1980's Gold Dust Woman's (HBO, Wild Heart, that long Bob Welch version) It's better then every aspect of The Dance version except the scream, which is just a 5 second portion of the song. Then there's LIB which I've always liked better then the dance and there are parts of LIB that are better then soundstage like the ways she screams SHES A DRAGON, but still I'm going to give the edge to Soundstage. That only leaves the Rumours Tour. It's very close and yes the wailing at the end of Japan 77 is awseome but I'm still going to say Soundstage is overall the BEST Gold Dust Woman ever.

Landslide: This one I don't have to go into an essay, it is EASILY the best Landslide ever. Vocals alone are better then any live (or studio for that matter) version in the past, and then you add the video montage and the snow falling, it's the only song where the background REALLY enhances the song, and I don't feel I can't include that on my thoughts on the song. But even taking the screen and snow away the ending to the song since 2005 has been incredible. Stevie alone with Lindsey at guitar and them sharing fake tenderness can jump in the fucking lake for all i care :laugh:

Sara: really strong vocals by Stevie, this is WAY WAY better then The HBO 81 special. but still Stevie's band can't play this song like Fleetwood Mac, so The St Louis 79 version wins.

Fall From Grace: Not too much to compare this too but this was a scorching good version, better then the blockbuster awards by quite a bit.

How Still My Love: I don't think they could've picked a much better time in Stevie's history to finally have this saved forever on DVD. It's actually pretty shocking how tame the live versions of this were in 1981 compared to 2007. We're actually better off not having HSML on the HBO special and waiting til now. Actually this song came a long way just from when she first brought it back in May 2005 for those first Vegas shows. Go look those up on Youtube to remind yourselves how lousy they were compared to Soundstage and really any How Still's from the CV tour. Now I won't give this Best How Still title. The Dallas 4-15-86 version from my sig gets that title.

Edge of 17: Wow this was a toughie. I can't give it best ever since it was just too danmed great at other times. But unlike Rhiannon which if I were to graph it visually would look like the current stock market, Edge is still awseome. Soundstage in particular suprised me how good she did. Whenever I watch recent Youtube performances she always knocks the ending after the edge walk out of the park, but sometimes it's like she sleeps through the first 6 minutes without any intensity. But I was very happy to see her Rock hard all the way through on soundstage, and the look in her eyes was back, that intensity from older versions. I like this way better then Red Rocks, but not the unofficial Rock a little Edge's. I think with EO17, I can just say that Soundstage is better then everything except for the first 3 tours, excluding offically released red rocks. And I think I might be the first to say this, but I like that they don't show the Edge Walk. It lets the song just be the song without it being the song where she touches the fans. It's great for us at concerts, but who cares if its not documetned AGAIN on video. I liked that during the break it seemed like the band was just jamming just to jam not as background noise for Stevie to shake to.

Tellurium
10-10-2008, 11:20 PM
I don't actually get all the Enchanted hatin for this concert. It was about what I expected from Enchanted live. I thought she sung it well. *shrugs* That's me. Sorcerer was my least favorite of this set, and I LOVE that song. Enchanted I do not love.

I agree with most your other comments though. Although I thought this version of Rhiannon could hold up to any of the other one's she's done. Not "sad" at all, to me.

Good review. :)

rocknalittle
10-11-2008, 03:27 AM
Let me just say that I do love the Soundstage DVD, it was fantastic, eventhough it might not sound like it;)! Somethings were good, and somethings were better before, but I feel like this is 2008 Stevie, a new Stevie and I love it.

Stand Back- There are SO many versions to compare to, I think that this one is good, if not great!

Enchanted- For me my absolute favorites are from the 1998 Enchanted tour.

If Anyone Falls- I love this song live and, I think that Stevie's vocals were a little off or something, I am not to sure? I adore the part where she sings "comes through the doooor", one of my fav parts of the shows. I have adopted that for even the album version now, I just really like it. You cant really compare this one because there really is no commercial release, I have seen it done better at the shows though!

Rhiannon- This ROCKED! So Stevie now in 08! Way better than "The Dance". The HBO concert again I have to say that was a diffrent Stevie, younger, maybe a little more soft and full of feelings beacause it WAS her first solo tour. HBO version is ICONIC to me!!!

Sorcerer- I was fortunate enough to be at the 12/08/06 Vegas show, and that will always be to me the BEST Sorcerer I have ever seen it was out of this world, hands down!

I Need to Know- Great, this one is always great, its got something that is timeless... The wildness of Red Rocks is the best!!

Gold Dust Woman- Ok, where do you start so many before... This one is hard, I think all the diffrent Gold Dusts tell thier own stories. I do love the intro in the Soundstage very nice... I am sad to say that this one isnt my fav, but it holds up. Tango I think takes it for me. The Dance is RIGHT ON, HBO slower more sensual love it. There all so good, but Tango sticks out in my head.

