Think About Me - Which Version
 

Which one do you prefer? Or is there another?

There is another version (it might be the single version) where the harmonies are much stronger and that is my favorite. I'll see if I can find it. UPDATE: I found the single version and I like the harmonies much better on this mix. Especially in the "I don't hold you down" part.
listen at the 1:30 mark, clearly different.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBL2BDOBAAI

My favorite is the one commonly referred to as the "duet version." Lindsey and Christine trade vocals. I think having it be a duet adds an interesting layer to the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbojPE0Xulc

i have Tusk remastered 2 CD from like early 2000s maybe? i have to check. not the album / studio version but the alternate version there is my favorite.

EDIT: the version Nancy shared above might be it!

I swear on my mother's grave, that this version is sped up. Drives me crazy! Radio stations do that, too, for more commercial time. TAM is one of my all time favorite FM songs, and it kills me that the beat is sped up on this. Like talking to a crack whore.

Both are good. I like the single version better. Its more polished and I usually prefer the rough cuts. But this time I vote single.
IMHO if this was the first single from Tusk it would have made the top 10 and they would have sold many more albums. This is the most radio friendly song on the album. Tusk made the top 10 from the limelight of Rumours and the Mac's first song since that album. But its not a mainstay of classic rock songs on stations today. I just think this song sounds very traditional Fleetwood Mac and would have blunted criticism the band got when Tusk was released.

The single version is sped up and a slightly different mix. I prefer it to all other versions of the song. It is one of Christine's best rockers and a great example of how LB enhanced her songs back in their heyday.

By accident I hit “other”. But the 2/79 version is my favorite. Her voice is strong sans the double tracking and reverb, and the whole effect of her and Stevie singing together gives this a cool, tough, girl pop quality. I also love hearing the organ instead of the crunching guitar during the instrumental break.

Heard the 2/18/79 version on the FM Sirius channel and it really got my attention on how different it was from what ended up on the record. A lot of it has to do with what you stated. It has a looser, less structured sound to it. I'd say more melodic and not as driven as the studio version. And I love how Chris accentuates the "Think About Me" part differently. Overall there is more inflection in her voice throughout the song too. I think it is my favorite from what I've heard so far. But I also wanted to really gather how many different versions of the song were out there.

I was thinking how this is probably the one song of hers that was more in line with the traditional sound of Rumours as opposed to the overall theme of Tusk. Interesting point you made in how releasing this song as the first single could have changed the perception and sales of Tusk. But then again it was not what the band(Lindsey) wanted to do. The whole idea was to reinvent themselves and show that they didn't have to stick to a particular style of music.

Imagine the reaction if they had followed that trend by releasing 'That's Alright' as the first single from Mirage to draw in the country/western crowd.

It could have been backed by Cool Water which was the B-side to Gypsy.

That would have never happened. They never wanted to draw in the country crowd. Plus Warner Brothers did not want another Tusk. Thus Mirage is pure pop greatness with tons of radio friendly songs. When you listen to Hold Me and Love In Store they are instant hits from the first time you hear them.

Oh I agree. The record label and the band let Lindsey do lots of things during Tusk. The tracking on Tusk makes it sound quirkier than it really is which was another Lindsey ploy to annoy Warner Brothers. Having said all that Think About Me would have helped sell more albums. This is just my opinion so there is no way to be sure. Just try to imagine you never heard anything from Tusk and you play the album the first time. Think About Me jumps out as a hit song record. Even Sara was daring due to the length and intricacy of the song.

I agree, it never would have happened and was not who they wanted to target but it still would have been interesting to see fan/public reaction in the wake of the whole "Urban Cowboy" thing. Lots of bands back then were hopping on crazy trends. An example - ELO got into the disco trend with their '79 album "Discovery" aka "Disco Very".

The record company picks the single not LB. Warners picked Tusk to lead off.