Landslide- Soundstage holds a gem here! This version was one of the best. I prefer this song in Stevie's solo shows. I think it holds a much more "real" tone for me. The story in the begining just clinches and sets the whole tone for a beautiful version of Landslide! Beautiful!!!

Sara- HBO concert all the way, I do love the little dance, and the added lyrics.:nod:

Fall From Grace- Came out fighting, there arent too many verions for this one. Loved it !!!

How Still My Love- Wow, I am so glade that this got captured, it was a long time waiting!!! This is an awsome song, I have always felt like this was a highlight on Bella Donna... I am not sure if I can mark this one as the best version there were some really good ones in th 80's, but a hell of a good one here!

Edge Of Seventeen- SOOO MANY, I think this Soundstage was great, but I dont understand how they could cut out "the walk" that just doesnt seem right to me?!?! "The walk" is such a huge part of that song, maybe not vocaly but in the whole essence of the story, the song, the history... I dont know thats just me.?. Stevie did rock it out hard, her voice was totaly on it. She hit every beat with the dancing, the part with the "come now, ooh yeaaa" it gives me so many chills!!! Red Rocks is the GRANDMAMA of the Edges for me!!! There is a version on youtube at the 1998 Woodstock that didnt have "The walk" either, and that one is breathtaking. Another really outstanding Edge is Storytellers!!!

iamnotafraid
10-11-2008, 05:01 AM
Overall I thought the Soundstage performances were very good.
But to be picky, I guess I'd say.......

1. If Anyone Falls In Love, it was good through most of the song,
she just didn't hit some of the high notes. I believe she did try.

2. Rhiannon, I thought is was pretty good. I think it would have
been better is she had not looked at the camera during the opening
filmed sequence.

3. Sara, totally loved. Especially that she included the end lyrics. Only
bettered in my opinion from the Tusk Live Documentary ( though it
was edited).

4. Fall From Grace.............I could have did completely without. Hate
that song. :sorry:

Zombie
10-11-2008, 11:45 AM
I really enjoyed the whole Soundstage show, but I don't think it had many "best evers" for me.

I liked the Stand Back, but I liked the LIB version better, and the Saturday Night Live performance is absolutely iconic to me.

I love all Rhiannons. That's my song, and I can find something to adore in every performance of it I see/hear, though I wish she'd blow the doors off at the end like she used to.

The HBO Sara gets my vote all the way - that version is sonic Prozac to me - but it was great to see her doing it now, it has a whole different feel to it.

I really dig the way she does Edge now, with the added lyrics, and Waddy was on fire on Soundstage, but for sheer delirious fun, I gotta go with the psychedelic freakout that was Red Rocks. Not because it's particularly <i>good</i>, but because I can watch Stevie gallop in place and shriek, "I know what it sounds like...WHEN DOVES CRY, OW!" forever and never get bored.

I really, really loved HSML, but as others have pointed out, there aren't that many recordings of it to compare to.

nailatixela
10-11-2008, 12:24 PM
I really liked Stand Back - always do though.

Enchanted was what I expected. I liked it from the WH tour but not a huge fan of the song. I'm glad she didn't do it on this last tour.

Rhiannon - better than The Dance and SYW! (I do miss LB's guitar on it though) I thought this was a really good Rhiannon comapred to the ones from the last 10 years.

Sorcerer - this was my least fav. of the night. She wasn't as in to it as I have seen her other nights.

I Need to Know - was good, I wish she would do the violet and blue mornings part at the end though. Also glad this one wasn't in her setlist last tour.

GDW - very nice. But on the 2008 tour she seemed to do the scream even longer...really pulled it out. Today's GDW's are better than the 80s though. (except RAL tour) they seemed to get boring on the BD and WH tour.

Landslide - Really great vocal. One of my favorites when I first watched.

Sara was amazing! Much better than the SYW tour versions. This might be my favorite of the night.

Fall from grace was really powerful. Just as good as blockbuster.

HSML - really good. My favorite is from the RAL tour though.

Edge - great, powerful, I really like the Edge's these days. Her voice sounds so strong and I think it's great that she still has a strong voice after all these years. Makes me happy about the future.

michelej1
10-11-2008, 12:30 PM
Even in its short life, Crash was 10 times better on Soundstage than it has been when I've seen it in the past (live and on boots).

HSML has been great since Vegas. I don't know if it's better than that, but it's certainly better than in the old days, I agree with Hawkeye.

Sorcerer was not bad, but not as good as I've seen it.

Michele

Hawkeye
10-11-2008, 04:29 PM
Even in its short life, Crash was 10 times better on Soundstage than it has been when I've seen it in the past (live and on boots).

HSML has been great since Vegas. I don't know if it's better than that



Michele

Its gotten way better since Vegas. She started out not even doing the ONEEE in MY Lonely One as well as other things.