I love that song, but it would not have been a very good choice as a lead off single. It doesn't exactly reach out to the demographic that was buying FM records at the time. Was country music even that big in the early 80s? Regardless, I don't think FM would have been trying to lure them in. But I like your thinking here.

Wasn't that the longest single ever released or something along that line? It's amazing that it was a solid hit or that it even got the airplay that it did considering its' length. Shows the strength of FM at the time and "Sara" is a masterpiece!

I love the Tusk tour version too. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFOZTi0fE7o


Kevin

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I find it hard to believe that Warners picked "Tusk" as the lead off single. Especially knowing how fearful they were that when they heard Tusk, they weren't exactly hearing another Rumours. I'm thinking FM had the upper hand in the decision on what to release, given their huge success with Rumours. You don't want to tick off the band that was generating so much revenue for your company.

Really cool version. Very fun rendition of the song. Perfect concert song. Thanks for sharing that!

I love it too. Lindsey and Richard Dashut really went over the top throwing all kinds of little touches in the mix to further "countrify" Stevie's original demo almost to the point of parody. It definitely would not have played to the core FM demographic group but yes, in the early 80s alongside the New Wave, the country sound was also a big deal in the wake of John Travolta's starring role in the film Urban Cowboy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_Cowboy

I guess we have to clarify what the country sound was. Here is the soundtrack from Urban Cowboy:

Side A:

"Hello Texas" – Jimmy Buffett (2:33)
"All Night Long" – Joe Walsh (3:50)
"Times Like These" – Dan Fogelberg (3:02)
"Nine Tonight" – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band (6:35)

Side B:

"Stand By Me" – Mickey Gilley (3:35)
"Cherokee Fiddle" – Johnny Lee (4:06)
"Could I Have This Dance" – Anne Murray (3:14)
"Lyin' Eyes" – Eagles (6:23)

Side C:

"Lookin' for Love" – Johnny Lee (3:41)
"Don't it Make You Want to Dance" – Bonnie Raitt (3:29)
"The Devil Went Down to Georgia" – Charlie Daniels Band (3:35)
"Here Comes the Hurt Again" – Mickey Gilley (2:41)
"Orange Blossom Special" / "Hoedown" – Gilley's "Urban Cowboy" Band (2:06)

Side D:

"Love the World Away" – Kenny Rogers (3:11)
"Falling in Love for the Night" – Charlie Daniels Band (3:00)
"Darlin'" – Bonnie Raitt (2:34)
"Look What You've Done to Me" – Boz Scaggs (5:39)
"Hearts Against the Wind" – Linda Ronstadt with J. D. Souther (2:58)


Not exactly your George Jones type of country music. More like the "country music" of today. On second thought, maybe this could have worked for FM releasing "That's Alright" as lead off single. :shrug: :laugh:

Exactly, we're not talking Hank Williams either. This was the country equivalent of pop rock. I remember reading an article that said Lindsey practically puked when a WB rep suggested Fleetwood Mac change their sound in that direction. I think this may have been much later though, sometime after The Dance reunion.

I love that man! It's a damn shame he's gone. At least in the FM world.

Couldn't agree with you more. A huge loss. :(

Great night to listen to this song! I voted 2/18/79! :woohoo: Every once in a while.......think about me!

I belive Irv Azoff produced that soundtrack.

Indeed, you are right.



Companies, etc.

Manufactured By – Elektra/Asylum/Nonesuch Records
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Asylum Records
Copyright (c) – Elektra/Asylum Records
Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute
Mastered At – Capitol Studios

Credits

Art Direction – Johnny B. Lee*, Ron Coro
Compiled By [Album] – Becky Shargo, Howard Kaufman, Irving Azoff
Executive-Producer [Album] – Irving Azoff
Mastered By – Wally Traugott
Photography By [Cover, Poster] – Ted Grant
Photography By [Inside Gatefold] – Elliot Marks, Ron Phillips (3)