And I absloutely agree with Crash, but thought it was just the quality talking. I haven't liked a single version of that sonf i've seen but love the soundstage version. But you've actually seen it in person and are still saying that so i don't know.

mylittledemon
10-11-2008, 06:15 PM
The best Stevie performance I think, still, is the HBO performance. Now, I LOVE The Dance...perfection. I also like a few of the songs on the new SoundStage show too, especially SARA. The SYW tour was not her best. She actually seemed really bored to me.

wolfontherun
10-11-2008, 06:39 PM
Dance Rhiannon way better than Sound, why? the high note, nothing beats it and the sonf without it will always pale to the song with it.

louielouie2000
10-12-2008, 11:38 AM
I'm just gonna hit my own personal highlights-

Gold Dust Woman: Probably the best live rendition of this song I've ever heard... something that shocked me, because I just can't compare most of her recent live performances with classic ones without being brutal. Love, love, loved the orchestrated intro, the little wail she did before the chorus each time, etc.

How Still My Love: not the best, but darn good. Her vocals were a bit dicey, but the sexy energy and shawl dance made up for that. Loved the extended end of the song. Very cool to watch this one.

Sara: without a doubt, the best live version I've heard of this song. Her vocals were better on here than they were even for live performances back in 79-80. I for one just LOVED her backing band's take on the song. They remained pretty unobtrusive, and just let her vocals do the talking. The whole performance left you wanting to hear more, but in the GOOD way!

Sorcerer: not a huge fan of the song, but it's the best she's ever performed it.

Crash: not a fan at all of her doing covers, but I really enjoyed this one. I could never have imagined her singing this one, but her voice just seems made for it. Hated past performances of this one, but she nailed it here!

The rest of the performances were either sketchy or not worth mentioning in my opinion.

Overall, I think this is probably the best overall concert I've seen Stevie be a part of, and I truly believe she looks better now than she ever has, period. Rock on gold dust woman indeed!

starshine
10-12-2008, 03:37 PM
Well I guess I do think the 'past' performances are much better than 'now'. I'll always love the HBO special. I think SB during the US Festival was one of the best....as well as HWML from US Festival '83.....I liked Enchanted from WH (although it was only performed 2'ce back than ....)and from the Enchanted tour...after that performed too much. She should've put another rarely performed song in its place. Gold Dust Woman from Japan 77 will always be my favorite with the HBO special 2nd. IKTK has been over sung and well other than the BD tour....I could live without hearing this song again really..... Don't like 'Crash' that can stay with the DMB for me.....for me the only Sara versions I like are 79 St Louis version /or all Tusk versions/ as well as the BD HBO special version. I like the Landslide older versions to this one....but I did like the pictures she showed behind on the screen......Sorcerer just sits there for me.....Rhiannon Japan 77 again is my favorite one....as well as the HBO special from BD.....we all like what we like.....but again I love the older performances compared to the 'new' ones........she was more 'raw' back than.....now it seems to staged IMO anyway.......:shrug::rolleyes:

omigodstevie
10-12-2008, 07:36 PM
I'll comment on a few.

Gold Dust Woman dominates this entire show, in my opinion. From the sound of the music, to the sound of her voice and its intensity, this was my absolute favorite.

Landslide was beautiful, and very touching. For me, The Dance version of Landslide will always be my favorite, though.

Crash Into Me is so great. I didn't like how she did this song until I heard this version of it, and I suddenly fell in love with it.

Sara is just pure lovely. It's so soothing, and her voice sounds great on this one. I haven't heard any other live versions of this song...so I guess this one wins in my book!

If Anyone Falls...well, I like it and listen to it a lot, but it definitely isn't her best performance of it. I love the harmonies at 'in the back of your miiii-IIIIND'

As for Stand Back, Rhiannon, and Edge of Seventeen.......I don't know if it's just me, but I just didn't like them this time. I really don't like how she sings one note over and over again during Stand Back these days, she seemed not very into Rhiannon, and Edge just wasn't memorable.

fleetwoodtrick
10-12-2008, 08:26 PM
I personally think The Dance Landslide was better, but then again I grew up on The Dance!

I absolutely LOVE what Stevie's done with GDW.

...Baby, baby, baby, (ect!) you don't love me now.

~Rhiya :D

Zombie
10-13-2008, 01:30 AM
I personally think The Dance Landslide was better, but then again I grew up on The Dance!

I absolutely LOVE what Stevie's done with GDW.

...Baby, baby, baby, (ect!) you don't love me now.

~Rhiya :D

I really love those added lines to GDW, too.

I must say that the shrieking on The Dance GDW's "go home" while Mick's back there banging away with that look on his face like, "YAY, US! We are AWESOME! YAAAY!" is one of the most perfect moments anywhere ever, though. :nod: